Using Pre-Orders, Pre-Adds & Instant-Gratification Tracks on Apple Music
With pre-orders, pre-adds, and instant-gratification tracks, you can drop selected songs early - giving your fans something to get excited about while they wait for the full release.
Here’s how it works:
- Release a song or two before the album’s out — fans who pre-order on iTunes or pre-add on Apple Music will get instant access to those tracks.
- Generate early momentum — teaser singles can boost streams, drive sales, and get people talking.
- Reward your superfans — give them a taste of what’s coming and keep them engaged until launch day.
What We Need From You
Please provide the following:
1. Album Details
- Artist Name
- Album Title
- Album Release Date (this is the official release date on Apple Music and iTunes)
2. Pre-Order Start Date
- Choose a date before the release date
- This is when fans can start pre-ordering your album on iTunes and pre-adding it on Apple Music
✅ Best Practice: Set the pre-order start date at least 2–3 days before your first insta-grat track becomes available
3. Instant-Gratification Track Info
For each insta-grat track, provide:- Track Title
- Insta-Grat Release Date (the date the track should be available to fans)
- Confirm that this track is part of the album
You can have multiple insta-grat tracks — just list each one separately with the correct dates.
Example Timeline
Let’s say the album is releasing on March 28.
| Item | Date |
| Pre-order Start Date | March 10 |
| First Insta-Grat Track | March 14 |
| Second Insta-Grat Track | March 21 |
| Full Album Release | March 28 |
Important Reminders
- All insta-grat tracks must be part of the album.
- Once pre-orders go live, the setup cannot be changed.
- Apple requires insta-grat tracks to be cleared for sale in all release territories.