Hey there! If you‘re an artist looking to get your music out into the world, then you likely already know about SoundCloud. With over 30 million active users per month, SoundCloud is one of the top places for artists to share their music.
But did you know SoundCloud also lets you create full albums?
Album releases are a huge milestone for any music creator. But getting everything set up properly can be tricky if you‘ve never done it before.
Not to worry! I‘ve released multiple albums on SoundCloud myself, so I‘ll be sharing everything I‘ve learned over the years about how to create a professional album from start to finish.
By the end of this guide, you‘ll know:
- Exactly how to set up an album on SoundCloud, step-by-step
- Tips for organizing and optimizing your tracklist
- Smart strategies to promote your new album
- The major benefits of releasing albums on SoundCloud
Let‘s dive in!
Contents
What is a SoundCloud Album?
Before we get into the steps, let‘s quickly cover what a SoundCloud album actually is.
An album on SoundCloud is a collection of songs grouped together as a single body of work. Albums have their own sections on artist profiles, so all your songs are neatly packaged in one place.
This makes albums different than playlists, which are more casual collections of tracks.
Here are some key differences between SoundCloud albums and playlists:
| Albums | Playlists |
| Get their own section on profiles | Grouped under "Playlists" section |
| Can choose release dates | Release immediately |
| Link to artist profiles | Not associated with artists |
| Can generate revenue | No monetization |
So in summary, albums are meant to be complete, cohesive musical projects rather than just mixes of random songs.
This guide will show you how to set up your music as an official album release on SoundCloud. Let‘s get to it!
Step-by-Step: How to Create an Album on SoundCloud
Here‘s the full process for creating an album from beginning to end:
1. Sign Up for a SoundCloud Account
First things first – you need a SoundCloud account!
- Go to SoundCloud.com and click Sign Up in the top right corner
- Choose to sign up as a creator
- Pick a username for your artist profile
If you already have a SoundCloud account, log into it and continue to the next step.
2. Make a New Playlist
SoundCloud albums start out as playlists before being officially published as albums.
To create your album playlist:
- Click your profile picture > Create Playlist
- Name your playlist after your album title
- Click Create Playlist
This creates the starting point you‘ll add your album tracks to.
3. Add Your Album Tracks
Now it‘s time to start populating your playlist with the songs you want on the album:
- Click "Add tracks" on the playlist page
- To upload new tracks – Select "Upload" and choose audio files from your computer
- To add existing tracks – Search for already uploaded tracks and click "Add to playlist"
- Add all the songs you want, re-ordering them into the tracklist you want
Be sure your tracks are in the perfect order you want them heard in!
4. Customize Playlist Details
Before publishing your album, some customization will make it look more professional:
- Add artwork – Upload your album cover and individual song artworks
- Song titles – Name songs with featuring artists, parentheses, etc.
- Descriptions – Background info for each track adds context
- Audio editing – Trim intros/outros, adjust levels, etc.
This extra polish improves the listening experience.
5. Convert Playlist to Album
Here‘s where that playlist officially becomes an album:
- Click the 3 dots by the playlist name > Edit Details
- Under "Basic Info", change Playlist Type from "Playlist" to "Album"
- Click Save at the bottom
That‘s it! It‘s now an album.
6. Complete Album Details
Almost there! Just some final metadata to round out your album:
- Release Date – Choose a set public release date
- Description – Share background, thank people involved, etc.
- Tags – Include relevant genres, moods, etc.
- Permissions – Allow/block downloading, embedded players, etc.
Hit Save again and your album is complete!
You‘ve successfully created an album – congrats! Now get it out there:
- Share album link on your social media profiles
- Email link to fans and newsletter subscribers
- Pitch to blogs/playlists to get featured
- Run album launch promotions and contests
- Analyze stats to improve marketing
This album release calls for a celebration! Enjoy this big milestone.
Pro Tips for Organizing Your Album
Now that you know how to put an album together on SoundCloud, let‘s talk about best practices for organizing the album itself:
Pick a Clear Theme or Genre
Even if you make diverse music, keep albums cohesive around a style or sound. This creates a more immersive experience for listeners when songs complement each other.
Sequence Songs Intentionally
Don‘t just randomly order tracks on your album. Arrange them purposefully so the listening flows smoothly from one song into the next.
Only Include Your Best Work
Quality over quantity. An album shouldn‘t be treated like a dumping ground for mediocre leftovers. Only include songs as strong as your best hits.
Add Unique Track Details
Go beyond just song titles. Denote movements, sections, interludes, skits, etc in your titles and descriptions to add context.
Use Visual Branding
Visually tie the album together with consistent branding and imagery across the cover art, song arts, merch, etc.
Include Transitions
Recorded transitions between songs or even just simple crossfades can help blend tracks seamlessly together into an album narrative.
Strategies to Market Your New Album
Creating the album itself is only the first step – next you need to market it to actually get listeners!
Here are my top strategies for promoting a new album release:
Email Your Existing Fans
Start by sharing your exciting news with fans who already follow you and your work. Send out an email blast or newsletter announcing the new album.
Post on Social Media
Inform all your audiences across social platforms. Create posts sharing the album, and shorter teaser clips leading up to release.
Run Contests and Promotions
Encourage user-generated content around your album through remix competitions, TikTok challenges, giveaways, etc.
Pitch Playlists
Reach out to prominent Spotify playlists and SoundCloud stations that fit your genre. Getting added exposes you to their engaged audiences.
Collaborate with Similar Artists
Find artists with complementary styles and fanbases to cross-promote each other‘s albums and do features.
Create music videos, animated lyric videos, short-form video clips, and other engaging visual content for songs on the album to promote across social media and YouTube.
Analyze Your Data
Check album stats to see top tracks, listener demographics, traffic sources, and other data to help inform marketing.
The Benefits of Releasing Albums on SoundCloud
Here‘s a quick rundown of the major advantages you get from releasing full albums on SoundCloud:
More Organized Artist Profile
Albums automatically group all your tracks neatly together in one place instead of being scattered across your profile.
Greater Discoverability
Albums get their own pages with metadata, tags, etc. so they have more opportunities to be found in searches compared to loose songs.
Monetization Potential
If your account is monetized, albums allow you to generate revenue from fans purchasing and downloading your music.
Professional Credibility
Full albums make you look more legitimate as an artist rather than just uploading random singles and loose tracks.
Listening Experience
When tracks are organized into an album narrative, listeners can more deeply connect with the artistry.
Milestone for Fans
Followers get excited about new album releases and see them as an "event", strengthening their bond with you as an artist.
Final Tips for SoundCloud Album Success
We‘ve covered a lot of ground here! To wrap things up, here are few final tips:
-
Release singles first to build anticipation
-
Host an album release party to make it feel like a major event
-
Carefully sequence tracks – don‘t just randomly order them
-
Tell a story that connects the album together
-
Make sure you own rights to share all vocals, samples, etc.
-
In your description, link to sites like Bandcamp for purchases
And that‘s a wrap! You now have all the tools you need to create a professional album release on SoundCloud.
Bringing an album from concept to completion is deeply rewarding. I hope this guide gave you ideas and inspiration to share your musical vision with the world in album format.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to chat more about SoundCloud albums or music marketing.
Keep creating! You‘ve got this.
