release-director

What this skill does

## 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

---

## Supporting Files

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

---

# 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

---

## 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

---

## 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

---

## 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`:**
```markdown
# 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

---

## 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)

---

## Post-Release Verification

### Verification Checklist

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

- [ ] **distributor submitted** (if applicable)
  - [ ] Submission confirmed
  - [ ] Approval email received (after 3-7 days)

- [ ] **Documentation updated**
  - [ ] Release date added
  - [ ] Platform links added — use `update_streaming_url` MCP tool for each platform
  - [ ] Run `verify_streaming_urls` MCP tool to confirm all platform links are live
  - [ ] `promo/` copy updated with final streaming links

---

## Quality Standards

### Before Any Upload

- [ ] All tracks mastered to -14 LUFS ± 0.5 dB
- [ ] True peak < -1.0 dBTP on all tracks
- [ ] Album consistency < 1 dB LUFS range
- [ ] All tracks marked Final with Suno links
- [ ] Sources verified (if applicable)
- [ ] Lyrics accuracy checked
- [ ] Explicit content flagged correctly
- [ ] Album art 3000x3000px, correct format
- [ ] README completion checklist done
- [ ] Streaming Lyrics validated via `check_streaming_lyrics` MCP tool (if using distributor)

### Before Campaign Trigger

- [ ] All platforms verified live and accessible
- [ ] Status updated to "Released" in album README
- [ ] `release_date` set in album README frontmatter
- [ ] Platform URLs documented (use `update_streaming_url` and verify with `verify_streaming_urls`)

---

## Release Timeline Planning

### Quick Release (Same Day)
- Hour 0: Mastering complete
- Hour 0-2: Pre-release QA
- Hour 2-3: SoundCloud upload
- Hour 3: Release verified

### Standard Release (1-2 Weeks)
- Day 0: Mastering complete, QA, distribution prep
- Day 1: distributor submission, SoundCloud upload
- Day 4-10: distributor approval
- Day 10: Verify platforms, trigger campaign

### Strategic Release (4-6 Weeks)
- Week 0: Mastering complete, QA
- Week 1: Distribution prep
- Week 2: Pre-save setup, distributor submission
- Week 2-4: Teaser campaign
- Week 4: distributor approval
- Week 5-6: Full campaign launch

---

## Remember

1. **Load override first** - Call `load_override("release-preferences.md")` at invocation
2. **Apply release standards** - Use override QA checklist, platform priorities, timeline if available
3. **QA is non-negotiable** - Don't skip pre-release checks (even with overrides)
4. **Streaming Lyrics required** - Run `check_streaming_lyrics` MCP tool before distributor upload
5. **Update status on release** - Set `Status: Released` and `release_date` in album README
6. **Verify all platforms** - Don't assume upload worked
7. **Document everything** - Use `update_streaming_url` t