Send the album early, open it on release day

Choose a lock

Timelock. Timelock keeps the tracks hidden until release time. People with the link cannot open the files early.

Timelock costs $3 USD per Postdate. This covers opening dates within one year and 100 MB including encryption and file packaging. Opening depends on drand and Postdate being available, and on the encryption remaining secure. Senders can keep original copies. Postdates can still expire or be removed for abuse. You see the price before you create the link. Read about Timelock.

Send it before it opens

Reviewers, playlist curators and fans may need advance copies to prepare. Each copy could be shared early. Once someone shares it, you cannot take that copy back.

Send the link weeks before release. It keeps the tracks unplayable until the release time. All recipients can open the files together at release time.

What people see

Before opening

They see a countdown. Any public teaser you wrote also appears.

After opening

They can read the text and download attached files until the link expires. Files supported by the browser can also be previewed.

Fans see a countdown to release day. They can add a calendar event and copy the link. They also see any public teaser you wrote. The tracks stay encrypted until opening. File names and sizes stay hidden too. In this example, the album opens in their browser at midnight. The link expires after the availability period you chose, measured from the scheduled opening time.

Adding a calendar event downloads a file to import into your calendar. Set any reminder there. Postdate does not send opening notifications.

Create your Postdate

1. 01

   Attach the tracks, artwork, and notes.

2. 02

   Set it to open at release time.

3. 03

   Choose Timelock to protect the link until its scheduled opening.

4. 04

   Send the link to press, curators, and fans.

Prepare the album Timelock: $3. No delete link.

Limits

Standard is free for messages that open within 7 days and are 1 MB or less. Timelock, an album over 1 MB, or a later date costs $3 once. You can choose a date up to a year away. Your text and up to 10 files must fit within 100 MB after encryption and packaging. Timelock encrypts the key for a future drand release.

Compare Postdate with scheduled email

A scheduled email is sent later. A Postdate link can be shared now, with the same opening time for every reader. Postdate does not send the link or an opening notification for you. It shows when the Postdate was created.

Common questions

Can reviewers listen before the date?

No. Send a separate copy to reviewers who need early access. That copy can be shared before release.

Will the files fit?

A paid Postdate accepts up to ten files within a 100 MB encrypted upload. Tracks and artwork count toward that limit. Put them in one ZIP file if you have more than ten files.

Can I move the release earlier?

You cannot make the message open early. To release sooner, publish your own copy. The link will still open at the original time.

More guides

Release a paper when the embargo lifts, Share product launch files that open together

Browse all guides or read about Postdate.