Why Stages Matter
Think about the last album drop you were excited about. There is a different energy in the weeks leading up to it versus the day it comes out versus the weeks after. Your marketing should reflect that. Cycle stages let you:- Send the right message at the right time — teasers before release, celebration on release day, follow-up afterward
- Organize your flows visually — see at a glance which automations belong to which phase
- Prevent timing mistakes — a flow assigned to Pre-Release will not accidentally fire during Post-Release
- Run multiple flows per stage — have an email sequence, an SMS blast, and an IG DM responder all active during the same stage
Music Launch Stages
Music launches follow the lifecycle of a release from announcement to sustained streaming:Pre-Release (Purple Badge)
When: From your announcement date through the day before release. Goal: Build anticipation and drive presaves. This is where you create buzz. Your Pre-Release flows might include:- An announcement email with the single artwork and presave link
- An Instagram DM auto-responder for fans who comment “presave” on your teaser post
- An SMS blast to your VIP list with an exclusive snippet
- A follow-up email to fans who have not presaved yet (using a condition to check)
Release (Orange Badge)
When: Release day itself. Goal: Drive streams, shares, and immediate engagement. This is the moment everything has been building toward. Release-stage flows are all about the “it’s live!” energy:- A “It’s out NOW!” email with streaming links for every platform
- An SMS to presave fans: “Your presave just went live — go listen!”
- An Instagram DM to fans who commented on your teaser: “The wait is over. Link in bio.”
- A thank-you flow for fans who stream within the first 24 hours
Post-Release (Pink Badge)
When: From the day after release through up to 30 days later. Goal: Sustain momentum, re-engage fans, and deepen the relationship. The release day hype fades fast. Post-Release flows keep the conversation going:- A “Did you catch the music video?” email a few days after release
- Behind-the-scenes content dripped over the following weeks
- A playlist pitch email asking fans to add the song to their playlists
- A re-engagement SMS for fans who have not streamed yet
- A thank-you message to your most active streamers
Tour Launch Stages
Tour launches follow the lifecycle of ticket sales:Pre-Sale (Purple Badge)
When: From announcement through the day before general on-sale. Goal: Build anticipation and drive presale signups.- Announce tour dates via email blast
- Instagram DM auto-responder for fans asking about tickets
- SMS presale code delivery to VIP fans
- RSVP collection flows for show-specific interest
On-Sale (Orange Badge)
When: From general on-sale day through the shows. Goal: Drive ticket sales and fill venues.- “Tickets are live!” email with direct purchase links
- SMS reminders for fans who RSVP’d but have not bought tickets
- Instagram DM with ticket links for fans who comment “tickets”
- Low-ticket alerts for shows close to selling out
Post-Sale (Pink Badge)
When: After on-sale through after the shows. Goal: Enhance the live experience and capture post-show engagement.- Pre-show “See you tomorrow!” texts to ticket holders
- Post-show thank-you emails with photos and merch links
- “How was the show?” surveys
- Tour recap emails for fans who did not attend
Merch Launch Stages
Merch launches follow the lifecycle of a product drop:Pre-Sale (Purple Badge)
When: From announcement through the day before the drop. Goal: Build hype and drive pre-orders.- Teaser emails with product previews
- “First look” DMs to VIP fans
- Pre-order link delivery
- Countdown SMS blasts
On-Sale (Orange Badge)
When: From drop day through the active selling period. Goal: Drive purchases and maximize sales.- “It’s live — shop now!” email blast
- SMS with direct product links
- Instagram DM auto-responder for fans commenting about the merch
- Cart abandonment follow-ups
Post-Sale (Pink Badge)
When: After the primary selling period. Goal: Follow up, drive repeat purchases, and collect feedback.- Shipping confirmation emails
- “How are you liking it?” follow-up
- Cross-sell flows for related products
- Review request emails
Color-Coded Badges
Every stage has a distinctive badge color that appears throughout Fanaura:| Stage | Color | Where You See It |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Release / Pre-Sale | Purple | Launch detail, flow cards, Active Triggers Overview |
| Release / On-Sale | Orange | Launch detail, flow cards, Active Triggers Overview |
| Post-Release / Post-Sale | Pink | Launch detail, flow cards, Active Triggers Overview |
Multiple Flows Per Stage
Each stage can have as many flows as you need running simultaneously. There is no limit. Common patterns include:- One flow per channel: Separate email, SMS, and IG DM flows for the same stage
- One flow per audience segment: Different messaging for VIP fans versus casual followers
- One flow per trigger: A presave flow and a streaming link click flow both in Pre-Release
- A drip sequence plus a responder: A timed email sequence alongside an always-on keyword responder
Tips and Best Practices
- Map out your stages before building: Sketch which messages go in which stage before opening the flow builder
- Do not overload a single stage: Three to five focused flows per stage is usually ideal
- Use Post-Release / Post-Sale: Many artists neglect this stage, but it is where long-term fan relationships are built
- Check your dates: Stage transitions happen based on your launch dates, so make sure they are accurate
- Test each stage independently: Activate one stage at a time to make sure everything works before going fully live