Pitch Readiness in Velveteen
Updated June 11, 2026
Before you can submit a pitch, Velveteen's readiness panel must show 100%: every required field across Overview, Artist, Music, and Marketing tabs, plus a release date at least four weeks away and a valid private listening link. Draft pitches display the checklist with jump links to each incomplete section.
The readiness panel is Velveteen's pre-flight check for editorial submissions. It mirrors the same validation the submit endpoint enforces server-side, so if the panel shows 100%, submission will succeed barring permission or plan-gate issues.
Overview tab requirements
Private listening link
Valid URL where reviewers can hear unreleased audio.
Release lead time
Linked release date must be at least four weeks away.
Artist tab requirements
Display artist(s)
Artist name as it should appear to editorial.
Current city(s)
Where the artist is based now.
Hometown(s)
Origin city or region.
Similar artists
Comparable artists for quick genre routing. Be specific.
Artist Spotify URL
Valid Spotify artist link, or NA for new artists.
Artist images URL
Link to press or promo images for editorial use.
Artist country
At least one artist country required (artist_one_country).
If you select “Other” for gender, a free-text explanation is also required.
Music tab requirements
Genre
Primary genre selection.
Moods
1 to 3 mood tags that accurately describe the music.
Lyrics
Language and link required unless delivery status is Instrumental.
Marketing tab requirements
Hook, Story, and Big picture live on the Marketing tab. These are the copy fields editorial teams read first. They are required alongside your rollout and spend details.
Hook
3 to 175 characters. The opening line editors see first.
Story
3 to 350 characters. Context behind the record: themes, production, narrative.
Big picture
3 to 175 characters. Why this release matters now: traction, timing, angle.
Marketing drivers
At least one row describing concrete promotion plans.
Social media rollout plan
Required text plan, max 2048 characters.
Marketing spend rows
If you enter spend for a platform, start and end dates must both be set.
Tip
What readiness does not check
Sync tab fields are optional for submission unless your editorial program requires them. Optional marketing URLs, facts sheets, and tour date links strengthen a pitch but are not part of the core readiness gate. Velveteen admins may still return a pitch as needs work for quality reasons beyond the automated checklist.
Heads up
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I submit even though I filled everything in?+
Check the readiness panel for specific failures: character limits, invalid URLs, mood count, marketing spend rows with partial dates, or release lead time are common blockers. Each failed item shows an error message.
What is a private listening link?+
A URL where editorial reviewers can hear the unreleased music: typically a Velveteen-generated listening link or a password-protected stream. It must be a valid http or https URL.
Can I use 'NA' for the Spotify artist URL?+
Yes, for artists without an existing Spotify profile. Otherwise, provide a valid open.spotify.com/artist/… URL. Query parameters on shared links are accepted.
How many moods can I select?+
Between one and three. Fewer accurate moods are better than maxing out the selection with vague tags.
Are instrumental tracks different?+
Yes. Set lyrics delivery status to Instrumental and the lyrics language and lyrics link requirements drop off the checklist.
Related articles
Overview
The full pitching workflow: what a pitch is, when to submit, what goes in it, and how Velveteen tracks it from draft to delivery.
Creating a pitch
Where to start, what release states qualify, and how the pitch detail tabs are organized.
Writing your pitch
The copy editors read: hook, story, big picture, and the supporting metadata around them.