The holiday season is one of the best times of year for a CD. Artists sell holiday albums at shows and online, choirs and churches share their Christmas concerts, and schools and community groups record their seasonal programs. Fans give CDs as gifts, and a disc with your name and artwork makes a keepsake that lasts long after the season.

Why a holiday CD still makes sense

But holiday releases come with a deadline that doesn’t move. Here’s how to plan yours so the discs are in hand when you need them.

Streaming isn’t how everyone listens, especially during the holidays. Many people still play CDs at home and in the car, and a physical album is something you can wrap and give, which a streaming link can’t match. For artists, holiday CDs are a strong merch item at seasonal shows. For choirs, churches, and community groups, they can be a gift, an outreach tool, or a fundraiser, all at once.

Start with your date and work backward

The most important step is deciding when you need the CDs in hand, whether that’s a release show, a concert, holiday markets, or simply in time to ship to fans before Christmas. Then work backward, allowing time for:

• Recording in the studio or at a live performance

• Mixing and mastering the audio for CD

• Artwork for the disc and packaging

• Proof approval before anything is printed

• Manufacturing and shipping

• A safety margin for anything unexpected

Our advice from decades of experience: plan to have your CDs in hand well before your first holiday event. This is the busiest time of year for pressing plants and shippers alike, and things can happen during manufacturing, so a cushion means one less thing to worry about during an already busy season. For Christmas delivery, place your order by October 24.

If your purchase needs approval from a board, committee, or school, start that process early too, since orders are paid in full when placed.

Recording: live or studio?

A studio recording gives you the most control and the cleanest sound. It’s the usual choice for artists releasing a holiday album.

A live recording captures the energy of a concert, with the audience as part of the experience. It’s a natural fit for choirs, churches, and seasonal programs. Talk with your sound team ahead of time about recording each microphone on its own track, which gives far more flexibility when mixing, and record the dress rehearsal as a backup.

Either way, the final step is mastering, which prepares your audio for CD. Check our mastering specs for exactly what to send.

Licensing: don’t skip this step

Holiday albums are full of familiar songs, and that makes licensing especially important. Traditional carols like “Silent Night” are in the public domain, but many arrangements and most modern holiday songs, from “White Christmas” to recent hits, are still under copyright. Making and distributing CDs of copyrighted songs generally requires a mechanical license for each one, even if you give the CDs away.

Choosing quantity and packaging

Securing licenses can take time, so start early. For more details, see our licensing page, and if you still have questions, get in touch. We’re happy to point you in the right direction.

How many CDs? For smaller runs, duplication starts at 100 discs. If you need 500 or more, replication offers a lower cost per disc. Our guide to replication and duplication explains the difference.

Packaging options:

• Jackets and wallets are simple, affordable, and easy to mail.

• Jewel cases with a booklet leave room for lyrics, credits, and liner notes.

• Digipaks feel premium and giftable, a great fit for a special holiday release.

Artwork

Use our templates so everything is sized correctly, and include your name, the album title, a track list, and credits for everyone involved. We’ll send a digital proof for you to approve before anything is printed.

Ways to share your holiday CD

• Merch tables at holiday shows and concerts

• Gifts for fans, members, volunteers, and families

• Holiday markets and local shops, where a CD makes an easy impulse buy or stocking stuffer

• Fundraisers for your group, program, or cause

• Online sales shipped straight to fans before the holidays

Ready to get started?

Remember, the deadline for Christmas delivery is October 24. Price out your project in minutes with our quote calculator, and if you have questions about timing, licensing, or packaging, get in touch. We’d be glad to help you share your holiday music.