> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.fanaura.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating a Launch

> Step-by-step guide to creating a new launch for your music release, tour, or merch drop in Fanaura.

Creating a launch takes about 60 seconds. By the end, you will have a campaign container ready for you to fill with automation flows that engage your fans at every stage of your release.

<Frame caption="A launch detail page showing cycle stages, automation flows, and campaign progress.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/fanaurainc/RnYfBYSFirNGTEEw/images/launch-detail.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=RnYfBYSFirNGTEEw&q=85&s=85c23542d82e4840d8a43620fea55689" alt="Fanaura Launch Detail" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/launch-detail.png" />
</Frame>

## Step-by-Step Guide

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Launch Creator">
    Navigate to the **Launches** page from the left sidebar. Click the **"New Launch"** button in the top-right corner. This opens the launch creation modal.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Your Launch Type">
    You will see three launch type options:

    * **Music Launch** — For singles, EPs, albums, features, or any audio release
    * **Tour Launch** — For tours, individual shows, or festival appearances
    * **Merch Launch** — For clothing drops, vinyl releases, bundles, or any physical/digital product

    Click the type that matches your release. Each type unlocks different triggers and cycle stages tailored to that category.

    <Tip>Not sure which type to pick? Think about the primary action you want fans to take. If it is "presave," go Music. If it is "buy tickets," go Tour. If it is "shop now," go Merch.</Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Your Asset">
    After choosing a type, you will see a searchable list of your assets:

    * **Music launches** show your releases from connected DSPs (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.)
    * **Tour launches** show your events and tour dates
    * **Merch launches** show your products from connected stores (Shopify, etc.)

    Type to search, then click the asset you want this launch to be about. The asset's artwork and metadata will appear as a preview.

    <Note>If you do not see your asset listed, make sure it has been added to Fanaura via the appropriate integration (Music Assets, Tours, or Merch pages).</Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add More Assets (Optional)">
    Want to run a multi-asset campaign? Click **"Add Another Asset"** to bundle additional items into this launch. For example:

    * A new album **plus** the supporting tour dates
    * A single **plus** exclusive merch tied to the release
    * A full campaign with music, tour, and merch all in one

    You can add assets of different types. Each asset will be individually tracked within the launch. See [Multi-Asset Campaigns](/launches/campaigns) for more on this.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set Key Dates">
    Dates help Fanaura calculate your launch progress and schedule stage transitions. The date fields change based on your launch type:

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="Music Launch">
        * **Announcement Date** — When you plan to announce the release publicly
        * **Presave Date** — When the presave link goes live
        * **Release Date** — The official release day
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Tour Launch">
        * **Announcement Date** — When you announce the tour
        * **Presale Date** — When presale tickets become available
        * **On-Sale Date** — When general tickets go on sale
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Merch Launch">
        * **Announcement Date** — When you tease the drop
        * **Pre-Order Date** — When pre-orders open
        * **On-Sale Date** — When the product officially launches
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>

    <Tip>Do not stress about getting dates perfect right now. You can always update them later from the launch detail page. But setting at least a release/on-sale date helps Fanaura give you accurate progress tracking.</Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name Your Launch">
    Give your launch a descriptive name. This is what you will see on launch cards and in dropdown menus throughout Fanaura.

    Good examples:

    * "Midnight Drive Single — June 2026"
    * "North American Summer Tour 2026"
    * "Limited Edition Vinyl Drop"

    <Warning>Avoid vague names like "Launch 1" or "Test" — you will thank yourself later when you have dozens of launches and need to find the right one.</Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create Your Launch">
    Click **"Create Launch"** and you are done. Fanaura takes you directly to the launch detail page where the real fun begins: building your automation flows.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What You See After Creation

Your new launch detail page includes:

* **Launch header**: Title, type badge, progress bar, and key dates
* **Cycle stages**: Sections for each stage (e.g., Pre-Release, Release, Post-Release) with an "Add Flow" button in each
* **Asset panel**: Your selected asset(s) with artwork and metadata
* **Stats**: Fan counts and flow activity (will populate once flows are active)

## Managing Your Launch

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Renaming a Launch">
    Click the **three-dot menu** (top-right of the launch header) and select **"Rename"**. Type the new name and confirm.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Editing Dates">
    Click any date field in the launch header to update it. Changes take effect immediately and recalculate your progress bar.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Deleting a Launch">
    Click the **three-dot menu** and select **"Delete"**. This is a **soft delete** — your launch moves to the Deleted tab on the Launches page where it stays for **30 days**. During that window, you can restore it with all its flows intact.

    After 30 days, the launch and all associated flows are permanently removed.

    <Warning>Deleting a launch with active flows will deactivate those flows immediately. Fans currently in progress will stop receiving messages.</Warning>
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Quick Automations

Not every automation needs a full launch. For standalone flows — like a welcome sequence for new fans or an always-on keyword responder — use **Quick Automations**.

Find them under the **Automations** tab on the Launches page. Quick Automations work exactly like launch flows but without cycle stages or assets. They are always-on and not tied to any specific release.

<Info>Quick Automations are perfect for evergreen campaigns that run year-round, such as welcome sequences, birthday messages, or always-on keyword responders.</Info>

## Tips and Best Practices

<Tip>**Create launches early.** Even if your release date is months away, setting up the launch now gives you time to build and test your flows without rushing.</Tip>

* **Use multi-asset campaigns** for coordinated releases (album + tour + merch)
* **Set dates as soon as you know them**: Progress tracking and date-based triggers depend on accurate dates
* **Draft mode is your friend**: Build everything in draft, test with a small group, then go active when you are confident
* **Name with dates**: Including the month or year in your launch name makes it easy to find later

## What Happens Next

With your launch created, it is time to build the automation flows that will engage your fans. Head to [Creating a Flow](/flow-builder/creating-a-flow) to learn how to add your first trigger and start building.