Glossary / Release

Industry terms

Waterfall release

A waterfall release puts out songs one at a time, with each new release including the earlier ones, so a project builds up single by single.

Also called: waterfall strategy, waterfall EP

By Aulto · Last reviewed

How does a waterfall work?

Release song one as a single. A few weeks later, release songs one and two together. Then one, two and three, and so on, until the full EP or album is out.

Why do artists do it?

Each step is a new release, which means a new chance at playlists, a new release day for fans and the algorithm, and a longer stretch of attention.

What's the key detail?

Use the same ISRC for each song every time it reappears. That way streaming services treat it as the same recording, and its play count and playlist placements carry over.

Example

Over eight weeks an artist releases four songs as a waterfall, ending in a four-track EP whose first song already has eight weeks of streams.

  • ISRC

    An ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is a 12-character code that identifies one specific recording, so its plays and sales can be tracked and paid.

  • Rollout

    A rollout is the whole plan around a release, from the first tease to the follow-up weeks after it comes out.

  • Cover art

    Cover art is the square image that represents a release on every streaming service, store and smart link page.

  • Drop

    A drop is a release that goes out at a set moment, like a new song, a merch line or a product, announced ahead so people show up at once.

  • Hook

    A hook is the part of a song, or the first seconds of a video, built to grab attention and make people stay.

  • Master recording

    The master recording is the final, released version of a recorded song, and whoever owns it owns the rights to that specific recording.

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