The album features narration by Jim Carrey, guest vocals from Tyler, the Creator and Lil Wayne, and spoken word appearances from Quincy Jones and Josh Safdie.

[8] On October 4, 2021, during an episode of his Apple Music 1 radio show, Memento Mori, the Weeknd announced that the album was complete, and that he was waiting on a "couple characters that are key to the narrative."

"[9][10] On January 1, 2022, the Weeknd teased a possible surprise release of the album in an Instagram post, which featured a screenshot of a text conversation he had with his best friend and creative director La Mar Taylor.

[14] On January 11, the Weeknd announced an expanded edition of the album subtitled Alternate World including two remixes and previously released single "Moth to a Flame" with Swedish House Mafia.

[18] During an episode of Memento Mori, the Weeknd cited Britney Spears, Nas, Swedish House Mafia, Kid Cudi, Kanye West and Tyler, the Creator as the artists who have inspired the album.

[35] It features a "dramatically aged version" of the Weeknd as an elderly and overweight bearded man in a dark background setting with a small ray of light shining behind the back of his shoulder.

[39] An official remix by Italian house music group Agents of Time was released with the original version of the Alternate World edition of the album on January 11, 2022.

[45] An official remix of the song by Haitian-Canadian music producer Kaytranada was released on April 22, 2022, and later included on the streaming reissue of the Alternate World edition of the album.

[47] On July 1, 2022, an official remix of the album's eleventh track "Starry Eyes" by Mike Dean was released as the first promotional single from the streaming re-issue of the Alternate World edition of Dawn FM.

by Swedish House Mafia members Sebastian Ingrosso and Salvatore Ganacci was released as the third promotional single from the streaming re-issue of the Alternate World edition of the album.

[61][62] On January 7, 2022, alongside the release of Dawn FM, the Weeknd hosted a live event with Amazon Music, in which he served as a disc jockey and played the entire album in front of a small crowd.

[71] Describing Dawn FM as a new peak for the Weeknd, Will Dukes of Rolling Stone praised the album for its "interstellar ambitions" and "enchanting music".

[77] Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times called it "the year's first great album", praising its production, melodies and vocals, while noting that Dawn FM is more positive and upbeat than his previous works.

[80] Andy Kellman of AllMusic praised the album, stating, "In the main, this is a space for Tesfaye to fully indulge his frantic romantic side as his co-conspirators whip up fluorescent throwback Euro-pop with muscle and nuance".

[73] Rhian Daly of NME said Dawn FM "feels like the first steps on a journey for the Weeknd to find peace with himself; perhaps next time we hear from him, he'll be fully embracing the light of day.

"[22] Dani Blum from Pitchfork enjoyed and said the album conceptualizes "listening to a retro-pop radio station in purgatory", delivering the Weeknd's most "thoughtful, melodic, and revealing project" of his career.

[74] Matt Mitchell of Paste opined that Dawn FM transcends "dynamic pop grandeur and flaunts accountability in the face of death".

"[81] Spin critic Bobby Olivier praised Max Martin for conferring a cohesive, "well-polished" production to the album, while still maintaining its "dexterity, punch and sex appeal.

"[27] Roisin O'Connor of The Independent wrote the album is "a self-knowing contradiction to the Weeknd's past celebrations of impermanence via one-night stands and sleazy affairs.

"[20] Writing for Clash, Alex Rigotti stated the album has "some pacing issues" and lacks "character and vivacity" of its predecessor, but nevertheless is a solid follow-up with "its dramatic instrumentation and refreshed view of the world.

"[82] Fellow critic Tom Hull gave it a B+ and said that, while the singer's previous albums had been "increasingly sluggish", he has "found a beat here, and even his voice has brightened up.