Why You Should Get Feedback on Your Song Before You Release It

A while ago I was streaming on Instagram, giving feedback on my followers' music, when a question in the chat caught my eye:

"Any feedback on the mixing?"

The song was already out on Spotify, and the artist wasn't sure about the mix. In my opinion, the mix wasn't good enough.

And this is something I see all the time when I review songs for my playlists. A lot of the music I get doesn't meet industry standards yet. The mix is off, the melodies repeat, or the structure is generic.

The biggest mistake is asking for feedback after the song comes out, not before.

Once the song is out, there's no room to improve it or adjust anything to get better results.

Two types of musicians

There are a lot of types of musicians, but two matter here.

• Musicians who want to succeed and are ready to put in the work and build the right mindset.
• Musicians who simply enjoy making music and sharing it for fun.

Both are fine. But when someone pays to send me a song, I assume they're the first type. If they weren't, they wouldn't want criticism, and they probably wouldn't spend a penny on their music.

So if you want to grow, there's one way to do it. Get feedback, a lot of it, and get it before you release the song.

The easy and affordable way to get feedback

For professional pre-release feedback, I often recommend SoundCheck by SoundBetter, where top producers and engineers review your song. But I know it's not in everybody's budget.

A cheaper option is the Hot or Not feature on SubmitHub. It costs a few dollars in credits, and here's how it works:

• Decide how many reviews you want. I recommend 20 to 50, so you get a range of opinions.
• Pick three things you want feedback on, like the instrumental, the production or the vocals. You can also add specifics, like the mix.
• Set your song's genre, as precisely as you can.
• Submit the song and wait for the results.

A few days later you get a score and written reviews. When I tested one of my own songs, 70% of listeners rated it above average, and the written comments showed me how people heard it.

If several reviewers point out the same issue, it's probably worth fixing. The method isn't perfect, but if enough people who like your genre hear it, you get a clear picture of how the song might do after release.

"I don't care what people think, I'm releasing it anyway"

As a musician myself, I get it. You worked hard on a song, you're proud of it, and not everybody loves it the way you do. It's tough.

I've been there every year since I started releasing music, and I'll be there again. The difference is that I manage my expectations.

For songs that don't connect widely, I don't spend my whole marketing budget, I don't make endless content, and I don't get disappointed by low engagement. I make those songs for me, and any success is a bonus.

So ask yourself: do you see yourself on a big stage, like Coachella, in the next few years? Or are you happy making music for fun, without worrying about numbers?

These are simple questions, and they matter for your success and your mental health.

Thick skin and honest feedback

If you want to succeed, you need thick skin and honest feedback. If your music isn't there yet, build a team of co-producers and mixing engineers, or take vocal lessons. If money is tight, work extra shifts. And if you're not ready for that, set realistic expectations and decide what "making it" means to you.

In 2024 alone I reviewed over 15,000 song submissions (it's over 50,000 in total now). Out of all those artists, I believe only one or two will make a living from their music.

Most of the others did the bare minimum. They sent the song to playlists and moved on to the next release, which often sounded just as okay as the first one.

So you have a choice. Beat the competition, or set the bar low. Both are fine, as long as you feel good about it. I'm being blunt because I want to see you succeed.

And if you'd like my honest take on a song, I listen to every one that comes through my song submissions and send you personal feedback.