Releases in Velveteen
Updated June 12, 2026
A release is the package Velveteen sends to stores. It can be a single, EP, or album, and it holds release-level metadata, artwork, dates, label information, and the ordered tracks that make up the product.
Use this section when you are building the thing that will leave Velveteen and appear on DSPs. Track pages handle the recordings. Release pages handle the package around those recordings.
What a release contains
Release metadata
Title, display artist, format, genre fields, artwork, UPC settings, copyright lines, and dates.
Tracks
The ordered recordings attached through release_tracks. A release needs at least one track before submission.
Artists
Primary and featured artist credits attached at the release level.
Label
The owner-of-record label used for delivery, copyright text, catalog numbers, and label approval workflows.
The release workflow
- 1
Create the release
Start the release in Catalog, then choose or accept the label Velveteen assigns for your account. - 2
Add metadata and artwork
Fill in the title, display artist, format, genre fields, artwork, copyright lines, UPC choice, and dates. - 3
Attach tracks
Add one or more tracks, then complete track audio, credits, contributors, performers, publishers, and shareholders. - 4
Submit for review
Velveteen runs readiness checks. If they pass, the release moves to PENDING and its linked tracks lock.
Release and pitch are separate
Submission sends the release into Velveteen review for store delivery. Pitching sends editorial context to DSP teams for playlist consideration.
A pitch must be linked to a release, but a release can still be delivered without a pitch.
Tip
Frequently asked questions
Is a release the same as a track?+
No. A track is one recording. A release is the package that contains one or more tracks and is delivered to stores.
Can a release have one track?+
Yes. A one-song single is still a release, with one track inside it.
What happens when I submit?+
Velveteen validates the release and linked tracks. If everything passes, the release becomes PENDING and the linked tracks are locked.
Can I edit a submitted release?+
Submitted releases are not draft objects anymore. If something needs to change, use the release feedback or support path for that state.
Related articles
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.
Release status lifecycle
What the release states mean, when tracks lock, and why submitted releases cannot be edited like drafts.
Submitting a release
The readiness gate before review: subscription, artist approval, dates, tracks, credits, artwork, label approval, and fraud declarations.