Create Your First Release in Velveteen
Updated June 12, 2026
Create your first release from Catalog > Releases > New Release after you have at least one artist. Fill in release name, display artist, format, genre fields, consumer release date, explicit setting, and copyright lines. Velveteen creates a DRAFT release and opens the release detail page for artwork, label, and tracks.
The New Release form captures the store-facing package. Track audio and track credits are added later on the release detail page.
New Release form
Release Name
The title stores display for the single, EP, or album.
Display Artist
The public artist string on the release.
Format
SINGLE, EP, or ALBUM via release_format_type.
Genre fields
Release genre and subgenre are required before submission.
Consumer release date
Required later for submission and must be at least one week in the future.
Copyright lines
© and ℗ year and text. Lower plans may lock copyright text to the assigned label name.
What happens on create
- 1
Velveteen checks prerequisites
You need at least one artist and a confirmed email before release creation succeeds. - 2
A DRAFT release is created
state is DRAFT and the release is editable. - 3
You land on the release page
Add artwork on Metadata, attach artists, set the label, and open the Tracks tab next.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I see Create an artist before preparing catalog items?+
Velveteen requires at least one artist permission on your account before you can create releases or tracks.
Do I pick a label on this form?+
Velveteen assigns a label automatically on lower plans. Pro and Label accounts can use custom labels on the release detail page.
Can I change the release date later?+
Yes while the release is DRAFT or REJECTED. Submission requires a consumer release date at least one week in the future.
Is artwork required on create?+
Not on the New Release form, but artwork is required before submission.
Related articles
Overview
From a new account to your first submitted release: artist setup, release drafting, tracks, readiness, submission, and post-submit states.
Create your first artist
Catalog > Artists > New Artist: name, DSP identifiers, new-artist flag, terms, and approval status.
What is a release?
The package Velveteen sends to stores: single, EP, or album, with tracks, artwork, dates, label metadata, and credits.
Release metadata
Title, display artist, artwork, label, genre, copyright lines, UPC, dates, and the fields that live on the release rather than the track.
Dates & formats
Consumer release date, original release date, pre-order date, and the Single, EP, or Album format field.