We have had the privilege of working with a fantastic solo piano artist, Michele Mclaughlin, for the past year, and she continues to impress us with her active marketing approach and attention to detail. 

For example, she recently released a checklist to her fans of every single step she takes prior to releasing an album — for free. It was a great piece of content and appropriate considering she just released a new album! 

Michele has also released sixteen albums independently, so she knows the game.

Go grab an album, seriously, she's great.

Anyway, this list was too good not to share, so we asked if we could share it with our readers — fortunately for us, she said yes!

We've highlighted some our favorites, so that's why some of them are bolded.

Without further ado, Michele Mclaughlin's Album Release Checklist:

1. Write and compose the music

2. Title the songs

3. Title and theme the album

4. Write the liner notes for the album

5. Design the artwork for the album (I use Matt Strieby at NewLeaf Design)

6. Design the artwork for the songbook (I use Matt Strieby at NewLeaf Design)

7. Record the album

8. Master and Engineer the album (I use Joe Bongiorno at Piano Haven Studios)

9. Send recordings to transcriptionist to make the sheet music (I use Rebecca Oswald or John Zechiel)

10. Have the transcriptions proofed for errors (I use Kathy Parsons at MainlyPiano)

11. Set up the album on CD Baby (I prefer CD Baby over Tunecore)

12. Send barcode to designer for final design

13. Add ISRC codes to final master for manufacturing

14. Send CD artwork and mastered files to manufacturer (I use Diskmakers)

15. Send Songbook artwork and final PDF’s to printer (I use Shelton Turnbull)

16. Add songs and artwork to All Music and Gracenote Database

17. Setup pre-sale through iTunes, Bandcamp, Amazon and Website

18. Add album and image files to Advantage Amazon account

19. Add songs to PRO for both accounts (I’m with ASCAP)

20. Add songs to SoundExchange Repertoire

21. Send album to US Copyright Office (file online)

22. Add album and all components to my business intellectual property database

23. Create a pre-sale landing page on website for promotion

24. Add album to website (I use 12South Music for my website design)

25. Add songbook and sheet music to website

26. Create website slider images for promotion

27. Create promotion banners for Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+ and Instagram

28. Create banner image for email blasts

29. Add album to Bandcamp

30. Add album to Bandage

31. Add album to Reverberation

32. Add album to Soundcloud

33. Add sheet music to MusicNotes

34. Add sheet music to Sheet Music Plus

35. Add to Earbits

36. Add to Noisetrade

37. Announce the album via all social networking and mailing lists

38. Write a blog post to promote

39. Schedule Radio promotion campaign with a radio promoter (I use Ed Bonk at LAZZ Promotions or Kevin Wood at New Vision Promotions)

40. Make a one-sheet and album bio

41. Apply with Pandora advocate about possibly doing a Pandora Premiers

42. Send album to Whisperings

43. Send album to SoloPiano.com

44. Send album to Pandora (wait at least a month after it’s released, selling and has reviews)

45. Create and order promotional postcards (I use Overnight Prints)

46. Send promotional postcards to entire physical mailing list

47. Send album to the following reviewers:

48. Kathy Parsons (send songbook as well for review)

49. Bill Binkelman

50. RJ Lannan

51. Alejandro at RNA

52. Steve Sheppard at OWM

53. Stephen Cairns at Piano Heaven

54. Michael Diamond

55. Keith Hannaleck

56. Dick Metcalf

57. Heath Andrews

58. Do a complete OWM Radio Package for (featured artist, album show, album review, artist interview, etc.)

59. Do a 3 month Advertising banner on ZMR home page at the same time as radio campaign

60. Do a 3 month Advertising scroll on ZMR pages at the same time as radio campaign

61. Sign up as a ZMR Sponsor

62. Send album to all music friends and family (complimentary)

63. Enter album and songs into the following awards and music competitions:

64. HMMA Awards

65. USA Songwriting Competition

66. International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA’s)

67. International Songwriting Competition (ISC’s)

68. Just Plain Folks

69. Academia Awards

70. Indie Music Channel (IMC Awards)

71. Independent Music Awards (IMA’s)

72. John Lennon Songwriting Competition

73. Grammy’s

74. Do a 3 month online promotional campaign (I use CyberPR)

75. Work with my marketing team to promote the album (I use 12South Music)

76. Set up radio interviews

77. Do a Live CD Release concert

78. Do an Online CD Release concert with tipping incentives (I use Concert Window)

79. Submit music for licensing in film and TV.

80. Release album videos (YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, etc.)

81. Do Facebook and Google advertising campaigns for promotion

82. Market and promote like crazy

83. Tour to promote new album

And there you have it! It's lengthy, but it really pays to be thorough. Thanks again to Michele for letting us show this off, and make sure you go listen to her new album!

Have your own album release checklist? Share it in the comments below!