When uploading music, you may be asked for more than one date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That can be confusing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why would one song need an \u201coriginal release date\u201d and a \u201csales start date\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because they describe two different events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The original release date is when that release was first made publicly available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imagine you independently released an album in 2022 and are now moving it to another distributor in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The original release date remains 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You are not pretending the album is new simply because you changed distributor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sales start date tells stores when the newly delivered release should become available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a brand-new single, the original release date and sales start date will often be the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For an old catalogue upload, they may be different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RouteNote’s current guidance explains that the original release date must be on or before the sales start date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You plan to release a new single on 9 October 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Original release date:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9 October 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sales start date:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9 October 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Straightforward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your album originally launched on 12 May 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You move it to RouteNote in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Original release date:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 12 May 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sales start date:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The date you want RouteNote’s new delivery to become available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The original date preserves the history of the release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stores can use dates to organise releases on artist profiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Incorrect dates can make an old album appear like a brand-new release or make a new release appear older than it really is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This can confuse fans and catalogue ordering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Metadata should reflect reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do not intentionally provide false dates to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clean metadata helps stores understand what they are receiving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RouteNote currently allows artists to choose a sales start date from at least two weeks after upload, giving time for moderation and delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For an important campaign, leaving even more time can be sensible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That creates room for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A date is not just metadata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is part of your release strategy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When uploading music, you may be asked for more than one date. That can be confusing. Why would one song need an \u201coriginal release date\u201d and a \u201csales start date\u201d? Because they describe two different events. What is the original release date? The original release date is when that release was first made publicly available. Imagine you independently released an album in 2022 and are now moving it to another distributor in 2026. The original release date remains 2022. You are not pretending the album is new simply because you changed distributor. What is the sales start date? The sales…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3503,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2137,2139,2138,1854],"coauthors":[2],"class_list":["post-3502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-calendar","tag-date","tag-original-release","tag-release-date"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nExample: moving an old album<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why does this matter on Spotify?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Don’t use an old date to manipulate stores<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Plan your sales start date ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n