What is a Waterfall Release?
A 'Waterfall Release' is when, instead of releasing an entire album in one go, you release it in stages. You do this by creating a sequence of releases, with each new release containing more tracks than the release before and with a later release date. The final release in the sequence will be the full album with the complete tracklist.
The most common method is to start the sequence by creating a release with one track and then adding a new track to each additional release until the entire album is available online. As an example, using this method for a five track release, the release schedule would look something like this:
Release 1 : Track 1.
Release 2 : Track 1, Track 2.
Release 3 : Track 1, Track 2, Track 3.
Release 4 : Track 1, Track 2, Track 3, Track 4.
Release 5 : Track 1, Track 2, Track 3, Track 4, Track 5.
Of course, you don't have to release the tracks in the same order that they will appear on the final version of album. You also don't have to only add one extra track to each new release.
Below you can find the steps for setting up a Waterfall Release with MusicHub. By following these steps you will ensure that when you are adding the same track to different versions of the release, the track will always have the same ISRC and so will be able to collect and display the same streaming data across all the releases.
How do I set up a Waterfall Release on MusicHub.
Step 1: First release in the sequence
For the first release in the sequence, you simply create a new release. If you are unsure of how to do this with MusicHub, here is a helpful video tutorial: https://intercom.help/music-hub/en/articles/5352440-musichub-release-guide-tutorial
Step 2: Second release in the sequence
For the second release in the sequence, when it comes to adding the tracks that were included in the previous release, you do so by clicking here:
Note: You can only add an existing track to second release when the first release that it is on has either been approved or is live on the streaming platforms. It usually takes 2-3 days (excluding weekends) for a release to be approved.
You can then add any new tracks and complete the release setup. Make sure also to enter a release date that is after the first release date of the previous release in the sequence.
Step 3: The rest of the releases in the sequence
For all subsequent releases in the sequence, simply repeat Step 2.
Things to keep in mind when creating a Waterfall Release.
Each release must have a different title.
It is not possible for a MusicHub user to create two releases with the same title but different tracks, unless one of the releases is given a version to differentiate it.
For this reason, only the final release in the sequence (i.e. the full album) should be given the full album title.
The title on the release artwork has to match the title in the release details.
If you want to use the same artwork for each release, then either the artwork should not include the release title, or you must make sure to change the text on the artwork for each release.
One method for naming the releases in a Waterfall Release is to name each new release after the new track that has been added.
Once a new release is live, you can delete any of the previous releases in the sequence
Once a new release in the Waterfall sequence is live on the streaming platforms, if you wish you can ask MusicHub customer support to delete the previous version(s)
What are the benefits of a Waterfall Release?
Using the Waterfall Release method can be useful in that it allows you to promote each track on the album separately, thus giving the whole album a much longer promotional campaign.
For example, you can only pitch one track per release to the Spotify Editorial Team via Spotify for Artist. But by using the Waterfall method, each new version of the release will allow you to pitch the new track that has been added.