FAQ's

Who can get funding? There are no “hard lines” that determine exactly which artists can and cannot get funding because there are so many factors that go into our algorithm, but Artists who have released music on major DSPs (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon, QQ) and typically have as little as 10,000 and as many as 10,000,000 monthly listeners are most likely to qualify for funding. Artists who have been within those ranges for more than a few months and who have more passionate and engaged fans (inside and outside of streaming) are more likely to qualify as well.

What if I don't repay my advance in the term? Most artists will repay their bB advance right when the term ends, or a few months before. That's how our data science team models the deals we offer, but if your music doesn't generate enough income to repay your advance during the term, we'll collect until you are repaid, and no longer. We won't add any balance to your advance if you are late, and we won't charge any interest or penalties.

What if there is an artist services company or indie label that I love and that loves me? Can I still get a Social Playlist advance? We love indie labels and artist service companies; they provide great services that we don't. If your prospective indie label partner is willing, we can provide funding to you and cut them in on the deal. If they help take your career to the next level, it's great for the investors that we bring to the table. We are more than happy to work out an advance that helps both you and your partners succeed.

What if I get a label offer in the middle of my term that is just too good to pass up? Great question. We don't want to hold you back. Our standardized contract includes a "buyout" clause that will let you buy out of the rest of the term with those big label bucks. Your buyout price is based on a formula that's set ahead of time, so there's no doubt or need to play negotiation games. It's based on how much you've repaid, how much revenue you've generated in the term, and how much time you have left on your term.

Do I need to release new music to receive funding? No. We are happy to advance funds against your existing catalog, but many artists will find that the funding amounts we can provide are significantly larger if they plan to release new music in the next 6 to 12 months.

When do I get paid? A large share of your advance will be paid within a week of signing your contract. The remainder will be paid when you release new music, if it's covered in the deal. Any "flow through" income you are due before your advance is repaid will be paid within 7 business days after we receive it from your distributor.

Can I stay with my current distributor? Usually, yes. We will never tell you that you have to work with one and only one distributor. In some cases, we may ask you to move your catalog if your distributor isn't able to meet our criteria, but we work with most of the leading distributors and DIY platforms. Also, if we do have to move your catalog, our staff is skilled, deeply experienced, and knowledgeable on the ins and outs of digital distribution, metadata, and playlisting.

How do you decide how big of an advance to give? Two things determine the size of your advance. First, your data. Your streaming data and a whole lot more data beyond that is used to make an estimate of your future earnings. Second, your advance is driven by the terms you choose. You are in control. You choose if your deal will include some or all of your catalog, and how many unreleased tracks it will include (or if it will include no new tracks at all). You choose how many years you want to share income with our investors. Finally, you choose how much of your streaming income you need to keep during the term, even before your advance is repaid. All those tradeoffs impact the size of your advance, and all of them are up to you.

Can I get funded for songs on which I'm only a collaborator? In many situations, yes. We just need to know what percentage of master income you get from each track and be properly set up with the distribution company handling that track.

Is this a loan? Will it affect my credit? No, and No. Our advances are structured as a purchase of a limited portion of your revenues for a limited time. They aren't loans and they won't impact your credit.

Does Social Playlist offer any promotional services? Yes and no, We have 3rd party relationships we can get to help manage and promote you as an artist, however, Social Playlist is a platform that provides funding. That's it. We simplify the "money part" of being a professional musician and help artists keep control of their art and their careers. Who you work with for marketing is up to you. We believe in artists, independence, and, most of all, independent artists.

Advancing money to artists? Isn't that a sure way to lose all your money really fast? No, we don't think so. We took literally BILLIONS of data points on hundreds of thousands of artists and millions of songs to build some really smart algorithms that predict an artist's future earnings. Because we think we can make smart bets on artists, we can also offer better terms (higher royalties, faster timeframe to get back to 100% control of revenues) than a traditional label deal.

Do I need to have a manager in order to receive funding? No. If you have been successful on your own, we believe you can continue to do that.

What if I don't own my music? It depends. We may be able to figure out a way to work with your label or distributor. Let's talk.

Which genres qualify? We work with any and all genres. Classical, Trap, Waka, Jazz, Christian Pop, Prog Rock, Canadian Country, K-Pop, Hip Hop, Dance, Pop, Assyrian Folk, Latin Rap, Sufi, Deep Trance, Ranchera, Bhajan, Norwegian Death Metal… you name it. We are open to making an advance if the data is right.

Can I receive additional funding if I'm going to release new music before my term is complete? Absolutely - just contact us for a new offer on additional releases! You can also take your funding in smaller chunks to keep your options open if you like.

Do you charge a fee? There is a fee of 15% of the total advance to source and administer each advance. This is not an upfront fee you need to pay in order to receive your advance, it's repaid out of your future revenues or upfront advance amount depending on the deal. Also, there is no interest and the amount you owe in your deal will never go up. The fee is simply added on top of your total advance to be recouped from your deal.

Can I negotiate my offer? Short answer: No. You can adjust and choose: Length of term Scope of works included (a certain number of new releases plus catalog or catalog only) Amount of income you keep before your advance is repaid And while we give you flexibility to choose the value of those terms, we don't negotiate beyond that. The advance amounts presented to you are calculated by a complex data-driven system our team has created to put you in the best position to recoup on schedule with the length of term you select.

You said I don't qualify for an advance. Why? While we can't share every last detail of what our investors and algorithm look for, things that will reduce your chance of getting an investment include: If you are not getting 50,000 monthly listeners on Spotify on a consistent basis If your income from your distributor(s) is less than $100/month If you have an outstanding advance un-recouped If you have a higher than normal mix of free listeners

Who are you guys? This company is made up of an eclectic team of Industry experts, business professionals, data scientists, software developers, and financial executives. We not only love music, but we want the people who create music to have more control, more ownership, and more flexibility to make more great music, on their own terms. With Partnerships with some of the Major Distribution companies, Synching Agencies, TV Networks and Production companies, we have built this unstoppable machine that will propel Independent Music Artists to their highest level.

Do you charge a fee? There is a fee of 15% of the total advance to source and administer each advance. This is not an upfront fee you need to pay in order to receive your advance, it's repaid out of your future revenues rupfront advance amount depending on the deal. Also, there is no interest and the amount you owe in your deal will never go up. The fee is simply added on top of your total advance to be recouped from your deal.