# Pre-save platform behavior

How each platform handles pre-saves: direct save vs. email signup, what happens on release day, and what can fail.

Source: https://notnoise.co/documentation/pre-save-platform-behavior

Last updated: 2026-06-12

## Two signup modes

A Pre-Save page handles fans in one of two modes, depending on the platform they pick:

- **Direct save**: the fan connects their streaming account and authorizes NotNoise to save the release for them when it goes live.

- **Email signup**: the fan leaves an email and a platform preference. On release day they get an email that routes them straight to the release on that platform.

Both modes register the fan's intent. The difference is what NotNoise can do automatically on release day.

## Platform matrix

| Platform | Mode | What the fan does |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Apple Music | Direct pre-add | Connects Apple Music. Email is optional. |
| YouTube Music | Direct save | Connects YouTube Music and leaves an email. |
| TIDAL | Direct save | Connects TIDAL and leaves an email. |
| Spotify | Email signup | Leaves an email, gets routed to Spotify on release day. |
| Amazon Music | Email signup | Leaves an email, gets routed on release day. |
| Deezer | Email signup | Leaves an email, gets routed on release day. |
| SoundCloud | Email signup | Leaves an email, gets routed on release day. |
| YouTube | Email signup | Leaves an email, gets routed on release day. |
| Other | Email signup | Leaves an email, gets a link on release day. |

> **Heads up:** Spotify pre-saves on NotNoise work through email signup, not a direct library save. NotNoise does not currently offer a Spotify authorization flow that adds the track to a fan's Spotify library automatically.

## What happens on release day

When the release date arrives:

1. NotNoise looks for the live release on streaming platforms. If it isn't live yet (delivery sometimes slips), NotNoise keeps checking until it is found.

1. The Pre-Save page converts into a regular Smart Link at the same URL, with the detected platforms surfaced.

1. Direct saves run for fans who connected Apple Music, YouTube Music, or TIDAL. If a save fails for a temporary reason, NotNoise retries automatically over the following hours.

1. Release-day emails go out to fans who signed up by email, routing each one to the release on their preferred platform. Fans who allowed browser notifications on the page also get a push notification.

## What can fail or delay

- **The release isn't found yet**: conversion and saves wait until the release is live and indexed. NotNoise checks hourly for about a day past the release date; if the release still can't be found, the NotNoise team is alerted automatically.

- **Platform availability lag**: a release can be live on one platform and still indexing on another, so a fan's preferred platform link can show up later.

- **Imprecise release source**: NotNoise matches the release on release day from the source you gave it (Spotify URI or URL, UPC, or ISRC). An exact Spotify URI from your distributor makes matching fastest and most reliable.

- **Expired or revoked connections**: a direct save only works while the fan's platform connection is valid. If the platform rejects the save after retries, that fan simply doesn't get the automatic save.

- **Inactive campaign**: signups only count while the Pre-Save page is active.

## What data is collected

Each signup records the fan's platform choice and, where provided, their email, the campaign it came from, and the signup time. Emails land in the Subscribers tab on the Smart Links page and can be exported as a CSV. See Email capture.

> **Tip:** Treat email signups as the most valuable outcome. A direct save is one save; an email is a channel you can use for every future release.