What Is a Pre-Save?
A pre-save is a commitment from a fan: “When this song comes out, add it to my library automatically.” Here is why pre-saves matter:- Day-one streams. Fans who pre-save are far more likely to stream your song on release day. The track is already in their library — they do not have to search for it.
- Algorithm boost. Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms factor pre-saves and day-one engagement into their algorithmic playlist recommendations. More pre-saves = better chance of landing on algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly and Release Radar.
- Fan data. Every pre-save captures fan information (email, phone, location) that you own. This builds your direct fan database for future marketing.
- Momentum. A pre-save campaign builds anticipation. Fans feel invested in your release before it drops.
Setting Up a Pre-Save Campaign
A pre-save campaign is created automatically when you add a music release with a future release date. Here is the setup flow:- Go to Assets > Music and click ”+ Add Track”.
- Step 1 (Track Info): Enter your song title, upload artwork. A release with great artwork converts significantly better.
- Step 2 (Codes): Add your ISRC if you have it (optional but recommended for automatic link fetching on release day).
- Step 3 (Dates): This is where the pre-save campaign is configured.
- Set your Pre-Save Open Date — when fans can start pre-saving.
- Set your Release Date — when the song goes live and pre-saves are executed.
- Choose your Timezone.
- Select which platforms fans can pre-save on (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Tidal).
- Click “Create Release”.
Platform Selection
You choose which streaming platforms appear as pre-save options on your landing page. Here is what to know about each:Spotify
The most popular pre-save platform. When a fan clicks “Pre-Save on Spotify,” they are taken through an OAuth authorization flow — they log into their Spotify account and grant permission for Fanaura to save the track to their library on release day. This is a one-time authorization per fan. Once they have authorized, future pre-saves from your artist page do not require re-authorization. What happens on release day: Fanaura’s system automatically calls the Spotify API and adds your track to every fan’s Saved Songs library. The fan wakes up on release day with your song already in their library.Apple Music
Fans pre-add the track to their Apple Music library. The flow is similar to Spotify — fans authorize via Apple Music and the track is queued for automatic addition on release day.YouTube Music
Fans pre-save to their YouTube Music library. The track is added to their library on release day.Amazon Music
Fans pre-save to Amazon Music. Available for fans with Amazon Music subscriptions.Tidal
Fans pre-save to their Tidal library. Great for reaching audiophile fans and markets where Tidal is popular.Tip: At minimum, always enable Spotify and Apple Music. These two platforms cover the vast majority of streaming fans. Add others based on where your audience listens.
The Fan Experience
Here is exactly what a fan sees when they visit your pre-save page:The Landing Page
Your pre-save smart link opens a beautiful, mobile-optimized landing page featuring:- Your release artwork — large, centered, and eye-catching.
- Your artist name and song title.
- Platform buttons — one for each platform you enabled (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.). Each button is branded with the platform’s icon and colors.
- A call-to-action encouraging the fan to pre-save.
Data Collection
When a fan clicks a pre-save button, Fanaura collects their information with explicit consent. Depending on your data wrapper settings (configured in Assets > Settings), fans may be asked for:- Email address — For your email marketing list.
- Phone number — For SMS campaigns.
- Name — For personalized messaging.
The OAuth Flow (Spotify)
For Spotify pre-saves, the flow looks like this:- Fan clicks “Pre-Save on Spotify”.
- A Spotify login window opens (if they are not already logged in).
- Fan authorizes Fanaura to access their Spotify account.
- Fan is redirected back to your landing page with a confirmation: “Pre-Save Successful!”
- Fanaura stores the fan’s authorization token securely.
Release Status Lifecycle
Every release moves through a series of statuses:Draft
The release has been created but is not yet visible to fans. Use this time to finalize artwork, add your ISRC, and get everything perfect.Announced
You have publicly announced the release. Your smart link page may show a teaser or “Coming Soon” state, depending on your configuration.Pre-Save Active
The pre-save open date has arrived. Fans can now visit your smart link and pre-save on their preferred platform. This is the most active marketing phase — share your link everywhere.Released
Release day has arrived. Fanaura automatically:- Executes all pending pre-saves — Adds the track to every fan’s library on their chosen platform.
- Switches your smart link — “Pre-Save” buttons become “Stream Now” buttons.
- Fetches streaming links — Uses your ISRC to find and populate links across all platforms.
Archived
The release cycle is complete. You can archive old releases to keep your dashboard clean. Archived releases remain accessible but are moved out of your active view.What Happens on Release Day
Release day is when the magic happens. Here is the sequence of events:- Midnight (your timezone): Your release date and time arrive.
- Pre-save execution: Fanaura’s system processes all pending pre-saves. For each fan who pre-saved:
- Spotify: The track is added to their Saved Songs library via the Spotify API.
- Apple Music: The track is pre-added to their library.
- Other platforms: Similar automatic additions.
- Smart link conversion: Your fan-facing landing page automatically switches from “Pre-Save” buttons to “Stream Now” buttons.
- ISRC link search: Fanaura uses your ISRC to search the Odesli API and find streaming links across all platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Deezer, Tidal, Pandora, SoundCloud, Audiomack, and more).
- Links populate: Found streaming links are automatically added to your smart link page. Fans clicking “Stream Now” are taken directly to the track on their preferred platform.
Pre-Save Analytics
Fanaura tracks every aspect of your pre-save campaign. You can view analytics from your release’s detail page.Presave Funnel
See the full conversion funnel:- Page Views — How many people visited your pre-save page.
- Presave Clicks — How many clicked a platform button.
- Presaves Completed — How many successfully authorized and pre-saved.
- Conversion Rate — The percentage of page visitors who completed a pre-save.
Platform Breakdown
See which platforms your fans prefer:- Percentage of pre-saves on Spotify vs. Apple Music vs. others.
- Helps you understand where your audience listens.
Location Data
See where your pre-savers are located:- City-level breakdown.
- Useful for planning tour dates and regional marketing.
Trend Charts
View pre-saves over time:- Daily or weekly view.
- See spikes from social media posts, email blasts, or other promotional activity.
Best Practices for Pre-Save Campaigns
Timing
- Open pre-saves 2-4 weeks before release. This gives fans enough time to discover and pre-save, but not so long that momentum fades.
- Announce first, then open pre-saves. Build excitement with an announcement (teaser video, artwork reveal), then drop your pre-save link a day or two later.
Promotion
- Put your pre-save link everywhere. Instagram bio, TikTok bio, Twitter/X, Facebook, email signature, text messages. Every touchpoint should link to your pre-save.
- Use Instagram Stories with a “Pre-Save” sticker. Stories with direct links drive massive pre-save conversions.
- Send an email and/or SMS blast. If you have an existing fan list, send them the pre-save link directly.
- Use Flow Builder. Set up an automated flow that sends a thank-you message to every fan who pre-saves, and a reminder on release day.
Optimization
- A/B test your artwork. If you have multiple artwork options, the one you use on your pre-save page matters. Go with the most eye-catching option.
- Make it easy. The fewer steps between “seeing your link” and “pre-saving,” the better. Fanaura’s one-page flow is designed for maximum conversion.
- Follow up. After a fan pre-saves, they are engaged. Use automations to keep the conversation going — share behind-the-scenes content, lyric previews, or exclusive updates before release day.
Common Questions
Can fans pre-save without giving their email?
It depends on your data wrapper settings. You control whether the data collection form appears and what fields are required. Some artists prefer to remove the data wrapper entirely to minimize friction, while others use it to build their contact list.What if my release date changes?
You can update your release date anytime from the release management page. All pending pre-saves will execute on the new date.How many pre-saves should I aim for?
There is no universal number. For independent artists, even 100-500 pre-saves can meaningfully impact your day-one streams and algorithmic performance. Focus on percentage growth — aim to beat your last release’s pre-save count.Do pre-saves count as streams?
No. A pre-save adds the track to a fan’s library, but it does not count as a stream. The stream happens when the fan actually plays the track after release.Next Steps
- Streaming Links — How auto link fetching works on release day
- Music Analytics — Deep dive into your release analytics
- Managing Releases — Editing dates, artwork, and settings after creation