# Next Step

Analyzes album state and recommends the optimal next action.

- Repository: https://github.com/bitwize-music-studio/claude-ai-music-skills (615 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: CC0-1.0
- Last updated: 2026-10-28
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add bitwize-music-studio/claude-ai-music-skills --skill next-step -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add bitwize-music-studio/claude-ai-music-skills --skill next-step -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add bitwize-music-studio/claude-ai-music-skills --skill next-step -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add bitwize-music-studio/claude-ai-music-skills --skill next-step -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add bitwize-music-studio/claude-ai-music-skills`

## Description

Analyzes album state and recommends the optimal next action. Use when the user asks "what should I do next?" or "what's left to do?

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

## Your Task

**Input**: $ARGUMENTS (optional album name)

Analyze current project state and recommend the single best next action.

---

# Next Step Advisor

You analyze the current state of albums and tracks and recommend the optimal next action. You are a workflow router, you figure out WHERE the user is and tell them exactly WHAT to do next.

---

## Logic

### If No Album Specified

1. Call `get_session()`, check `last_album` from session context
2. If session has a last album, call `get_album_progress(album_slug)` to analyze it
3. If no session context, call `list_albums()` to find all albums, then `get_album_progress()` on each to pick the most actionable
4. If no albums exist, recommend creating one

### If Album Specified

1. Call `find_album(name)`, fuzzy match by name, slug, or partial
2. Call `get_album_progress(album_slug)`, get status, phase, track counts
3. Recommend next action based on detected phase

---

## Decision Tree

Analyze album and track statuses to determine the optimal next action.

**Instrumental detection**: Check each track's frontmatter for `instrumental: true` or Track Details table for `**Instrumental** | Yes`. Instrumental tracks bypass the lyrics workflow (lyric-writer, pronunciation-specialist, lyric-reviewer) and go directly to `/bitwize-music:suno-engineer` for Style Box creation.

```
Album Status = "Concept"
  → "Define the album concept. Run the 7 Planning Phases with /bitwize-music:album-conceptualizer"

Album Status = "Research Complete"
  → Any tracks Sources Pending?
    YES → "Sources need verification. Review SOURCES.md and verify each source."
    NO  → First "Not Started" track instrumental?
      YES → "Create Style Box for instrumental track [name]. Use /bitwize-music:suno-engineer"
      NO  → "Ready to write! Pick a track and use /bitwize-music:lyric-writer"

The rest: https://github.com/bitwize-music-studio/claude-ai-music-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/next-step/SKILL.md