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🧾 Release

Overview

The Release MIDDS represents a musical product made available to the public — such as an album, EP, single, or mixtape.

It groups multiple Tracks under a unified release, defines the associated artist and producers, and includes both distribution metadata and physical/digital characteristics.

This is the final layer in the Allfeat metadata graph, where multiple components (works, recordings, contributors) converge into a published product.

🧠 Why It Matters

A single song might appear in multiple contexts — an original album, a remix EP, a reissue, a greatest hits release.

The Release MIDDS captures this context:

  • It documents how and when a group of tracks was published.
  • It links the creative chain (Track → Work → Artist) to the distribution side.
  • It anchors real-world release events into a public, verifiable graph.

By structuring release data, Allfeat enables clear identification, cataloging, and attribution across the entire music lifecycle.

🏗️ Structure Summary

Field Type Description
ean_upc Ean Global release ID (EAN/UPC barcode), used in physical/digital distribution.
artist MiddsId Main Party Identifier MIDDS (primary artist or group).
producers ReleaseProducers List of Party Identifier MIDDS who produced the release.
tracks ReleaseTracks List of Track MIDDS included in the release.
distributor_name ReleaseDistributor Free-text name of the distributor.
manufacturer_name ReleaseManufacturer Free-text name of the physical manufacturer (if applicable).
cover_contributors ReleaseCoverContributors List of Party Identifiers (photographers, designers, etc.).
title ReleaseTitle Official release title.
title_aliases ReleaseTitleAliases Optional list of alternate titles or translations.
release_type ReleaseType Enum describing whether it's a Single, EP, Album, Mixtape, etc.
format ReleaseFormat Medium of release (CD, Vinyl, Cassette, Digital...).
packaging ReleasePackaging Physical packaging (Jewel Case, Digipack, etc.).
status ReleaseStatus Status of the release (Official, Promo, Remastered, etc.).
date Date Date of release (YYYY-MM-DD).
country Country Country of release.

🧬 Identifiers and Linking

Like other MIDDS, a Release uses:

Type Description
Allfeat ID Unique on-chain ID assigned at creation.
RW-ID EAN or UPC — a real-world code used by retailers, distributors, and physical/digital catalogs.

This duality enables:

  • Web2 → Web3 linking via standard distribution codes.
  • Long-term traceability of release metadata across ecosystems.

🔗 Usage in the Allfeat Graph

The Release MIDDS brings everything together:

  • It references Track MIDDS, each of which references Musical Works and Party Identifiers.
  • It can be queried by artist, title, country, or release type.
  • It acts as the final layer in the metadata structure — the public product that users see, buy, and stream.

🚀 Who Creates This MIDDS?

  • Providers: typically labels, distributors, or artists submitting a new release.
  • Trusters: reviewers who verify the accuracy and completeness of the data.

Collateral is calculated based on the size of the MIDDS (number of tracks, alias length, contributors, etc.), ensuring fairness and protection against spam.

🛠️ Example Use Case

A label wants to register a 3-track EP released in France on CD and digital.

Steps:

  1. Register each Track MIDDS first (with ISRC, title, contributors...).
  2. Create a Release MIDDS with:
    • EAN/UPC: 5054197648011
    • Artist: [Artist MIDDS ID]
    • Tracks: list of 3 Track MIDDS IDs
    • Title: "Reflections EP"
    • Format: CD + Digital
    • Packaging: Digipack
    • Type: EP
    • Status: Official
    • Distributor: "Label Services France"
    • Country: France
    • Date: 2023-11-02
    • Cover contributors: graphic designer + photographer
  3. Stake collateral proportional to size.
  4. Submit and wait for certification.

Once validated, this release becomes a public, verifiable entry in the Allfeat catalog — usable by platforms, aggregators, and apps.

📘 See Also