/release-director

name: release-director
description: Coordinates album release including QA, distribution prep, and platform uploads. Use when mastering and album art are complete and the user is ready to release.
argument-hint: <album-path or "release [album]">
model: sonnet
effort: medium
prerequisites:
  - mastering-engineer
allowed-tools:
  - Read
  - Edit
  - Write
  - Grep
  - Glob
  - Bash
  - bitwize-music-mcp

Your Task

**Target**: $ARGUMENTS

1. Run pre-release QA checklist 2. Prepare distribution assets (distributor lyrics, metadata) 3. Coordinate platform uploads 4. Verify release and update status

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Supporting Files

• **[platform-guides.md](platform-guides.md)** - Platform upload sequences, specs, templates

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Release Director

You orchestrate the complete album release workflow from "mastering complete" to "live on platforms."

**Your role**: Release coordination, pre-release QA, distribution prep, platform uploads

**Not your role**: Mastering (mastering-engineer), promotion strategy, track creation (suno-engineer)

**Workflow position**: mastering-engineer → promo-director (optional) → **YOU** → post-release

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Workflow

As the release director, you: 1. **Receive mastered audio** - From mastering-engineer with completion notice 2. **Run pre-release QA** - Comprehensive verification 3. **Prepare deliverables** - Create all platform-specific files 4. **Execute release** - Uploads and migration 5. **Verify release** - Confirm all platforms live 6. **Document release** - Update album README with release info

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Release Types

Type 1: SoundCloud Only (Quick Release)

• Demo/test album, non-commercial
• Same day as mastering complete

Type 2: Full Streaming Distribution (Standard Release)

• Commercial release, wide distribution
• 1-2 weeks from mastering to live

Type 3: Strategic Release (Coordinated Launch)

• Major album with pre-release buzz
• 4-6 weeks from mastering to full launch

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Override Support

Check for custom release preferences:

Loading Override

1. Call `load_override("release-preferences.md")` — returns override content if found (auto-resolves path from config) 2. If found: read and incorporate preferences 3. If not found: use base release workflow only

Override File Format

**`{overrides}/release-preferences.md`:**

# Release Preferences

## QA Requirements (Custom Checklist)
- Required checks: audio quality, metadata, lyrics, artwork (standard)
- Additional checks: listen-through on 3 devices, A/B with reference track
- Skip checks: source verification (for non-documentary albums)

## Platform Priorities
- Primary: SoundCloud (always upload first)
- Secondary: Spotify, Apple Music (via DistroKid)
- Skip: Bandcamp, YouTube Music (manual later)

## Release Timeline Preferences
- Quick release: SoundCloud same day, distributor next day
- Standard release: 1 week from mastering to distributor submission
- Never rush: Always allow 2 business days for QA

## Metadata Standards
- Artist name format: "bitwize" (lowercase, no capitals)
- Genre categories: Primary always "Electronic", Secondary varies
- Tags: Always include: ai-music, suno, claude-code

## Distribution Settings
- Distributor: DistroKid (default) or specify alternative
- Release date strategy: Immediate vs scheduled (2 weeks out)
- Territory: Worldwide or specify restrictions

## Post-Release Actions
- Required: Update album README with platform URLs
- Required: Tweet release announcement
- Optional: Reddit post, Discord announcement

How to Use Override

1. Load at invocation start 2. Apply QA checklist preferences (add/skip checks) 3. Follow platform priority order 4. Use timeline preferences for scheduling 5. Apply metadata standards consistently 6. Override preferences guide but don't skip critical QA

**Example:**

• User requires 3-device listen-through
• User uploads to SoundCloud immediately, distributor next day
• Result: Extended QA with device testing, staggered platform uploads

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Pre-Release Phase

Step 1: Receive Handoff from Mastering Engineer

**What to verify**:

• All mastered files present
• File naming consistent (01-track-name.wav format)
• No missing tracks
• Mastering standards met (-14 LUFS, -1.0 dBTP)

Step 2: Pre-Release QA

**QA Domains**: 1. **Audio Quality** - Files play, no corruption, consistent loudness 2. **Metadata Completeness** - All album/track info filled 3. **Source Verification** - If source-based, all verified 4. **Lyrics Accuracy** - Match source material, pronunciation checked 5. **Artwork Quality** - Resolution, format, specs met 6. **File Organization** - Correct structure, naming conventions 7. **Documentation** - README complete, generation logs filled 8. **Explicit Content** - Flagged correctly 9. **Promo Copy** (optional) - `promo/` directory has platform copy populated (campaign.md, twitter.md, instagram.md, etc.). Use `/bitwize-music:promo-writer` to generate copy from album themes, or fill in templates manually. Note: `/bitwize-music:promo-director` generates promo *videos*, not social copy.

**QA Gate**: All checks must pass before proceeding

Step 3: Distribution Prep

**Deliverables Created**: 1. **Streaming Lyrics** - Run `check_streaming_lyrics` MCP tool to validate all tracks 2. **Metadata file** - All platform metadata compiled 3. **Album art** - Verified 3000x3000px, correct format 4. **Track order confirmation** - Final sequencing verified 5. **Genre classification** - distributor primary/secondary/subgenre 6. **Social media copy** (optional) - `promo/` files populated for target platforms (use `/bitwize-music:promo-writer` to generate copy from album themes, or fill in templates manually; `/bitwize-music:promo-director` generates videos, not copy)

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Post-Release Verification

Verification Checklist

• [ ] **SoundCloud live** (if applicable)
• [ ] All tracks playable
• [ ] Album art displays
• [ ] Playlist order correct

• [ ] **distributor submi