Serenade has enabled artist teams to pair their digital items with any physical product, creating the Smart Formats that combine the best of both the physical and digital worlds in one simple product.
What is a Smart Format?
Smart Formats were invented by Serenade. They are collectible physical items that can unlock chart eligible music and bonus content with a simple tap of the phone.
These items could be a sticker on a poster, a lanyard, a keychain, a wristband or anything in between that give fans an integrated physical-digital experience.
What bonus content can I include?
You are entitled to include whatever bonus content you think would help tell a deeper, more engaging story around your music release.
If you would like your Smart Format to be chart accredited, you will be restricted with what you can add as bonus material depending on the type of release (EP, Album), and the geography of chart accreditation.
For more information please refer to our Chart Accreditation and Chart Rules guide, or consult your national chart accreditation body.
How Can I get Started?
Check out our guide on Creating a Release which will walk you through the process of using our customer portal to set things up, or contact us for more details.
Why should I make use of Smart Formats?
Smart Formats include the following pieces that each individually, and collectively, bring fans joy.
Ownership of a Limited Edition item
Exclusive Access to Unlockable Bonus Content
Build closer relationships with your fans by letting them in on a deeper narrative around your release
Ability to stream and/or download Album or EP
Give fans what they came for - your music
Connection Between artist and fans
The artist-fan link that forms through Smart Formats has a shelf-life that extends far beyond even the best maintained record collection.
Better yet, alongside offering a more expansive creative canvas for your releases, Digital Pressings have many practical perks;
Affordable to produce
Embedded in low-cost merch items like wristbands, patches and stickers, Digital Pressings are the most affordable way to sell your music (and whatever multimedia content you like!) directly to fans
Greater creative possibilities
You're no longer restricted to a simple cassette, vinyl, and CD. We've unlocked greater creative freedom with what can carry your music to fans from patches to clothing tags to keyrings, you can customise a product to suit your particular fanbase
Simple to create
All you need are the very same music and cover art assets you’ve already prepared for your album, EP or single, but with the option to include bonus materials that aren’t always possible in physical formats.
Content rich, but carbon light
Music culture has a long history of supporting social movements and climate change is no different. Give the 76% of music fans who expect more climate action from the music industry, a more sustainable way of supporting your work
This can be your own custom products or alternatively Serenade can manufacture them for you!
If you’re pursuing chart accreditation for a release, the products on the Serenade Smart Formats Page (apart from Stickers and Clothing Tags) are pre-approved.
Stickers are approved on certain items such as posters or postcards, but please discuss with us first by reaching out to partnerships@serenade.co before going ahead. All products will also still have to be registered with chart accreditation bodies.
How Can I get Started?
Check out our guide on Creating a Release which will walk you through the process of using our customer portal to set things up, or contact us for more details.
If you’re interested in adding one of these additive music formats to your campaign (even if your idea falls outside the short list of pre-approved products above), please contact Serenade at partnerships@serenade.co and we can discuss how to make the project work!