Create Your First Artist in Velveteen
Updated August 21, 2026
Create your first artist from Catalog > Artists > New Artist. Enter the artist name, review exact or possible Spotify and Apple Music matches, link a matching existing profile or continue with one platform, or mark the artist as new. Add at least one valid public artist link, complete any required fraud declarations, accept terms, and submit. Velveteen routes you to the artist detail page while approval runs if needed.
Every release needs at least one approved artist. Create the artist before you open New Release so Velveteen does not block catalog setup.
New Artist steps
- 1
Open New Artist
From Catalog > Artists, click New Artist. - 2
Enter the artist name
Type the performing name listeners will see on DSPs. - 3
Review DSP matches
Exact matches appear first. Possible matches need a profile check; unrelated results are hidden. Link matching Spotify and Apple Music pages, continue with one platform when the other does not match, or choose New Artist when no DSP profile exists yet. - 4
Add a public artist link
Provide at least one valid HTTPS Instagram, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, or Facebook profile that shows artist activity. Velveteen explains invalid links beside the field. - 5
Complete declarations
For linked profiles, answer prior-distributor and fraud-history questions when prompted. - 6
Accept terms and create
Confirm the Terms of Service on the final step. Velveteen creates the artist and opens its detail page.
Fields Velveteen checks
Artist name
Required performing identity for releases and DSP metadata.
DSP identifiers
Required for existing artists unless new artist status is true.
New Artist
Marks a first-time DSP page. Identifiers are optional on first delivery.
Approval status
Artists in setup, pending, Needs work, or rejected block release submission.
Plan limit
Artist plan allows 1 artist, Pro allows 5, Label is unlimited.
Frequently asked questions
What if Spotify and Apple Music show different names?+
Do not link the two pages together. Change one selection or continue with the verified platform only; you can add the other identity later after confirming it belongs to the same artist.
What if I cannot find my Spotify profile?+
Choose the closest verified profile only when it is yours, continue with one platform, or choose New Artist so Velveteen treats the page as a first-time DSP identity.
Why is my public link rejected?+
Use a complete HTTPS link on the platform named by the field, with a profile path after the domain. Personal, private, or unrelated links are not suitable for artist review.
What happens if this Artist already exists?+
Velveteen routes you to the Artist already in your catalog when you can access it. If another account has claimed the DSP identity, contact support without exposing that account's private details.
Can I create a release while approval is pending?+
Yes. You can draft releases now, but Submit for Review stays disabled until every linked artist is approved.
What does Needs work mean?+
Velveteen returned the artist with feedback. Update the profile, then resubmit for review from the artist page.
Why was artist creation blocked?+
You may have hit your plan artist limit, your account may be restricted, or Velveteen rejected the request for another validation reason shown in the UI.
Related articles
Overview
From a new account to your first submitted release: artist setup, release drafting, tracks, readiness, submission, and post-submit states.
What is an artist?
The performing identity: separate from your account, owned by a label, and the name listeners find on DSPs.
DSP identifiers
The identifiers array that links your artist to Spotify, Apple Music, and every other DSP profile.
Artist approval
The approval lifecycle, what each status means, and which actions remain available when an artist is locked or restricted.
Plan features
Artist limits, release limits, pitching, custom labels, collaborator invites, label features, support, and direct-sale fees.