Release Dates and Formats in Velveteen
Updated June 12, 2026
Velveteen tracks consumer release date, original release date, optional pre-order date, and release format. The consumer release date is the store release date and must be at least one week in the future when you submit.
Dates affect review, delivery timing, and how stores interpret the product. Format affects how the release is described and how direct-sale default pricing is chosen.
Date fields
Consumer release date
The public release date. It is required before submission.
Original release date
The first release date for the music. It cannot be after the consumer release date.
Pre-order date
Optional. If present, it must be before the consumer release date.
Format field
The release_format_type field identifies the release as SINGLE, EP, or ALBUM.
Direct sales use this field when Velveteen needs a default minimum price: Single $1.50, EP $4.99, Album $7.99.
Frequently asked questions
Can original release date be after consumer release date?+
No. Velveteen rejects that during submission.
Is pre-order required?+
No. It is optional, but if you use it, it must be before the consumer release date.
How far out must the consumer date be?+
The submission check requires it to be at least one week in the future.
Does format affect delivery?+
It identifies the product type and also feeds direct-sale default pricing.
Related articles
Release metadata
Title, display artist, artwork, label, genre, copyright lines, UPC, dates, and the fields that live on the release rather than the track.
Submitting a release
The readiness gate before review: subscription, artist approval, dates, tracks, credits, artwork, label approval, and fraud declarations.