How to Throw a CD Release Party

CD release parties are a great way to spread the word about a new CD. If you’re a brand new band or the Rolling Stones, a CD release party should be a given. It’s a way to connect with fans, network, and celebrate finishing the CD.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A new CD

1. Find a venue: a club makes the most sense. A restaurant or home can work for a listening-only party. Better yet, play live. Nothing like putting on a good live show to show people what you’re all about. Play the CD in either case.
2. Invite industry people: A&R people, music reviewers, bloggers, and more. Keep in mind that they get a lot of invites a week, so you can’t be guaranteed they’ll show up.
3. Invite fans. You should already have an email/snail mail list of fans. Send out Evites, direct mail, or other method of getting the word out. Ask fans to forward the message to their friends.
4. Advertise: post info wherever the band has a presence: Myspace, mp3 sites, and the band’s website. Also think about buying ad space in the local weekly or music magazines.
5. Get reviews and interviews. Try and time reviews and interviews around the time of the CD release party. This means sending out promo CD’s well ahead of the release date.
6. Give away promos: This means free CD’s. It’d be nice if everyone bought the CD, but you should definitely have several hundred CD’s set aside for promotional consideration.
7. Provide free food and drink. An open bar and free food is a sure way to make people happy and stay put.

Tips & Warnings

• If you throw a really raging party, the word could spread around so it’ll be easier to get people to come to a release party the next time around.
• Get fans to throw release parties in their home town. Send out promo materials and CDs so fans can throw a party on the same date as the main CD release party.
• Make the CD release party the kick-off for a tour.