Submitting a Release in Velveteen
Updated June 12, 2026
Submitting a release runs Velveteen's readiness checks. A non-admin user needs the right permission, an active paid subscription or inherited label plan, complete release metadata, approved artists, valid track metadata, credits, performers, dates, and any required label approval.
The submission gate exists to catch issues before the release enters review. It checks both the release and the tracks attached to it.
Submission checks
Permission
You need editor or admin permission on the release unless you are a platform admin.
Subscription
Independent users need an active paid subscription. Managed label users inherit the label plan.
Artist approval
Artists in setup, pending, needs_work, or rejected states can block submission.
Dates
Consumer release date is required and must be at least one week in the future.
Tracks
Every linked track needs audio, language data, P line data, preview settings, AI declaration, and credits.
Label approval
Managed label workflows can require label approval before submission to DSPs.
After checks pass
- 1
State changes to PENDING
The release leaves DRAFT or REJECTED and enters Velveteen review. - 2
Release locks
Velveteen sets locked to true and clears feedback. - 3
Tracks lock
Every linked track is locked so the submitted package stays stable. - 4
Notifications go out
The submitter and Velveteen admins are notified about the submitted release.
Frequently asked questions
Why does submission fail on dates?+
Velveteen requires a consumer release date at least one week in the future, plus an original release date that is not after the consumer date.
Why does artist status matter?+
A release cannot be submitted with artists that are still in setup, under review, needing work, or rejected.
Do instrumental tracks need lyricists?+
No. Instrumental tracks use audio_locale ZXX and cannot have lyricist contributors.
Do non-instrumental tracks need lyricists?+
Yes. Non-instrumental tracks need at least one Lyricist contributor.
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.
Release status lifecycle
What the release states mean, when tracks lock, and why submitted releases cannot be edited like drafts.
Artist approval
The approval lifecycle: what each status means, what triggers transitions, and what to do when needs_work.