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      Sell Direct Rollout Strategy with EngineEars

      Once your single, EP, or album is finished, it’s time to build your rollout strategy. Give yourself at least one solid week to prepare and create all necessary content for your release.

      🎯 DTC Playbook for Artists

      ✅ Step-by-Step Rollout Plan

      Day 1: Capture Your Story on Camera

      Set up your phone or camera, find a clean and on-brand background, and record yourself answering the following questions. Be thoughtful about your delivery and the aesthetic.

      Check Out This Example!

      Prompt Questions (Use as a guide—not a script):

      • Who are you?

      • What’s this project about?

      • What’s the meaning behind the title and/or album cover?

      • What does this early release on EngineEars mean to you?

      • What’s included in the release?

      • Mention the Pay What You Want feature

      • How can fans support you directly?

      • Who helped bring this to life? (Producers, engineers, features)

      • What’s your favorite song and why?

      • What do you want people to take away from this?

      • Any personal message to your fans?

      You don’t have to follow these exact questions. The goal is to communicate three core things:

      1. Who you are

      2. What this project is about

      3. Why fans should support it directly through EngineEars

      That last part matters. It’s not just about hyping your music — it’s about helping people understand what direct support actually does for an independent artist. Most artists are coming out of pocket to fund studio time, mixes, cover art, distribution, and everything in between. This is your chance to show what it means when someone chooses to support you early, directly, and on your terms. That context builds empathy — and that empathy can drive real support.

      🎬 Edit & Clip for Social

      Use tools like Opus.pro to turn your long video into multiple short-form clips:

      • Upload your full video

      • Fill in key details and edit captions to fit your tone

      • Select clips you want to move forward with

      • Add branding — upload the EngineEars logo and/or your own artist logo

      • Export your final short-form clips for rollout on IG, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and more

      🔥 Real-World Example: Sham1016’s Direct Release Rollout

      Sham1016 used EngineEars Direct to release his project and turned it into a major moment with fans. In less than 48 hours, he earned $1,000 from just 54 fans.

      He did this by combining:

      • Story-driven video content

      • Consistent social posting

      • Clean artwork and thumbnails

      • Clear fan messaging

      • Direct calls to support his release

      👉 Read the full case study here

      🧠 Rollout Video Examples from Sham1016:

      1. Clip explaining what fans get when they support

      2. Short form video highlighting the value of supporting early

      3. Still post with clean artwork and project announcement

      Each of these examples used:

      • High-resolution images

      • Clean, intentional thumbnails

      • Strong visual branding

      • Direct messaging around the value of early support

      🎨 Not a Designer? No Problem.

      Use these AI tools to create cover art, logos, and videos—even if you don’t have a creative team:

      • Midjourney – AI-generated artwork for covers, moodboards, or background assets

      • Adobe Firefly / Adobe Express – Create branded visuals quickly with templates

      • Runway ML – Add effects and edit video with AI-assisted tools

      • Google Gemini – Write captions, video scripts, or rollout posts

      • Canva – Design album covers, promo stories, and more with easy drag-and-drop tools

      🎧 Release Setup

      • ✅ Schedule your Sell Direct release on EngineEars based on a target release date

      • 📣 Launch Symphony Ads to target social audiences to amplify your release

      • 📅 Schedule your rollout on social media by posting social content (see suggested schedule below)

      📅 Social Content Schedule

      Day

      Content

      Day 1

      Clip 1: Who you are, the project’s theme, and collaborators

      Day 2

      Clip 2: Announcement – Project is LIVE on EngineEars for Early Release

      Day 3

      Clip 3: Your favorite songs and key takeaway

      Day 4

      Clip 4: Personal message to your fans + how they can support you

      Day 5

      Personalized IG Story: Reminder of where fans can support the project

      Pro Tip: Use Instagram Stories, TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts to diversify your content reach.

      💡 Final Tip

      You don’t need a major label budget to launch like a pro.
      By combining authenticity, aesthetic, and the right tools, you can connect directly with your fans and turn your art into income. And when you give people a clear reason to support you — when they understand that their contribution helps you fund the vision — that’s what builds true community and loyalty.