Spotify introduces countdown pages to boost releases

Spotify is transforming the way albums are promoted with the rollout of Countdown Pages, a powerful tool built inside of Spotify for Artists that is designed to ramp up excitement ahead of an EP or album release. This feature has been tested with a select group of artists and is expanding to all eligible artists to enhance their pre-release strategies.

Building momentum before the release

Countdown Pages serve as a central hub where fans can engage with an artist's upcoming album. Here, they can presave the album, preview the tracklist, watch exclusive clips, purchase merchandise, and watch a countdown to the album's release—all within Spotify. This integration allows artists to maintain momentum across platforms seamlessly and focus their promotional efforts where their music is actually streamed.

Eligibility and Accessibility

Artists with at least 5,000 active listeners in the last 28 days (based on 28-day streaming history) can create a Countdown Page for their upcoming album once it's been delivered to Spotify.

To check your eligibility for Countdown Pages via Spotify for Artists on the web:

• Log into Spotify for Artists.
• Go to the Audience tab and then click on Segments.
• Click Active audience to see how many active listeners you have.

If you meet the criteria but don’t have access to create a Countdown Page, check back soon as this feature is being rolled out over the next few weeks.

Countdown Pages are available to listeners in the Spotify desktop and mobile apps in every market Spotify operates in. Clips in Countdown Pages are viewable in the Spotify mobile app in over 70 markets.

Creating a Countdown Page

• Log in to Spotify for Artists.
• Go to the Music tab and then click on Upcoming.
• Once your licensor has delivered your release, you’ll see the option to create the Countdown Page.
• Select the release, and click Get started.
• Upload Clips and tag your merch.
• Review and publish.

Note: Your Countdown Page is only live on Spotify once you publish it. You can create and edit a Countdown Page up until the release goes live. Once published, fans can start presaving your release and watching your Clips via your artist profile, the Now Playing view, notifications, and more.

Enhanced fan engagement

Countdown Pages are proving to be a vital tool in the pre-release phase, typically the most crucial time for an album's lifecycle. For instance, pop icon Taylor Swift's album, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT, set records as the most presaved album on Spotify. Artists like Meghan Trainor have also leveraged this feature to share exclusive content and drive presaves, with Meghan noting significant engagement from sharing a video snippet on her Countdown Page before any other platform.

The power of presaving

Statistics reveal that over 80% of album presaves on Spotify occur within the week of an album announcement and the week leading up to its release. Artists who add clips to their Countdown Pages tend to see double the presaves compared to those who don’t. For example, alt-rock band Wallows used clips to share behind-the-scenes studio footage, significantly boosting their album's presaves and overall excitement.

Comprehensive support for artists

With Countdown Pages, Spotify continues to invest in features that not only highlight the album as an artistic statement but also help artists strengthen their connection with fans. Additional tools available through Spotify for Artists, like Clips, Canvas and Campaign Kit, are detailed in the recently launched New Release Guide. This guide is designed to support artists at every step of their release process, ensuring they maximize their reach and engagement on the platform.

Spotify’s expansion of Countdown Pages reaffirms its commitment to providing innovative solutions that enhance music promotion, artist-fan engagement and the overall listening experience on the platform.