diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index e894fd62..5eb41ee7 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{".":"1.7.0"}
+{".":"1.8.0"}
diff --git a/pikaraoke/CHANGELOG.md b/pikaraoke/CHANGELOG.md
index 4d773974..05f6b7b9 100644
--- a/pikaraoke/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/pikaraoke/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,46 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [1.8.0](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/compare/1.7.0...1.8.0) (2025-01-03)
+
+
+### Features
+
+* add more user preferences to info screen ([39fb27b](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/39fb27ba844c860ada8dd2b92cb5e0a852f39860))
+* add parameter for full buffering approach ([dd9dba6](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/dd9dba61ed8d83c3d40c7c0dda24cc11bba832d5))
+* add timestamp to splash screen ([#452](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/issues/452)) ([405b1f3](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/405b1f3984739f7036653659bf15be388727884a))
+* allow CLI arg to specify transcode buffer size ([0a6d0bd](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/0a6d0bd2ea7fb26c5887737163bcb8678161a12c))
+* allow randomized background music from user-specified dir ([a9307f1](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/a9307f1d74132905b2ad2d71e26572daf6b254e0))
+* background music, score screen, limit queue, stored prefs ([a70d959](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/a70d9595f3059c8de4e993070ddf8648ce2fe79f))
+* fade volume transition on skip/play/pause [#180](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/issues/180) ([2eeb211](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/2eeb2110bdda1affce8297e884e15f1cf9bb4555))
+* run pikaraoke on a single port ([a523a52](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/a523a52ee4e3deb17c14e8f3ffb922d8dcf85c0f))
+* support realtime(ish) notifications on splash screen ([823d83d](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/823d83d4f408229d7d43cd110e7d9433267959b4))
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* alpha bar not showing on files screen ([25cd3d3](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/25cd3d3307cf87603a99b42f394eb09a96019c94))
+* audit / clean up translations ([1ca27fc](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/1ca27fc59e68662c23b06d81f10810766c05e779))
+* change buffer_size to be measured in kb ([3ea97cb](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/3ea97cbc172d37b4023b27d1e3f8621dca8fb160))
+* chunked stream failures on raspberry pi ([#454](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/issues/454)) ([8516b4f](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/8516b4fb1e3974e9c63f3ac3e88d60ba7bfb452f))
+* improve browser warning message ([7469037](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/746903745a919f28c501e86fe065f715c3f97d54))
+* improve playback loop by using process exit codes ([45bad39](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/45bad39711a616eda0c64de193af4ce6d79d8aa5))
+* media file path incorrect on windows ([4a38710](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/4a38710ac8a2063637c0e840a2a854437448839b))
+* song restarts if now_playing status changes during score ([f4140a5](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/f4140a51be7eb4e72c4928f6ea347340a70e3094))
+* splash menu iframe doesn't load over https ([677576b](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/677576b669777bbc74c0d9631a5ff265b8bf8acf))
+* support concurrent splash screens [#448](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/issues/448) ([#451](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/issues/451)) ([5a5d9ea](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/5a5d9eac994e660feeda98e38f767c6af631aa78))
+* track wont restart while paused ([f716af0](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/f716af04806df377b56276f579cf882a17b1c598))
+
+
+### Performance Improvements
+
+* only transcode files when necessary ([936c3cd](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/936c3cd915b7bef76fe33e96cb68aa90a82a1d7d))
+* optimize docker build and arg handling ([185f937](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/185f9375e2d85daf1e28ea250acffc4c53b62251))
+
+
+### Documentation
+
+* simplify README, deprecate unused files ([c13ae28](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/commit/c13ae28f97d1fafd30c0585bb6bae14836cea6b2))
+
 ## [1.7.0](https://github.com/vicwomg/pikaraoke/compare/1.6.1...1.7.0) (2024-12-24)
 
 
diff --git a/pikaraoke/version.py b/pikaraoke/version.py
index 75e99071..1d027fdb 100644
--- a/pikaraoke/version.py
+++ b/pikaraoke/version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "1.7.0"  # {x-release-please-version}
+__version__ = "1.8.0"  # {x-release-please-version}
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index a904b609..65ef2ccb 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "pikaraoke"
-version = "1.7.0"
+version = "1.8.0"
 description = "Youtube-based Karaoke machine for Raspberry Pi, OSX, Windows, and Linux"
 authors = ["Vic Wong"]
 readme = "docs/README.md"