Direct Sales in Velveteen
Updated June 12, 2026
Direct sales let fans buy a digital download from a public Velveteen release page. The checkout uses Stripe, creates a fan_purchases record, prepares a zip download, and credits eligible shareholders.
Direct sales are for downloads from Velveteen's public pages. They do not replace store delivery to Spotify, Apple Music, and other DSPs.
What happens in a sale
- 1
Fan clicks buy
The public album page calls the sales checkout route. - 2
Velveteen checks eligibility
The release must be sales-enabled, in an eligible state, and the owner profile must allow direct sales. - 3
Stripe checkout opens
Velveteen creates a one-time payment session. - 4
Purchase is recorded
The webhook stores fan_purchases rows and credits balances. - 5
Download is prepared
Velveteen generates or serves a zip download link for the purchase.
What fans receive
After checkout, fans land on the purchase success page. If the zip is ready, they can download immediately. If it is still building, the page keeps checking status and email recovery is available.
Frequently asked questions
Does a fan need a Velveteen account?+
No. Purchases are keyed by purchase and checkout data, with listener attachment supported where available.
What does the checkout sell?+
A digital download product for the release.
Can a restricted seller sell?+
No. The checkout checks restricted and suspended profile flags.
Can fans recover a lost download?+
Yes. The sales recovery route can send download recovery data for ready purchases.
Related articles
Overview
Public release pages, pricing, platform fees, Stripe checkout, fan purchases, download zips, and sales credits.
Enabling direct sales
The profile-level sales toggle, release-level sales toggle, public release pages, and eligible release states.
What royalties mean
Recording royalties and direct-sale credits flow to track shareholders. Publishing royalties remain separate.