Getting Started

Welcome to ONCE! This guide will walk you through creating your account and preparing for your first release.

Creating Your Account

Visit ONCE: Go to beta.once.app and click “Sign Up”
Enter your email: Use an email you have access to — you’ll need to verify it
Choose a default release label (optional): If you already know the label name you want to use most often, add it during signup. If you leave it blank, ONCE will fall back to the release artist name whenever a release does not have its own label yet.
Verify your email: Check your inbox for a verification link and click it
Complete your profile: Add your artist name and basic information

Navigating the App

If you visit a protected page while logged out, ONCE will prompt you to sign in and then return you to the page you asked for.

Once logged in, you’ll see two main options in the header:

View Releases — See all your releases, their status, and distribution progress
My Account — Access your account settings, credits, and referrals

Chat History

While on the main chat page, you’ll see a sidebar icon in the top-left corner (just below the header). Click it to open your chat history panel, which slides in from the left and shows all your past releases:

Album art, title, and artist for each release (placeholders shown when not yet set)
Current status of the release (Draft, Submitted, Distributed, etc.)
Date the release was created
Search bar at the top to quickly find a specific release

Click any release in the list to load that conversation instantly — no page reload required. The chat panel adjusts automatically when the sidebar opens and closes.

My Account Page

The My Account page is your home base for managing your ONCE account. Here’s what you’ll find:

Credits

Check your credit balance and purchase more credits when needed. Credits are used when submitting releases.

Referrals

Share your invite link to earn free credits when friends sign up and release music. You earn +5 credits when a referral submits their first release.

Profile Settings

Update your account information and preferences.

Before Your First Release

Before submitting your first release, make sure you have:

Audio Files

Format: WAV files recommended for best quality
Quality: Your final audio ready to distribute

Cover Art

Dimensions: Square image, high resolution recommended
Format: JPG or PNG
Quality: High resolution, no pixelation
Content: No logos from streaming platforms, no URLs, no explicit text unless marked explicit

Release Information

Release title
Artist name(s)
Track titles
Genre
Release date

Your First Release

Ready to release? Head over to Releasing Music to learn about working with the chat agent.

Tips for New Users

Double-check metadata: Spelling errors in your release title or artist name are permanent once distributed
Use high-quality artwork: Your cover art is the first thing listeners see
Have your files ready: The chat agent will guide you through uploading audio and artwork

Overview Releasing Music