Release Metadata in Velveteen
Updated June 12, 2026
Release metadata is the store-facing information Velveteen validates before review: title, display artist, artwork, label, genre fields, format, UPC, copyright lines, and dates.
These fields live on the release itself. Track audio, track credits, ISRCs, and track-level P lines live on the tracks attached to the release.
Required before submission
Name and display artist
The release title and public artist string.
Artwork
Velveteen checks for an uploaded artwork URL or thumbnail URL.
Label
Every submitted release needs a label_id.
Genre fields
Release genre fields must be present where required and cannot duplicate each other.
Copyright lines
© year, © text, P year, and P text are required.
UPC
If auto-generation is off, you must provide a UPC.
Metadata that locks
When a release passes submission checks, Velveteen updates it to PENDING and sets locked to true.
Linked tracks are locked at the same time because the submitted package now depends on those track records.
Frequently asked questions
Can Velveteen generate a UPC?+
Yes, if generate_upc is enabled. If it is disabled, the submission check requires a UPC.
What is display artist?+
It is the artist text displayed for the release. It may include multiple credited artists depending on the release.
Can genre fields repeat?+
No. Release genre fields are checked for duplicate values.
Where do contributor credits go?+
Contributor and performer credits live on tracks, not on the release metadata form.
Related articles
What is a release?
The package Velveteen sends to stores: single, EP, or album, with tracks, artwork, dates, label metadata, and credits.
Dates & formats
Consumer release date, original release date, pre-order date, and the Single, EP, or Album format field.
Track metadata
Title, display artist, genre, language, explicit flag, AI declaration, P line, preview settings, and ISRC.