The Album Cycle Explained

So an example of an “Album Cycle” for a PERFORMING MUSICIAN is as follows:

#1 Go into the studio and record your album. Ideally finish it within 6-8 weeks. Release date is set as nearing the end of the album is made clear.
#2 When you near the end of recording and have an album title, the ‘marketing dept’ (i.e. me myself and i) is supposed to get the album art ready and start setting up pre-release press interviews and reviews.
#3 Finish recording the album. Send the album away for replication, do a short run of a couple hundred CD’s to send to press for reviews, radio, pre-release promo etc. For indie artists, the short run step is skipped due to lack of funds, or done home-made CD burning ghetto style or just skipped. Your ‘booking dept’ (i.e my myself and I or a management team, i.e. friends who are willing to help) starts booking gigs and performance dates for a couple weeks before the release thru to a month after the release date. They/we are also ideally setting up a more substantial ‘tour’ or grouping of shows for the next touring season (Fall or Spring). Your ‘marketing dept’ is setting up some live tapings and web promo.

#4 Get as much press and coverage as possible before, during and through your album release to a few weeks after your release. Have a rockin’ release party.
#5 Get local indie radio or ANY radio station to play your PRIME single. (For Indie artists, this is a shot in the dark. Better to focus on playing out as much as you can.)
#6 Make a video of your PRIME single. Place on your website and youtube for fans to enjoy.
#7 Play shows, play shows, play shows. Promote shows with local press interviews and in-studio radio perf and interviews. Rest for a few weeks.
#8 Play more shows, play shows and some more shows. Rest, then do one more big group of shows.
#9 It is now approximately 1 year (or 2 if the album does really well) after you have released your album.
#10 Take a break to write new material if you haven’t been doing it during the promo, booking, performing, etc. Rest a few months. See #1 and do #1-#10 again.

This is an example of an “album cycle”. This is what your favorite major label artists plan/try/attempt to do after they release their albums. Who pays for it all and how much everyone makes is a whole ‘nother blog entry!