diff --git a/awkward/__init__.py b/awkward/__init__.py
index 79bb8c70..895552b2 100644
--- a/awkward/__init__.py
+++ b/awkward/__init__.py
@@ -8,6 +8,21 @@
 if distutils.version.LooseVersion(numpy.__version__) < distutils.version.LooseVersion("1.13.1"):
     raise ImportError("Numpy 1.13.1 or later required")
 
+import warnings
+warnings.warn(
+    """Consider switching from 'awkward' to 'awkward1', since the new interface will become the default later this year (2020).
+
+    pip install -U awkward1
+
+In Python:
+
+    >>> import awkward1 as ak
+    >>> new_style_array = ak.from_awkward0(old_style_array)
+    >>> old_style_array = ak.to_awkward0(new_style_array)
+""",
+    DeprecationWarning
+)
+
 from awkward.array.base import AwkwardArray
 from awkward.array.chunked import ChunkedArray, AppendableArray
 from awkward.array.indexed import IndexedArray, SparseArray
diff --git a/awkward/version.py b/awkward/version.py
index a8cd82c4..2c3b694f 100644
--- a/awkward/version.py
+++ b/awkward/version.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 import re
 
-__version__ = "0.12.23"
+__version__ = "0.13.0"
 version = __version__
 version_info = tuple(re.split(r"[-\.]", __version__))