The Loud blog
Guides for independent artists: releases, fans, shows and everything around your music.
Shows · 5 min read
How to Email a Venue to Book a Gig: Templates and Follow-Ups (2026)
How to write a booking email to a venue or promoter: who to write to, what to put in it, subject lines, three templates and when to follow up.
Your website · 6 min read
DJ Website: What to Put on It and in What Order (2026)
What a DJ or electronic producer needs on a website and in what order: mixes, gigs, releases, a booking contact, a press photo and a mailing list.
Shows · 7 min read
Tech Rider and Stage Plot for Bands: Template and Example (2026)
What a tech rider and a stage plot are, what goes in each, how many channels your lineup needs, and a template with a full input list to copy.
Your website · 7 min read
Musician Website: What to Put on It, With Examples From 73 Artist Sites (2026)
What a musician website needs and in what order, from 73 official artist sites we checked: the sections they share, examples by genre and a checklist.
Your website · 6 min read
Best Website Builders for Musicians (2026): Prices and What Each Is For
Bandzoogle, Squarespace, Wix, Bandcamp and Loud compared by what each is for, with prices checked on their own pages and where each one falls short.
Releasing music · 7 min read
Album Cover Size (2026): Pixels for Spotify, Apple Music and Distributors
Album cover size: a 3000x3000 px square JPG in RGB passes Spotify, DistroKid, TuneCore and CD Baby. Every platform's rules compared, with sources.
Releasing music · 12 min read
Music Distributor Comparison (2026): What Happens to Your Songs When You Stop Paying
Eight music distributors compared on price, commission and what happens to your songs if you stop paying, from their own pages, Nov 1, 2026. CSV included.
Your website · 5 min read
How to Switch from Linktree to Loud (2026): Links, Fans and Your Bio
Move from Linktree to Loud in about 20 minutes: what moves on its own, how to bring your fan list, what to do with old linktr.ee links and when to stay.
Releasing music · 7 min read
How to Release Music on Spotify as an Independent Artist (2026)
How to get your music on Spotify without a label: pick a distributor, upload, claim Spotify for Artists, pitch 7 days early and share one release link.
Your website · 7 min read
How to Write an Artist Bio: Template, Examples and Limits (2026)
Write a short, a medium and a long artist bio from one set of facts: a fill-in template, examples, every platform's character limit and a free bio builder.
Releasing music · 7 min read
Spotify Playlist Pitch: Rules, Template and Examples (2026)
Pitch one unreleased song in Spotify for Artists at least 7 days before release. The form's rules, a fill-in template, two examples and a free builder.
Releasing music · 5 min read
Song Length Calculator: BPM, Bars and Average Song Length
Work out a song's length from BPM and bars with a free calculator (sections, timestamps, Spotify's 30-second mark), plus 2025's average hit length: 3:24.
Releasing music · 7 min read
Music Release Checklist: What to Do 4 Weeks Out to Release Week (2026)
A week-by-week music release checklist for independent artists: distributor upload, Spotify pitch deadline, pre-save, release page and fan email.
Releasing music · 6 min read
EP vs Album vs Single: Track Counts and Length Rules (2026)
An EP is 4 to 6 tracks and 30 minutes or less; an album is 7+ tracks or over 30 minutes. Spotify and Apple Music rules compared, plus a free checker.
Releasing music · 6 min read
Spotify Canvas Size, Length and Specs (2026): Upload Without Errors
Spotify Canvas specs: 3–8 seconds, 9:16 vertical, 720–1080 px tall, MP4 or JPG. How to upload it, fix upload errors and why it isn't showing.
Releasing music · 7 min read
What Is an ISRC Code? How to Get One (and Find Yours) in 2026
An ISRC identifies one recording, not one song. How to read it, get it free from your distributor or national agency, find it on Spotify, and ISRC vs UPC.
Shows · 4 min read
What to Email Your Fans Before a Show (3 Short Templates)
Reach the fans who can actually go, at the right time: what to email your fans before a show, when to send each one, and three short templates to copy.
Fans · 4 min read
Email List for Musicians: How to Start One and What to Send
Reach your fans without a feed in between: how to start an email list for musicians, where to put the sign-up, what to send and which tools include one.
Your website · 3 min read
Link in Bio for Rappers: What to Put First
Keep your newest drop at the top without editing every week: what a link in bio for rappers should show first, in what order, and which tool fits you.
Your website · 5 min read
Loud vs Beacons for Musicians: Which One Fits?
Pick the right home for your bio link: Loud vs Beacons for musicians, with prices, free plans, store, fan emails and auto-updates on each release compared.
Releasing music · 4 min read
Music Release Landing Page: What to Put on It on Day One
Give every new song one link that works before and after it's out: what a music release landing page needs, before and on release day, and free tools.
Releasing music · 4 min read
DistroKid Pre-Save Link: How to Get It, Share It and See Who Saved (2026)
Start collecting pre-saves the minute your upload is done: how to find your DistroKid pre-save link (HyperFollow), edit it, add a pixel and see who saved.
Releasing music · 3 min read
Spotify Pre-Save Links: How They Work and When to Use One
Get day-one saves before your song is even out: how a Spotify pre-save link works, the free ways to make one and when it's worth asking fans for it.
Your website · 3 min read
Can You Add Your Website to Spotify for Artists?
Get Spotify listeners to your website even without a link field: which links Spotify for Artists allows, where they show up and what to do instead.
Your website · 4 min read
How to Add Your Spotify Link to Your Instagram Bio (2026)
Get your music one tap from your Instagram profile: how to add your Spotify link to your Instagram bio, which link to use and how to order up to five.
Your website · 3 min read
How to Add Your Spotify Link to Your TikTok Bio (2026)
Send TikTok listeners straight to your music: how to add your Spotify link to your TikTok bio, who can add one and what to do before 1,000 followers.
Your website · 7 min read
7 Linktree Alternatives for Musicians (2026): Free Plans and Prices
Find the link in bio that fits your music: free plans, real prices and music features of Feature.fm, Linkfire, Hypeddit, Beacons, Carrd, Bandzoogle, Loud.
Your website · 5 min read
How to Use a Custom Domain for Your Artist Website
Keep the same address even if you switch tools: how to pick the name, .com or not, where to buy it, what it costs and how to connect it with DNS.
Your website · 4 min read
Do Musicians Still Need a Website in 2026?
Have a place of your own beyond Instagram: what a website gives you that socials don't, when a link in bio is enough and the smallest site to make.
Your website · 5 min read
How to Make a Music Website in Two Minutes (No Design Skills)
Skip the design work: the sections a musician's site needs, how to build it from one of your songs step by step, and what to do once it's live.
Your website · 5 min read
What to Put in Your Instagram Bio Link as a Musician
Plan the link in your Instagram bio: what goes first, how many links Instagram allows, an order to use around each release and mistakes to avoid.
Your website · 6 min read
Loud vs Bandzoogle: Which Website Builder Fits Your Music?
Pick the right site for your music: Loud builds and updates itself, Bandzoogle sells with 0% commission. Prices, free trial, emails and design.
Your website · 6 min read
Loud vs Linktree: Which Link in Bio Is Better for Musicians?
Stop updating links by hand, or keep Linktree's pre-saves and store? Prices, free plans, fan emails, release auto-updates and stats, compared side by side.
Shows · 7 min read
Music Press Kit (EPK): What to Include, a Template and an Example (2026)
What a music press kit (EPK) is, what to include for promoters, press and festivals, what a band adds, how long it should be, and a template to fill in.
Your website and link in bio, built from your music.
You make the music. Loud builds both from your songs, keeps them up to date with every release, and gathers your fans so you can write to them directly.