diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index b79a4dba..29a79f7d 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ const {extractErrors, makeTag} = require('./lib/utils');
 const getGitAuthUrl = require('./lib/get-git-auth-url');
 const getBranches = require('./lib/branches');
 const getLogger = require('./lib/get-logger');
-const {verifyAuth, isBranchUpToDate, getGitHead, tag, push, getTagHead} = require('./lib/git');
+const {verifyAuth, isBranchUpToDate, getGitHead, tag, push, pushNotes, getTagHead, addNote} = require('./lib/git');
 const getError = require('./lib/get-error');
 const {COMMIT_NAME, COMMIT_EMAIL} = require('./lib/definitions/constants');
 
@@ -109,9 +109,10 @@ async function run(context, plugins) {
       if (options.dryRun) {
         logger.warn(`Skip ${nextRelease.gitTag} tag creation in dry-run mode`);
       } else {
-        await tag(nextRelease.gitTag, nextRelease.gitHead, {cwd, env});
+        await addNote({channels: [...currentRelease.channels, nextRelease.channel]}, nextRelease.gitHead, {cwd, env});
         await push(options.repositoryUrl, {cwd, env});
-        logger.success(`Created tag ${nextRelease.gitTag}`);
+        await pushNotes(options.repositoryUrl, {cwd, env});
+        logger.success(`Add channel ${nextRelease.channel} to tag ${nextRelease.gitTag}`);
       }
 
       context.branch.tags.push({
@@ -148,7 +149,7 @@ async function run(context, plugins) {
 
   const nextRelease = {
     type: await plugins.analyzeCommits(context),
-    channel: context.branch.channel,
+    channel: context.branch.channel || null,
     gitHead: await getGitHead({cwd, env}),
   };
   if (!nextRelease.type) {
@@ -158,8 +159,8 @@ async function run(context, plugins) {
 
   context.nextRelease = nextRelease;
   nextRelease.version = getNextVersion(context);
-  nextRelease.gitTag = makeTag(options.tagFormat, nextRelease.version, nextRelease.channel);
-  nextRelease.name = makeTag(options.tagFormat, nextRelease.version);
+  nextRelease.gitTag = makeTag(options.tagFormat, nextRelease.version);
+  nextRelease.name = nextRelease.gitTag;
 
   if (context.branch.type !== 'prerelease' && !semver.satisfies(nextRelease.version, context.branch.range)) {
     throw getError('EINVALIDNEXTVERSION', {
@@ -181,7 +182,9 @@ async function run(context, plugins) {
   } else {
     // Create the tag before calling the publish plugins as some require the tag to exists
     await tag(nextRelease.gitTag, nextRelease.gitHead, {cwd, env});
+    await addNote({channels: [nextRelease.channel]}, nextRelease.gitHead, {cwd, env});
     await push(options.repositoryUrl, {cwd, env});
+    await pushNotes(options.repositoryUrl, {cwd, env});
     logger.success(`Created tag ${nextRelease.gitTag}`);
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/branches/get-tags.js b/lib/branches/get-tags.js
index bf26a331..8cffbeb4 100644
--- a/lib/branches/get-tags.js
+++ b/lib/branches/get-tags.js
@@ -1,34 +1,29 @@
-const {template, escapeRegExp, flatMap} = require('lodash');
+const {template, escapeRegExp} = require('lodash');
 const semver = require('semver');
 const pReduce = require('p-reduce');
 const debug = require('debug')('semantic-release:get-tags');
-const {getTags} = require('../../lib/git');
+const {getTags, getNote} = require('../../lib/git');
 
 module.exports = async ({cwd, env, options: {tagFormat}}, branches) => {
   // Generate a regex to parse tags formatted with `tagFormat`
   // by replacing the `version` variable in the template by `(.+)`.
   // The `tagFormat` is compiled with space as the `version` as it's an invalid tag character,
   // so it's guaranteed to no be present in the `tagFormat`.
-  const tagRegexp = `^${escapeRegExp(template(tagFormat)({version: ' '})).replace(' ', '(.[^@]+)@?(.+)?')}`;
+  const tagRegexp = `^${escapeRegExp(template(tagFormat)({version: ' '})).replace(' ', '(.+)')}`;
 
   return pReduce(
     branches,
     async (branches, branch) => {
-      const versions = (await getTags(branch.name, {cwd, env})).reduce((versions, tag) => {
-        const [, version, channel] = tag.match(tagRegexp) || [];
-        if (version && semver.valid(semver.clean(version))) {
-          return {
-            ...versions,
-            [version]: versions[version]
-              ? {...versions[version], channels: [...versions[version].channels, channel]}
-              : {gitTag: tag, version, channels: [channel]},
-          };
-        }
-
-        return versions;
-      }, {});
-
-      const branchTags = flatMap(versions);
+      const branchTags = await pReduce(
+        await getTags(branch.name, {cwd, env}),
+        async (branchTags, tag) => {
+          const [, version] = tag.match(tagRegexp) || [];
+          return version && semver.valid(semver.clean(version))
+            ? [...branchTags, {gitTag: tag, version, channels: (await getNote(tag, {cwd, env})).channels || [null]}]
+            : branchTags;
+        },
+        []
+      );
 
       debug('found tags for branch %s: %o', branch.name, branchTags);
       return [...branches, {...branch, tags: branchTags}];
diff --git a/lib/branches/index.js b/lib/branches/index.js
index 044289e8..b3781f09 100644
--- a/lib/branches/index.js
+++ b/lib/branches/index.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ const AggregateError = require('aggregate-error');
 const pEachSeries = require('p-each-series');
 const DEFINITIONS = require('../definitions/branches');
 const getError = require('../get-error');
-const {fetch, verifyBranchName} = require('../git');
+const {fetch, fetchNotes, verifyBranchName} = require('../git');
 const expand = require('./expand');
 const getTags = require('./get-tags');
 const normalize = require('./normalize');
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ module.exports = async (repositoryUrl, context) => {
     await fetch(repositoryUrl, name, {cwd, env});
   });
 
+  await fetchNotes(repositoryUrl, {cwd, env});
+
   const branches = await getTags(context, remoteBranches);
 
   const errors = [];
diff --git a/lib/definitions/constants.js b/lib/definitions/constants.js
index 491a1a71..999999c9 100644
--- a/lib/definitions/constants.js
+++ b/lib/definitions/constants.js
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ const SECRET_REPLACEMENT = '[secure]';
 
 const SECRET_MIN_SIZE = 5;
 
+const GIT_NOTE_REF = 'semantic-release';
+
 module.exports = {
   RELEASE_TYPE,
   FIRST_RELEASE,
@@ -23,4 +25,5 @@ module.exports = {
   RELEASE_NOTES_SEPARATOR,
   SECRET_REPLACEMENT,
   SECRET_MIN_SIZE,
+  GIT_NOTE_REF,
 };
diff --git a/lib/get-release-to-add.js b/lib/get-release-to-add.js
index 09cefc82..a5ac7d88 100644
--- a/lib/get-release-to-add.js
+++ b/lib/get-release-to-add.js
@@ -23,12 +23,12 @@ module.exports = context => {
     .slice(branches.findIndex(({name}) => name === branch.name) + 1)
     // Exclude prerelease branches
     .filter(({type}) => type !== 'prerelease')
-    .map(({channel}) => channel);
+    .map(({channel}) => channel || null);
 
   const versiontoAdd = uniqBy(
     branch.tags.filter(
       ({channels, version}) =>
-        !channels.includes(branch.channel) &&
+        !channels.includes(branch.channel || null) &&
         intersection(channels, higherChannels).length > 0 &&
         (branch.type !== 'maintenance' || semver.gte(version, getLowerBound(branch.mergeRange)))
     ),
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ module.exports = context => {
       nextRelease: {
         type,
         version,
-        channel: branch.channel,
-        gitTag: makeTag(tagFormat, version, branch.channel),
+        channel: branch.channel || null,
+        gitTag: makeTag(tagFormat, version),
         name,
         gitHead: gitTag,
       },
diff --git a/lib/git.js b/lib/git.js
index 58304df6..0c2d7836 100644
--- a/lib/git.js
+++ b/lib/git.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ const gitLogParser = require('git-log-parser');
 const getStream = require('get-stream');
 const execa = require('execa');
 const debug = require('debug')('semantic-release:git');
+const {GIT_NOTE_REF} = require('./definitions/constants');
 
 Object.assign(gitLogParser.fields, {hash: 'H', message: 'B', gitTags: 'd', committerDate: {key: 'ci', type: Date}});
 
@@ -146,6 +147,27 @@ async function fetch(repositoryUrl, branch, execaOpts) {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Unshallow the git repository if necessary and fetch all the notes.
+ *
+ * @param {String} repositoryUrl The remote repository URL.
+ * @param {Object} [execaOpts] Options to pass to `execa`.
+ */
+async function fetchNotes(repositoryUrl, execaOpts) {
+  try {
+    await execa(
+      'git',
+      ['fetch', '--unshallow', repositoryUrl, `+refs/notes/${GIT_NOTE_REF}:refs/notes/${GIT_NOTE_REF}`],
+      execaOpts
+    );
+  } catch (_) {
+    await execa('git', ['fetch', repositoryUrl, `+refs/notes/${GIT_NOTE_REF}:refs/notes/${GIT_NOTE_REF}`], {
+      ...execaOpts,
+      reject: false,
+    });
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Get the HEAD sha.
  *
@@ -230,6 +252,18 @@ async function push(repositoryUrl, execaOpts) {
   await execa('git', ['push', '--tags', repositoryUrl], execaOpts);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Push notes to the remote repository.
+ *
+ * @param {String} repositoryUrl The remote repository URL.
+ * @param {Object} [execaOpts] Options to pass to `execa`.
+ *
+ * @throws {Error} if the push failed.
+ */
+async function pushNotes(repositoryUrl, execaOpts) {
+  await execa('git', ['push', repositoryUrl, `refs/notes/${GIT_NOTE_REF}`], execaOpts);
+}
+
 /**
  * Verify a tag name is a valid Git reference.
  *
@@ -280,6 +314,38 @@ async function isBranchUpToDate(repositoryUrl, branch, execaOpts) {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Get and parse the JSON note of a given reference.
+ *
+ * @param {String} ref The Git reference for which to retrieve the note.
+ * @param {Object} [execaOpts] Options to pass to `execa`.
+ *
+ * @return {Object} the parsed JSON note if there is one, an empty object otherwise.
+ */
+async function getNote(ref, execaOpts) {
+  try {
+    return JSON.parse((await execa('git', ['notes', '--ref', GIT_NOTE_REF, 'show', ref], execaOpts)).stdout);
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (error.exitCode === 1) {
+      return {};
+    }
+
+    debug(error);
+    throw error;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get and parse the JSON note of a given reference.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} note The object to save in the reference note.
+ * @param {String} ref The Git reference to add the note to.
+ * @param {Object} [execaOpts] Options to pass to `execa`.
+ */
+async function addNote(note, ref, execaOpts) {
+  await execa('git', ['notes', '--ref', GIT_NOTE_REF, 'add', '-f', '-m', JSON.stringify(note), ref], execaOpts);
+}
+
 module.exports = {
   getTagHead,
   getTags,
@@ -288,13 +354,17 @@ module.exports = {
   isRefInHistory,
   isRefExists,
   fetch,
+  fetchNotes,
   getGitHead,
   repoUrl,
   isGitRepo,
   verifyAuth,
   tag,
   push,
+  pushNotes,
   verifyTagName,
   isBranchUpToDate,
   verifyBranchName,
+  getNote,
+  addNote,
 };
diff --git a/lib/utils.js b/lib/utils.js
index ef8463f7..e40c5d19 100644
--- a/lib/utils.js
+++ b/lib/utils.js
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ function getRange(min, max) {
   return `>=${min}${max ? ` <${max}` : ''}`;
 }
 
-function makeTag(tagFormat, version, channel) {
-  return template(tagFormat)({version: `${version}${channel ? `@${channel}` : ''}`});
+function makeTag(tagFormat, version) {
+  return template(tagFormat)({version});
 }
 
 function isSameChannel(channel, otherChannel) {
diff --git a/test/branches/get-tags.test.js b/test/branches/get-tags.test.js
index c234ebe5..7321f923 100644
--- a/test/branches/get-tags.test.js
+++ b/test/branches/get-tags.test.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import test from 'ava';
 import getTags from '../../lib/branches/get-tags';
-import {gitRepo, gitCommits, gitTagVersion, gitCheckout} from '../helpers/git-utils';
+import {gitRepo, gitCommits, gitTagVersion, gitCheckout, gitAddNote} from '../helpers/git-utils';
 
 test('Get the valid tags', async t => {
   const {cwd} = await gitRepo();
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ test('Get the valid tags', async t => {
     {
       name: 'master',
       tags: [
-        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v3.0.0-beta.1', version: '3.0.0-beta.1', channels: [undefined]},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v3.0.0-beta.1', version: '3.0.0-beta.1', channels: [null]},
       ],
     },
   ]);
@@ -30,20 +30,21 @@ test('Get the valid tags', async t => {
 
 test('Get the valid tags from multiple branches', async t => {
   const {cwd} = await gitRepo();
-  const commits = await gitCommits(['First'], {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['First'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0@1.x', undefined, {cwd});
-  commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['Second'], {cwd})));
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: [null, '1.x']}), 'v1.0.0', {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['Second'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.1.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.1.0@1.x', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: [null, '1.x']}), 'v1.1.0', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('1.x', true, {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('master', false, {cwd});
-  commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['Third'], {cwd})));
+  await gitCommits(['Third'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v2.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v2.0.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: [null, 'next']}), 'v2.0.0', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('next', true, {cwd});
-  commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['Fourth'], {cwd})));
-  await gitTagVersion('v3.0.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['Fourth'], {cwd});
+  await gitTagVersion('v3.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: ['next']}), 'v3.0.0', {cwd});
 
   const result = await getTags({cwd, options: {tagFormat: `v\${version}`}}, [
     {name: '1.x'},
@@ -55,39 +56,17 @@ test('Get the valid tags from multiple branches', async t => {
     {
       name: '1.x',
       tags: [
-        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined, '1.x']},
-        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0', version: '1.1.0', channels: [undefined, '1.x']},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [null, '1.x']},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0', version: '1.1.0', channels: [null, '1.x']},
       ],
     },
     {
       name: 'master',
-      tags: [...result[0].tags, {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: [undefined, 'next']}],
+      tags: [...result[0].tags, {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: [null, 'next']}],
     },
     {
       name: 'next',
-      tags: [...result[1].tags, {gitTag: 'v3.0.0@next', version: '3.0.0', channels: ['next']}],
-    },
-  ]);
-});
-
-test('Match the tag name from the begining of the string and the channel from the last "@"', async t => {
-  const {cwd} = await gitRepo();
-  await gitCommits(['First'], {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('prefix@v1.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('prefix@v1.0.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('prefix@v2.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('prefix@v2.0.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('other-prefix@v3.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
-
-  const result = await getTags({cwd, options: {tagFormat: `prefix@v\${version}`}}, [{name: 'master'}]);
-
-  t.deepEqual(result, [
-    {
-      name: 'master',
-      tags: [
-        {gitTag: 'prefix@v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined, 'next']},
-        {gitTag: 'prefix@v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: [undefined, 'next']},
-      ],
+      tags: [...result[1].tags, {gitTag: 'v3.0.0', version: '3.0.0', channels: ['next']}],
     },
   ]);
 });
@@ -112,11 +91,13 @@ test('Return branches with and empty tags array if no valid tag is found in hist
   await gitCheckout('next', true, {cwd});
   await gitCommits(['Second'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: [null, 'next']}), 'v1.0.0', {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['Third'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v2.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v2.0.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: [null, 'next']}), 'v2.0.0', {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['Fourth'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v3.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v3.0.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: [null, 'next']}), 'v3.0.0', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('master', false, {cwd});
 
   const result = await getTags({cwd, options: {tagFormat: `prefix@v\${version}`}}, [{name: 'master'}, {name: 'next'}]);
@@ -133,19 +114,19 @@ test('Get the highest valid tag corresponding to the "tagFormat"', async t => {
 
   await gitTagVersion('1.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
   t.deepEqual(await getTags({cwd, options: {tagFormat: `\${version}`}}, [{name: 'master'}]), [
-    {name: 'master', tags: [{gitTag: '1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined]}]},
+    {name: 'master', tags: [{gitTag: '1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [null]}]},
   ]);
 
   await gitTagVersion('foo-1.0.0-bar', undefined, {cwd});
   t.deepEqual(await getTags({cwd, options: {tagFormat: `foo-\${version}-bar`}}, [{name: 'master'}]), [
-    {name: 'master', tags: [{gitTag: 'foo-1.0.0-bar', version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined]}]},
+    {name: 'master', tags: [{gitTag: 'foo-1.0.0-bar', version: '1.0.0', channels: [null]}]},
   ]);
 
   await gitTagVersion('foo-v1.0.0-bar', undefined, {cwd});
   t.deepEqual(await getTags({cwd, options: {tagFormat: `foo-v\${version}-bar`}}, [{name: 'master'}]), [
     {
       name: 'master',
-      tags: [{gitTag: 'foo-v1.0.0-bar', version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined]}],
+      tags: [{gitTag: 'foo-v1.0.0-bar', version: '1.0.0', channels: [null]}],
     },
   ]);
 
@@ -153,7 +134,7 @@ test('Get the highest valid tag corresponding to the "tagFormat"', async t => {
   t.deepEqual(await getTags({cwd, options: {tagFormat: `(.+)/\${version}/(a-z)`}}, [{name: 'master'}]), [
     {
       name: 'master',
-      tags: [{gitTag: '(.+)/1.0.0/(a-z)', version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined]}],
+      tags: [{gitTag: '(.+)/1.0.0/(a-z)', version: '1.0.0', channels: [null]}],
     },
   ]);
 
@@ -161,12 +142,12 @@ test('Get the highest valid tag corresponding to the "tagFormat"', async t => {
   t.deepEqual(await getTags({cwd, options: {tagFormat: `2.0.0-\${version}-bar.1`}}, [{name: 'master'}]), [
     {
       name: 'master',
-      tags: [{gitTag: '2.0.0-1.0.0-bar.1', version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined]}],
+      tags: [{gitTag: '2.0.0-1.0.0-bar.1', version: '1.0.0', channels: [null]}],
     },
   ]);
 
   await gitTagVersion('3.0.0-bar.2', undefined, {cwd});
   t.deepEqual(await getTags({cwd, options: {tagFormat: `\${version}-bar.2`}}, [{name: 'master'}]), [
-    {name: 'master', tags: [{gitTag: '3.0.0-bar.2', version: '3.0.0', channels: [undefined]}]},
+    {name: 'master', tags: [{gitTag: '3.0.0-bar.2', version: '3.0.0', channels: [null]}]},
   ]);
 });
diff --git a/test/get-last-release.test.js b/test/get-last-release.test.js
index fa62e200..bb3a2ee2 100644
--- a/test/get-last-release.test.js
+++ b/test/get-last-release.test.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ test('Get the highest non-prerelease valid tag', t => {
       tags: [
         {version: '2.0.0', gitTag: 'v2.0.0', gitHead: 'v2.0.0'},
         {version: '1.0.0', gitTag: 'v1.0.0', gitHead: 'v1.0.0'},
-        {version: '3.0.0-beta.1', gitTag: 'v3.0.0-beta.1@beta', gitHead: 'v3.0.0-beta.1@beta'},
+        {version: '3.0.0-beta.1', gitTag: 'v3.0.0-beta.1', gitHead: 'v3.0.0-beta.1'},
       ],
       type: 'release',
     },
@@ -25,14 +25,9 @@ test('Get the highest prerelease valid tag, ignoring other tags from other prere
       prerelease: 'beta',
       channel: 'beta',
       tags: [
-        {version: '1.0.0-beta.1', gitTag: 'v1.0.0-beta.1@beta', gitHead: 'v1.0.0-beta.1@beta', channels: ['beta']},
-        {version: '1.0.0-beta.2', gitTag: 'v1.0.0-beta.2@beta', gitHead: 'v1.0.0-beta.2@beta', channels: ['beta']},
-        {
-          version: '1.0.0-alpha.1',
-          gitTag: 'v1.0.0-alpha.1@alpha',
-          gitHead: 'v1.0.0-alpha.1@alpha',
-          channels: ['alpha'],
-        },
+        {version: '1.0.0-beta.1', gitTag: 'v1.0.0-beta.1', gitHead: 'v1.0.0-beta.1', channels: ['beta']},
+        {version: '1.0.0-beta.2', gitTag: 'v1.0.0-beta.2', gitHead: 'v1.0.0-beta.2', channels: ['beta']},
+        {version: '1.0.0-alpha.1', gitTag: 'v1.0.0-alpha.1', gitHead: 'v1.0.0-alpha.1', channels: ['alpha']},
       ],
       type: 'prerelease',
     },
@@ -41,9 +36,9 @@ test('Get the highest prerelease valid tag, ignoring other tags from other prere
 
   t.deepEqual(result, {
     version: '1.0.0-beta.2',
-    gitTag: 'v1.0.0-beta.2@beta',
+    gitTag: 'v1.0.0-beta.2',
     name: 'v1.0.0-beta.2',
-    gitHead: 'v1.0.0-beta.2@beta',
+    gitHead: 'v1.0.0-beta.2',
     channels: ['beta'],
   });
 });
@@ -52,7 +47,7 @@ test('Return empty object if no valid tag is found', t => {
   const result = getLastRelease({
     branch: {
       name: 'master',
-      tags: [{version: '3.0.0-beta.1', gitTag: 'v3.0.0-beta.1@beta', gitHead: 'v3.0.0-beta.1@beta'}],
+      tags: [{version: '3.0.0-beta.1', gitTag: 'v3.0.0-beta.1', gitHead: 'v3.0.0-beta.1'}],
       type: 'release',
     },
     options: {tagFormat: `v\${version}`},
@@ -70,7 +65,7 @@ test('Get the highest non-prerelease valid tag before a certain version', t => {
         tags: [
           {version: '2.0.0', gitTag: 'v2.0.0', gitHead: 'v2.0.0'},
           {version: '1.0.0', gitTag: 'v1.0.0', gitHead: 'v1.0.0'},
-          {version: '2.0.0-beta.1', gitTag: 'v2.0.0-beta.1@beta', gitHead: 'v2.0.0-beta.1@beta'},
+          {version: '2.0.0-beta.1', gitTag: 'v2.0.0-beta.1', gitHead: 'v2.0.0-beta.1'},
           {version: '2.1.0', gitTag: 'v2.1.0', gitHead: 'v2.1.0'},
           {version: '2.1.1', gitTag: 'v2.1.1', gitHead: 'v2.1.1'},
         ],
diff --git a/test/get-release-to-add.test.js b/test/get-release-to-add.test.js
index 2b131113..823e2817 100644
--- a/test/get-release-to-add.test.js
+++ b/test/get-release-to-add.test.js
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@ test('Return versions merged from release to maintenance branch, excluding lower
       type: 'maintenance',
       mergeRange: '>=2.0.0 <3.0.0',
       tags: [
-        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0@2.x', version: '2.0.0', channels: ['2.x']},
-        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v2.1.0', version: '2.1.0', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v2.1.1', version: '2.1.1', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0', version: '1.1.0', channels: [undefined]},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: ['2.x']},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.1.0', version: '2.1.0', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.1.1', version: '2.1.1', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0', version: '1.1.0', channels: [null]},
       ],
     },
     branches: [{name: '2.x', channel: '2.x'}, {name: 'master'}],
@@ -22,11 +22,11 @@ test('Return versions merged from release to maintenance branch, excluding lower
   });
 
   t.deepEqual(result, {
-    lastRelease: {version: '2.1.0', channels: [undefined], gitTag: 'v2.1.0', name: 'v2.1.0', gitHead: 'v2.1.0'},
+    lastRelease: {version: '2.1.0', channels: [null], gitTag: 'v2.1.0', name: 'v2.1.0', gitHead: 'v2.1.0'},
     currentRelease: {
       type: 'patch',
       version: '2.1.1',
-      channels: [undefined],
+      channels: [null],
       gitTag: 'v2.1.1',
       name: 'v2.1.1',
       gitHead: 'v2.1.1',
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ test('Return versions merged from release to maintenance branch, excluding lower
       type: 'patch',
       version: '2.1.1',
       channel: '2.x',
-      gitTag: 'v2.1.1@2.x',
+      gitTag: 'v2.1.1',
       name: 'v2.1.1',
       gitHead: 'v2.1.1',
     },
@@ -47,9 +47,9 @@ test('Return versions merged between release branches', t => {
     branch: {
       name: 'master',
       tags: [
-        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined, 'next']},
-        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0@next', version: '1.1.0', channels: ['next']},
-        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0@next-major', version: '2.0.0', channels: ['next-major']},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [null, 'next']},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0', version: '1.1.0', channels: ['next']},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: ['next-major']},
       ],
     },
     branches: [{name: 'master'}, {name: 'next', channel: 'next'}, {name: 'next-major', channel: 'next-major'}],
@@ -59,26 +59,26 @@ test('Return versions merged between release branches', t => {
   t.deepEqual(result, {
     lastRelease: {
       version: '1.1.0',
-      gitTag: 'v1.1.0@next',
+      gitTag: 'v1.1.0',
       name: 'v1.1.0',
-      gitHead: 'v1.1.0@next',
+      gitHead: 'v1.1.0',
       channels: ['next'],
     },
     currentRelease: {
       type: 'major',
       version: '2.0.0',
       channels: ['next-major'],
-      gitTag: 'v2.0.0@next-major',
+      gitTag: 'v2.0.0',
       name: 'v2.0.0',
-      gitHead: 'v2.0.0@next-major',
+      gitHead: 'v2.0.0',
     },
     nextRelease: {
       type: 'major',
       version: '2.0.0',
-      channel: undefined,
+      channel: null,
       gitTag: 'v2.0.0',
       name: 'v2.0.0',
-      gitHead: 'v2.0.0@next-major',
+      gitHead: 'v2.0.0',
     },
   });
 });
@@ -88,10 +88,9 @@ test('Return releases sorted by ascending order', t => {
     branch: {
       name: 'master',
       tags: [
-        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0@next-major', version: '2.0.0', channels: ['next-major']},
-        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0@next', version: '1.1.0', channels: ['next']},
-        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined, 'next']},
-        // {gitTag: 'v1.0.0@next', version: '1.0.0', channel: 'next'},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: ['next-major']},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0', version: '1.1.0', channels: ['next']},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [null, 'next']},
       ],
     },
     branches: [{name: 'master'}, {name: 'next', channel: 'next'}, {name: 'next-major', channel: 'next-major'}],
@@ -99,22 +98,22 @@ test('Return releases sorted by ascending order', t => {
   });
 
   t.deepEqual(result, {
-    lastRelease: {version: '1.1.0', gitTag: 'v1.1.0@next', name: 'v1.1.0', gitHead: 'v1.1.0@next', channels: ['next']},
+    lastRelease: {version: '1.1.0', gitTag: 'v1.1.0', name: 'v1.1.0', gitHead: 'v1.1.0', channels: ['next']},
     currentRelease: {
       type: 'major',
       version: '2.0.0',
       channels: ['next-major'],
-      gitTag: 'v2.0.0@next-major',
+      gitTag: 'v2.0.0',
       name: 'v2.0.0',
-      gitHead: 'v2.0.0@next-major',
+      gitHead: 'v2.0.0',
     },
     nextRelease: {
       type: 'major',
       version: '2.0.0',
-      channel: undefined,
+      channel: null,
       gitTag: 'v2.0.0',
       name: 'v2.0.0',
-      gitHead: 'v2.0.0@next-major',
+      gitHead: 'v2.0.0',
     },
   });
 });
@@ -123,7 +122,7 @@ test('No lastRelease', t => {
   const result = getReleaseToAdd({
     branch: {
       name: 'master',
-      tags: [{gitTag: 'v1.0.0@next', version: '1.0.0', channels: ['next']}],
+      tags: [{gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: ['next']}],
     },
     branches: [{name: 'master'}, {name: 'next', channel: 'next'}],
     options: {tagFormat: `v\${version}`},
@@ -135,17 +134,17 @@ test('No lastRelease', t => {
       type: 'major',
       version: '1.0.0',
       channels: ['next'],
-      gitTag: 'v1.0.0@next',
+      gitTag: 'v1.0.0',
       name: 'v1.0.0',
-      gitHead: 'v1.0.0@next',
+      gitHead: 'v1.0.0',
     },
     nextRelease: {
       type: 'major',
       version: '1.0.0',
-      channel: undefined,
+      channel: null,
       gitTag: 'v1.0.0',
       name: 'v1.0.0',
-      gitHead: 'v1.0.0@next',
+      gitHead: 'v1.0.0',
     },
   });
 });
@@ -155,9 +154,9 @@ test('Ignore pre-release versions', t => {
     branch: {
       name: 'master',
       tags: [
-        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined, 'next']},
-        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0@next', version: '1.1.0', channels: ['next']},
-        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0-alpha.1@alpha', version: '2.0.0-alpha.1', channels: ['alpha']},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [null, 'next']},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0', version: '1.1.0', channels: ['next']},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0-alpha.1', version: '2.0.0-alpha.1', channels: ['alpha']},
       ],
     },
     branches: [
@@ -169,22 +168,22 @@ test('Ignore pre-release versions', t => {
   });
 
   t.deepEqual(result, {
-    lastRelease: {version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined, 'next'], gitTag: 'v1.0.0', name: 'v1.0.0', gitHead: 'v1.0.0'},
+    lastRelease: {version: '1.0.0', channels: [null, 'next'], gitTag: 'v1.0.0', name: 'v1.0.0', gitHead: 'v1.0.0'},
     currentRelease: {
       type: 'minor',
       version: '1.1.0',
       channels: ['next'],
-      gitTag: 'v1.1.0@next',
+      gitTag: 'v1.1.0',
       name: 'v1.1.0',
-      gitHead: 'v1.1.0@next',
+      gitHead: 'v1.1.0',
     },
     nextRelease: {
       type: 'minor',
       version: '1.1.0',
-      channel: undefined,
+      channel: null,
       gitTag: 'v1.1.0',
       name: 'v1.1.0',
-      gitHead: 'v1.1.0@next',
+      gitHead: 'v1.1.0',
     },
   });
 });
@@ -197,12 +196,12 @@ test('Exclude versions merged from release to maintenance branch if they have th
       type: 'maintenance',
       mergeRange: '>=2.0.0 <3.0.0',
       tags: [
-        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v2.1.0', version: '2.1.0', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v2.1.1', version: '2.1.1', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0', version: '1.1.0', channels: [undefined]},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.1.0', version: '2.1.0', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.1.1', version: '2.1.1', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0', version: '1.1.0', channels: [null]},
       ],
     },
     branches: [
@@ -243,9 +242,9 @@ test('Exclude versions merged between release branches if they all have "channel
       name: 'master',
       channel: false,
       tags: [
-        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0', version: '1.1.0', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: [undefined]},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0', version: '1.1.0', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: [null]},
       ],
     },
     branches: [
@@ -267,12 +266,12 @@ test('Exclude versions number less than the latest version already released on t
       type: 'maintenance',
       mergeRange: '>=2.0.0 <3.0.0',
       tags: [
-        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0@2.x', version: '2.0.0', channels: ['2.x']},
-        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v2.1.0', version: '2.1.0', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v2.1.1', version: '2.1.1', channels: [undefined, '2.x']},
-        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [undefined]},
-        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0', version: '1.1.0', channels: [undefined]},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: ['2.x']},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.0.0', version: '2.0.0', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.1.0', version: '2.1.0', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v2.1.1', version: '2.1.1', channels: [null, '2.x']},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0', channels: [null]},
+        {gitTag: 'v1.1.0', version: '1.1.0', channels: [null]},
       ],
     },
     branches: [{name: '2.x', channel: '2.x'}, {name: 'master'}],
diff --git a/test/git.test.js b/test/git.test.js
index 7383f156..9df6d03c 100644
--- a/test/git.test.js
+++ b/test/git.test.js
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ import {
   isGitRepo,
   verifyTagName,
   isBranchUpToDate,
+  getNote,
+  addNote,
+  fetchNotes,
 } from '../lib/git';
 import {
   gitRepo,
@@ -27,6 +30,8 @@ import {
   gitRemoteTagHead,
   gitPush,
   gitDetachedHead,
+  gitAddNote,
+  gitGetNote,
 } from './helpers/git-utils';
 
 test('Get the last commit sha', async t => {
@@ -276,3 +281,91 @@ test('Return "true" if local repository is ahead', async t => {
 
   t.true(await isBranchUpToDate(repositoryUrl, 'master', {cwd}));
 });
+
+test('Get a commit note', async t => {
+  // Create a git repository, set the current working directory at the root of the repo
+  const {cwd} = await gitRepo();
+  // Add commits to the master branch
+  const commits = await gitCommits(['First'], {cwd});
+
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({note: 'note'}), commits[0].hash, {cwd});
+
+  t.deepEqual(await getNote(commits[0].hash, {cwd}), {note: 'note'});
+});
+
+test('Return empty object if there is no commit note', async t => {
+  // Create a git repository, set the current working directory at the root of the repo
+  const {cwd} = await gitRepo();
+  // Add commits to the master branch
+  const commits = await gitCommits(['First'], {cwd});
+
+  t.deepEqual(await getNote(commits[0].hash, {cwd}), {});
+});
+
+test('Throw error if a commit note in invalid', async t => {
+  // Create a git repository, set the current working directory at the root of the repo
+  const {cwd} = await gitRepo();
+  // Add commits to the master branch
+  const commits = await gitCommits(['First'], {cwd});
+
+  await gitAddNote('non-json note', commits[0].hash, {cwd});
+
+  await t.throwsAsync(getNote(commits[0].hash, {cwd}));
+});
+
+test('Add a commit note', async t => {
+  // Create a git repository, set the current working directory at the root of the repo
+  const {cwd} = await gitRepo();
+  // Add commits to the master branch
+  const commits = await gitCommits(['First'], {cwd});
+
+  await addNote({note: 'note'}, commits[0].hash, {cwd});
+
+  t.is(await gitGetNote(commits[0].hash, {cwd}), '{"note":"note"}');
+});
+
+test('Overwrite a commit note', async t => {
+  // Create a git repository, set the current working directory at the root of the repo
+  const {cwd} = await gitRepo();
+  // Add commits to the master branch
+  const commits = await gitCommits(['First'], {cwd});
+
+  await addNote({note: 'note'}, commits[0].hash, {cwd});
+  await addNote({note: 'note2'}, commits[0].hash, {cwd});
+
+  t.is(await gitGetNote(commits[0].hash, {cwd}), '{"note":"note2"}');
+});
+
+test('Unshallow and fetch repository with notes', async t => {
+  // Create a git repository, set the current working directory at the root of the repo
+  let {cwd, repositoryUrl} = await gitRepo();
+  // Add commits to the master branch
+  const commits = await gitCommits(['First', 'Second'], {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({note: 'note'}), commits[0].hash, {cwd});
+  // Create a shallow clone with only 1 commit
+  cwd = await gitShallowClone(repositoryUrl);
+
+  // Verify the shallow clone doesn't contains the note
+  await t.throwsAsync(gitGetNote(commits[0].hash, {cwd}));
+
+  await fetch(repositoryUrl, 'master', {cwd});
+  await fetchNotes(repositoryUrl, {cwd});
+
+  // Verify the shallow clone contains the note
+  t.is(await gitGetNote(commits[0].hash, {cwd}), '{"note":"note"}');
+});
+
+test('Fetch all notes on a detached head repository', async t => {
+  let {cwd, repositoryUrl} = await gitRepo();
+
+  await gitCommits(['First'], {cwd});
+  const [commit] = await gitCommits(['Second'], {cwd});
+  await gitPush(repositoryUrl, 'master', {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({note: 'note'}), commit.hash, {cwd});
+  cwd = await gitDetachedHead(repositoryUrl, commit.hash);
+
+  await fetch(repositoryUrl, 'master', {cwd});
+  await fetchNotes(repositoryUrl, {cwd});
+
+  t.is(await gitGetNote(commit.hash, {cwd}), '{"note":"note"}');
+});
diff --git a/test/helpers/git-utils.js b/test/helpers/git-utils.js
index 0473bb3d..b5ea65b3 100644
--- a/test/helpers/git-utils.js
+++ b/test/helpers/git-utils.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import fileUrl from 'file-url';
 import pEachSeries from 'p-each-series';
 import gitLogParser from 'git-log-parser';
 import getStream from 'get-stream';
+import {GIT_NOTE_REF} from '../../lib/definitions/constants';
 
 /**
  * Commit message informations.
@@ -258,3 +259,24 @@ export async function mergeFf(ref, execaOpts) {
 export async function rebase(ref, execaOpts) {
   await execa('git', ['rebase', ref], execaOpts);
 }
+
+/**
+ * Add a note to a Git reference.
+ *
+ * @param {String} note The note to add.
+ * @param {String} ref The ref to add the note to.
+ * @param {Object} [execaOpts] Options to pass to `execa`.
+ */
+export async function gitAddNote(note, ref, execaOpts) {
+  await execa('git', ['notes', '--ref', GIT_NOTE_REF, 'add', '-m', note, ref], execaOpts);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get the note associated with a Git reference.
+ *
+ * @param {String} ref The ref to get the note from.
+ * @param {Object} [execaOpts] Options to pass to `execa`.
+ */
+export async function gitGetNote(ref, execaOpts) {
+  return (await execa('git', ['notes', '--ref', GIT_NOTE_REF, 'show', ref], execaOpts)).stdout;
+}
diff --git a/test/index.test.js b/test/index.test.js
index 11f35ca2..0c3d867d 100644
--- a/test/index.test.js
+++ b/test/index.test.js
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ import {
   merge,
   mergeFf,
   rebase,
+  gitAddNote,
+  gitGetNote,
 } from './helpers/git-utils';
 
 const requireNoCache = proxyquire.noPreserveCache();
@@ -45,7 +47,8 @@ test('Plugins are called with expected values', async t => {
   // Add commits to the master branch
   let commits = await gitCommits(['First'], {cwd});
   // Create the tag corresponding to version 1.0.0
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: ['next']}), 'v1.0.0', {cwd});
   commits = (await gitCommits(['Second'], {cwd})).concat(commits);
   await gitCheckout('next', true, {cwd});
   await gitPush(repositoryUrl, 'next', {cwd});
@@ -55,7 +58,7 @@ test('Plugins are called with expected values', async t => {
   const lastRelease = {
     version: '1.0.0',
     gitHead: commits[commits.length - 1].hash,
-    gitTag: 'v1.0.0@next',
+    gitTag: 'v1.0.0',
     name: 'v1.0.0',
     channels: ['next'],
   };
@@ -65,7 +68,7 @@ test('Plugins are called with expected values', async t => {
     version: '1.1.0',
     gitHead: await getGitHead({cwd}),
     gitTag: 'v1.1.0',
-    channel: undefined,
+    channel: null,
   };
   const notes1 = 'Release notes 1';
   const notes2 = 'Release notes 2';
@@ -96,7 +99,7 @@ test('Plugins are called with expected values', async t => {
       name: 'master',
       range: '>=1.0.0 <2.0.0',
       accept: ['patch', 'minor'],
-      tags: [{channels: ['next'], gitTag: 'v1.0.0@next', version: '1.0.0'}],
+      tags: [{channels: ['next'], gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0'}],
       type: 'release',
       main: true,
     },
@@ -105,7 +108,7 @@ test('Plugins are called with expected values', async t => {
       name: 'next',
       range: '>=2.0.0',
       accept: ['patch', 'minor', 'major'],
-      tags: [{channels: ['next'], gitTag: 'v1.0.0@next', version: '1.0.0'}],
+      tags: [{channels: ['next'], gitTag: 'v1.0.0', version: '1.0.0'}],
       type: 'release',
       main: false,
     },
@@ -130,7 +133,7 @@ test('Plugins are called with expected values', async t => {
       ...release1,
       type: 'major',
       version: '1.0.0',
-      channel: undefined,
+      channel: null,
       gitTag: 'v1.0.0',
       notes: `${notes1}\n\n${notes2}\n\n${notes3}`,
       pluginName: '[Function: functionStub]',
@@ -181,7 +184,7 @@ test('Plugins are called with expected values', async t => {
     ...omit(lastRelease, 'channels'),
     type: 'major',
     version: '1.0.0',
-    channel: undefined,
+    channel: null,
     gitTag: 'v1.0.0',
     name: 'v1.0.0',
   });
@@ -198,7 +201,7 @@ test('Plugins are called with expected values', async t => {
     ...omit(lastRelease, 'channels'),
     type: 'major',
     version: '1.0.0',
-    channel: undefined,
+    channel: null,
     gitTag: 'v1.0.0',
     name: 'v1.0.0',
     notes: notes1,
@@ -216,7 +219,7 @@ test('Plugins are called with expected values', async t => {
     ...omit(lastRelease, 'channels'),
     type: 'major',
     version: '1.0.0',
-    channel: undefined,
+    channel: null,
     gitTag: 'v1.0.0',
     name: 'v1.0.0',
     notes: `${notes1}\n\n${notes2}`,
@@ -224,7 +227,7 @@ test('Plugins are called with expected values', async t => {
 
   branch.tags.push({
     version: '1.0.0',
-    channel: undefined,
+    channel: null,
     gitTag: 'v1.0.0',
     gitHead: commits[commits.length - 1].hash,
   });
@@ -241,7 +244,7 @@ test('Plugins are called with expected values', async t => {
     ...omit(lastRelease, 'channels'),
     type: 'major',
     version: '1.0.0',
-    channel: undefined,
+    channel: null,
     gitTag: 'v1.0.0',
     name: 'v1.0.0',
     notes: `${notes1}\n\n${notes2}\n\n${notes3}`,
@@ -335,7 +338,7 @@ test('Plugins are called with expected values', async t => {
     ...omit(lastRelease, 'channels'),
     type: 'major',
     version: '1.0.0',
-    channel: undefined,
+    channel: null,
     gitTag: 'v1.0.0',
     name: 'v1.0.0',
     notes: `${notes1}\n\n${notes2}\n\n${notes3}`,
@@ -435,7 +438,7 @@ test('Use new gitHead, and recreate release notes if a prepare plugin create a c
     version: '2.0.0',
     gitHead: await getGitHead({cwd}),
     gitTag: 'v2.0.0',
-    channel: undefined,
+    channel: null,
   };
   const notes = 'Release notes';
 
@@ -494,15 +497,16 @@ test('Use new gitHead, and recreate release notes if a prepare plugin create a c
 
 test('Make a new release when a commit is forward-ported to an upper branch', async t => {
   const {cwd, repositoryUrl} = await gitRepo(true);
-  const commits = await gitCommits(['feat: initial release'], {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['feat: initial release'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0@1.0.x', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: [null, '1.0.x']}), 'v1.0.0', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('1.0.x', true, {cwd});
-  commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['fix: fix on maintenance version 1.0.x'], {cwd})));
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.0.1@1.0.x', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['fix: fix on maintenance version 1.0.x'], {cwd});
+  await gitTagVersion('v1.0.1', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: ['1.0.x']}), 'v1.0.1', {cwd});
   await gitPush('origin', '1.0.x', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('master', false, {cwd});
-  commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['feat: new feature on master'], {cwd})));
+  await gitCommits(['feat: new feature on master'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.1.0', undefined, {cwd});
   await merge('1.0.x', {cwd});
   await gitPush('origin', 'master', {cwd});
@@ -568,7 +572,8 @@ test('Publish a pre-release version', async t => {
 
   t.is(releases.length, 1);
   t.is(releases[0].version, '1.1.0-beta.1');
-  t.is(releases[0].gitTag, 'v1.1.0-beta.1@beta');
+  t.is(releases[0].gitTag, 'v1.1.0-beta.1');
+  t.is(await gitGetNote('v1.1.0-beta.1', {cwd}), '{"channels":["beta"]}');
 
   await gitCommits(['fix: a fix'], {cwd});
   ({releases} = await semanticRelease(options, {
@@ -580,7 +585,8 @@ test('Publish a pre-release version', async t => {
 
   t.is(releases.length, 1);
   t.is(releases[0].version, '1.1.0-beta.2');
-  t.is(releases[0].gitTag, 'v1.1.0-beta.2@beta');
+  t.is(releases[0].gitTag, 'v1.1.0-beta.2');
+  t.is(await gitGetNote('v1.1.0-beta.2', {cwd}), '{"channels":["beta"]}');
 });
 
 test('Publish releases from different branch on the same channel', async t => {
@@ -696,14 +702,16 @@ test('Publish pre-releases the same channel as regular releases', async t => {
 
 test('Do not add pre-releases to a different channel', async t => {
   const {cwd, repositoryUrl} = await gitRepo(true);
-  const commits = await gitCommits(['feat: initial release'], {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['feat: initial release'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0@beta', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: [null, 'beta']}), 'v1.0.0', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('beta', true, {cwd});
-  commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['feat: breaking change/n/nBREAKING CHANGE: break something'], {cwd})));
-  await gitTagVersion('v2.0.0-beta.1@beta', undefined, {cwd});
-  commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['fix: a fix'], {cwd})));
-  await gitTagVersion('v2.0.0-beta.2@beta', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['feat: breaking change/n/nBREAKING CHANGE: break something'], {cwd});
+  await gitTagVersion('v2.0.0-beta.1', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: ['beta']}), 'v2.0.0-beta.1', {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['fix: a fix'], {cwd});
+  await gitTagVersion('v2.0.0-beta.2', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: ['beta']}), 'v2.0.0-beta.2', {cwd});
   await gitPush('origin', 'beta', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('master', false, {cwd});
   await merge('beta', {cwd});
@@ -748,14 +756,18 @@ async function addChannelMacro(t, mergeFunction) {
   const {cwd, repositoryUrl} = await gitRepo(true);
   const commits = await gitCommits(['feat: initial release'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: [null, 'next']}), 'v1.0.0', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('next', true, {cwd});
   commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['feat: breaking change/n/nBREAKING CHANGE: break something'], {cwd})));
-  await gitTagVersion('v2.0.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitTagVersion('v2.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: ['next']}), 'v2.0.0', {cwd});
+
   commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['fix: a fix'], {cwd})));
-  await gitTagVersion('v2.0.1@next', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitTagVersion('v2.0.1', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: ['next']}), 'v2.0.1', {cwd});
   commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['feat: a feature'], {cwd})));
-  await gitTagVersion('v2.1.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitTagVersion('v2.1.0', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: ['next']}), 'v2.1.0', {cwd});
   await gitPush('origin', 'next', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('master', false, {cwd});
   // Merge all commits but last one from next to master
@@ -788,7 +800,7 @@ async function addChannelMacro(t, mergeFunction) {
     name: 'v2.0.1',
     type: 'patch',
     version: '2.0.1',
-    channel: undefined,
+    channel: null,
     gitTag: 'v2.0.1',
     gitHead: commits[2].hash,
   };
@@ -832,7 +844,7 @@ test('Call all "success" plugins even if one errors out', async t => {
     version: '2.0.0',
     gitHead: await getGitHead({cwd}),
     gitTag: 'v2.0.0',
-    channel: undefined,
+    channel: null,
   };
   const notes = 'Release notes';
   const verifyConditions1 = stub().resolves();
@@ -967,9 +979,11 @@ test('Dry-run skips addChannel, prepare, publish and success', async t => {
   const {cwd, repositoryUrl} = await gitRepo(true);
   await gitCommits(['First'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.1.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: [null, 'next']}), 'v1.0.0', {cwd});
   await gitCommits(['Second'], {cwd});
+  await gitTagVersion('v1.1.0', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: ['next']}), 'v1.1.0', {cwd});
+
   await gitPush(repositoryUrl, 'master', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('next', true, {cwd});
   await gitPush('origin', 'next', {cwd});
@@ -1249,8 +1263,10 @@ test('Accept "undefined" value returned by "generateNotes" and "false" by "publi
   const {cwd, repositoryUrl} = await gitRepo(true);
   await gitCommits(['First'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.1.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: [null, 'next']}), 'v1.0.0', {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['Second'], {cwd});
+  await gitTagVersion('v1.1.0', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: ['next']}), 'v1.1.0', {cwd});
   await gitPush(repositoryUrl, 'master', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('next', true, {cwd});
   await gitPush('origin', 'next', {cwd});
@@ -1262,7 +1278,7 @@ test('Accept "undefined" value returned by "generateNotes" and "false" by "publi
     version: '1.2.0',
     gitHead: await getGitHead({cwd}),
     gitTag: 'v1.2.0',
-    channel: undefined,
+    channel: null,
   };
   const analyzeCommits = stub().resolves(nextRelease.type);
   const verifyRelease = stub().resolves();
@@ -1335,16 +1351,16 @@ test('Returns false if triggered by a PR', async t => {
 
 test('Throws "EINVALIDNEXTVERSION" if next release is out of range of the current maintenance branch', async t => {
   const {cwd, repositoryUrl} = await gitRepo(true);
-  const commits = await gitCommits(['feat: initial commit'], {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['feat: initial commit'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0@1.x', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: [null, '1.x']}), 'v1.0.0', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('1.x', true, {cwd});
   await gitPush('origin', '1.x', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('master', false, {cwd});
-  commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['feat: new feature on master'], {cwd})));
+  await gitCommits(['feat: new feature on master'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.1.0', undefined, {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('1.x', false, {cwd});
-  commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['feat: feature on maintenance version 1.x'], {cwd})));
+  await gitCommits(['feat: feature on maintenance version 1.x'], {cwd});
   await gitPush('origin', 'master', {cwd});
 
   const verifyConditions = stub().resolves();
@@ -1386,16 +1402,17 @@ test('Throws "EINVALIDNEXTVERSION" if next release is out of range of the curren
 
 test('Throws "EINVALIDNEXTVERSION" if next release is out of range of the current release branch', async t => {
   const {cwd, repositoryUrl} = await gitRepo(true);
-  const commits = await gitCommits(['feat: initial commit'], {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['feat: initial commit'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('next', true, {cwd});
-  commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['feat: new feature on next'], {cwd})));
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.1.0@next', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['feat: new feature on next'], {cwd});
+  await gitTagVersion('v1.1.0', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: ['next']}), 'v1.1.0', {cwd});
   await gitPush('origin', 'next', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('next-major', true, {cwd});
   await gitPush('origin', 'next-major', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('master', false, {cwd});
-  commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['feat: new feature on master', 'fix: new fix on master'], {cwd})));
+  await gitCommits(['feat: new feature on master', 'fix: new fix on master'], {cwd});
   await gitPush('origin', 'master', {cwd});
 
   const verifyConditions = stub().resolves();
@@ -1437,18 +1454,18 @@ test('Throws "EINVALIDNEXTVERSION" if next release is out of range of the curren
 
 test('Throws "EINVALIDMAINTENANCEMERGE" if merge an out of range release in a maintenance branch', async t => {
   const {cwd, repositoryUrl} = await gitRepo(true);
-  const commits = await gitCommits(['First'], {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['First'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.0.0@1.1.x', undefined, {cwd});
-  commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['Second'], {cwd})));
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: [null, '1.1.x']}), 'v1.0.0', {cwd});
+  await gitCommits(['Second'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.1.0', undefined, {cwd});
-  await gitTagVersion('v1.1.0@1.1.x', undefined, {cwd});
+  await gitAddNote(JSON.stringify({channels: [null, '1.1.x']}), 'v1.1.0', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('1.1.x', 'master', {cwd});
   await gitPush('origin', '1.1.x', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('master', false, {cwd});
-  commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['Third'], {cwd})));
+  await gitCommits(['Third'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.1.1', undefined, {cwd});
-  commits.push(...(await gitCommits(['Fourth'], {cwd})));
+  await gitCommits(['Fourth'], {cwd});
   await gitTagVersion('v1.2.0', undefined, {cwd});
   await gitPush('origin', 'master', {cwd});
   await gitCheckout('1.1.x', false, {cwd});
diff --git a/test/integration.test.js b/test/integration.test.js
index 576f2cd1..8840a188 100644
--- a/test/integration.test.js
+++ b/test/integration.test.js
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {
   gitPush,
   gitCheckout,
   merge,
+  gitGetNote,
 } from './helpers/git-utils';
 import {npmView} from './helpers/npm-utils';
 import gitbox from './helpers/gitbox';
@@ -220,7 +221,7 @@ test('Release patch, minor and major versions', async t => {
   createReleaseMock = await mockServer.mock(
     `/repos/${owner}/${packageName}/releases`,
     {
-      body: {tag_name: `v${version}@next`, name: `v${version}`},
+      body: {tag_name: `v${version}`, name: `v${version}`},
       headers: [{name: 'Authorization', values: [`token ${env.GH_TOKEN}`]}],
     },
     {body: {html_url: `release-url/${version}`}}
@@ -246,8 +247,9 @@ test('Release patch, minor and major versions', async t => {
   } = await npmView(packageName, testEnv));
   head = await gitHead({cwd});
   t.is(releasedVersion, version);
-  t.is(await gitTagHead(`v${version}@next`, {cwd}), head);
-  t.is(await gitRemoteTagHead(authUrl, `v${version}@next`, {cwd}), head);
+  t.is(await gitGetNote(`v${version}`, {cwd}), '{"channels":["next"]}');
+  t.is(await gitTagHead(`v${version}`, {cwd}), head);
+  t.is(await gitRemoteTagHead(authUrl, `v${version}`, {cwd}), head);
   t.log(`+ released ${releasedVersion} on @next`);
 
   await mockServer.verify(verifyMock);
@@ -262,7 +264,7 @@ test('Release patch, minor and major versions', async t => {
     {body: {permissions: {push: true}}, method: 'GET'}
   );
   const getReleaseMock = await mockServer.mock(
-    `/repos/${owner}/${packageName}/releases/tags/v2.0.0@next`,
+    `/repos/${owner}/${packageName}/releases/tags/v2.0.0`,
     {headers: [{name: 'Authorization', values: [`token ${env.GH_TOKEN}`]}]},
     {body: {id: releaseId}, method: 'GET'}
   );
@@ -292,11 +294,9 @@ test('Release patch, minor and major versions', async t => {
     'dist-tags': {latest: releasedVersion},
   } = await npmView(packageName, testEnv));
   t.is(releasedVersion, version);
-  t.is(await gitTagHead(`v${version}`, {cwd}), await gitTagHead(`v${version}@next`, {cwd}));
-  t.is(
-    await gitRemoteTagHead(authUrl, `v${version}`, {cwd}),
-    await gitRemoteTagHead(authUrl, `v${version}@next`, {cwd})
-  );
+  t.is(await gitGetNote(`v${version}`, {cwd}), '{"channels":["next",null]}');
+  t.is(await gitTagHead(`v${version}`, {cwd}), await gitTagHead(`v${version}`, {cwd}));
+  t.is(await gitRemoteTagHead(authUrl, `v${version}`, {cwd}), await gitRemoteTagHead(authUrl, `v${version}`, {cwd}));
   t.log(`+ added ${releasedVersion}`);
 
   await mockServer.verify(verifyMock);
diff --git a/test/utils.test.js b/test/utils.test.js
index 21308838..dd05a049 100644
--- a/test/utils.test.js
+++ b/test/utils.test.js
@@ -174,10 +174,6 @@ test('getRange', t => {
 
 test('makeTag', t => {
   t.is(makeTag(`v\${version}`, '1.0.0'), 'v1.0.0');
-  t.is(makeTag(`v\${version}`, '1.0.0', false), 'v1.0.0');
-  t.is(makeTag(`v\${version}`, '1.0.0', null), 'v1.0.0');
-  t.is(makeTag(`v\${version}`, '1.0.0', 'next'), 'v1.0.0@next');
-  t.is(makeTag(`v\${version}@test`, '1.0.0', 'next'), 'v1.0.0@next@test');
 });
 
 test('isSameChannel', t => {