Lead single

Alead single(orfirst single)is the firstsingleto be released from astudio albumby anartistor aband,usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.

A similar term, "debut single", is the first single released by a new artist.

Release strategies

Artists often choose songs that are moreup-tempo,yet representative of the album's sound, as lead singles. Such songs are often catchier and attract the attention of listeners. The subsequent single might then be slower in tempo, in order to demonstrate the range of the album. Female vocalists likeMariah CareyandChristina Aguileraoften maintain a formula of an up-tempo first lead single with a slowballadfollow-up. For example, two singles were released byMiley Cyrusbefore her albumBangerz– an up-tempo track, "We Can't Stop",was released as the first, and a slow-ballad song,"Wrecking Ball",as the second. This was a successful practice of 1980sheavy metalbands.Girls Aloudchose to use "The Show",adance-popandelectropopsong, as their lead single for their second album,What Will the Neighbours Say?,following the fact that their previous singles from their debut albumSound of the Undergroundwere "quite down and moody"according to band memberCheryl.However, not all artists decide to choose their lead single with the up-tempo criteria. Artists may release a lead single that has a message they want to convey to listeners instead of a song with more commercial potential, such asFall Out Boywho chose to release "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race"over the radio-friendly"Thnks fr th Mmrs".

Japanese artists such asAyumi Hamasaki,Namie AmuroandB'zmay release four to eight singles before their albums to achieve record-breaking debut-week sales. The lead singles in Japan are very heavily advertised and promoted, in some cases even more than the album itself. With album sales continuously declining in the United States, record labels often release singles before the album's release date to online music retailers includingiTunes,ranging in price from $0.99 to $1.29. This trend has become increasingly popular in many markets.

In the late 2010s, artists began a trend of releasing multiple singles before eventually releasing a studio album. An unnamed A&R representative confirmed toRolling Stonein 2018 that "an artist has to build a foundation to sustain" and adding that "When artists have one big record and go run with that, it doesn't work because they never had a foundation to begin with." The same article cited examples such asCardi B,Camila CabelloandJason Deruloreleasing four or more singles before their album releases.

Albums with more than one pre-release single

In the 2000s, a common trend developed to release a lead single months in advance of the album release date. It has equally become common for further singles to be released before the release of the album. For example,Usherissued the lead single "Love in This Club"four months before the May 29, 2008, release ofHere I Stand.The second single "Love in This Club Part II"was released one month before the album release date. Another example isJustin Timberlake's 2013 album,The 20/20 Experience,which was released on March 19, 2013. The first single off it is "Suit & Tie",released two months before the album hit stores. One month before the release of the album, another single called"Mirrors"was released.Katy Perry released "California Gurls"as a single on May 7, 2010, and"Teenage Dream"on July 23, 2010, leading to the release of the albumTeenage Dreamon August 24, 2010.Ed Sheerandid something similar, releasing both "Shape of You"and"Castle on the Hill"as double lead singles from his album÷,although these songs were both released on the same day, 6 January 2017.The 1995Oasissingle "Some Might Say"would go on to appear on the group's second album,(What's the Story) Morning Glory?,though at the time it was a standalone release, with "Roll with It"acting more as a lead single.