Pre-order and early release

These are two different features in the Calendar step, and they're sometimes confused:

• Pre-order: the release stays hidden until the official date, but listeners can reserve it beforehand.
• Early release: the music actually goes live before the official date, but only on the platforms you choose.

Both are optional.

Pre-order

Pre-order lets your followers reserve the release before it's out. The exact behavior (purchase reservation, pre-save, etc.) depends on each store.

Enabling pre-order

1. In the Calendar step, set the Release Date first.
2. Turn on Allow Pre-order.
3. The Pre-order Date field appears: enter the day the reservation opens.

If you turn the toggle off, the pre-order date is cleared.

Pre-order date rules

• It must be before the release date; it can't be the same day (at most, the day before).
• The field isn't enabled until there's a release date.
• If you move the release date to a day on or before the pre-order date, the system clears the pre-order date and notifies you.

Early release

Early release makes your music available before the official date, but only on the platforms you select and on the date you set for each one. It's used for promotion or exclusivity.

It has its own section in the Calendar step: Early Release / Exclusivity. If you don't see it on your release, contact us.

When you can use it

The release date must be more than 20 days from today.

The section shows your eligibility:

• Eligible: X days until release (minimum 20 required).
• Not eligible: only X days until release.
• If there's no date yet: Set a release date first.

The Enable Early Release toggle stays disabled until the release is eligible.

Configuring the early platforms

1. Turn on Enable Early Release.
2. In Early Release Platforms, click Add Platform.
3. For each row, choose the Platform and its Early Release Date. You can add optional Notes.
4. Repeat for each platform you want to bring forward.

Rules for each row:

• The platform must be among the release's selected distribution platforms.
• The early date must be before the official release date and can't be in the past.
• With early release enabled, you need at least one platform.

Status of each platform

Each row shows its status: Pending, Submitted, Live or Failed.

When they get locked

Both pre-order and early release are configured while the release is in Draft (or Requires changes).

Once you submit it for review, these settings are locked. To change them afterwards, contact support.