Artist Credits on Releases and Tracks
Updated June 11, 2026
Artist credits link performing identities to releases and tracks. Every release needs at least one primary artist: the name in the title line. Featured artists are added as non-primary credits and appear as 'feat.' on DSPs that support it. Credits are set at both the release level and, optionally, per track.
Artists on releases
Every release must have at least one primary artist. The release_artists junction table links releases to artist records with an is_primary flag. Primary artists form the performing credit in the release title line: the artist name listeners see on DSP store pages.
Primary artist
Required on every release. The performing identity in the title line. Appears as the main credit on DSP pages and playlist entries.
Featured artist
Optional. Added as a non-primary entry in release_artists. Most DSPs format this as 'Artist Name feat. Featured Name' in the title.
Artists on tracks
Tracks inherit their artist credits from the release by default. The track_artists junction table works identically to release_artists: same is_primary flag, same ordering. Override track-level credits when individual tracks within a release have different performing identities, such as on a compilation or a split release.
Tip
Adding a featured artist
- 1
Open the release editor
Navigate to the release in your catalog and open the Artists tab. - 2
Add the featured artist
Click "Add artist" and search for the artist by name. If the artist is not yet in your account, create it first from the Artists section of the catalog. - 3
Set is_primary to false
Toggle the "Primary" switch off for the featured artist. This marks them as a featured credit and positions them after the primary artist in the title line. - 4
Save and verify
Save the release. The title preview should show "Primary Artist feat. Featured Artist".
Frequently asked questions
Can a track have a different primary artist than the release?+
Yes. Track artist credits can be overridden per track. This is common on compilations, where each track has its own primary artist but the release is credited to a label or 'Various Artists'.
How do I reorder artists on a release?+
Artist order on a release is set by the order they appear in the artist list. Drag to reorder in the release editor. The first artist in the list is displayed first in the title line on DSPs.
What happens to credits if an artist is deleted?+
You cannot delete an artist that has active releases. If a release is taken down and the artist deleted, the historical credit metadata stays on the archived release record. It is not wiped.
Are featured artist credits visible on all DSPs?+
Most major DSPs (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal) display featured artist credits. Some smaller platforms may display only the primary artist name. Velveteen includes featured credits in the delivery payload. DSP support determines visibility.
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