FAQ

Getting started

Why should I choose fanatic.fm over other similar services?

fanatic.fm is a platform with four key elements to it, independent musicians, brand sponsors who pay the artists per play, listeners who can hear the music for free and a charity which receives a percentage of the proceeds. As an artist, you want your music to be widely heard, and you want compensation. That's what fanatic.fm makes possible: Music for free, with fair pay to musicians. The other important thing fanatic.fm does is help you market your music over social media. Sharing tools are built into the player so your friends, fans, sponsors and charities can spread the word. Fanatic.fm's marketing team will also publicize your music on its blog The Fanatic, Facebook and Twitter. No other music platform combines all of these elements to help you break out of the pack.

How do I get started?

Sign up > Upload your music > Set a value for your music (Cost Per Music Play) > Reach out and invite potential sponsors > Select a charity.

Uploading Music (a.k.a Publishing on fanatic.fm)

What music is eligible for uploading?

To be qualified for uploading, your music (including musical composition and recording) needs to be cleared for every right necessary including but not limited to:

  • Rights necessary for publicly performing your music on the web either independently or as embedded in videos (the public performance rights);
  • Rights necessary for using your music for producing videos and making them publicly available on fanatic.fm (the rights to grant a synchronization license);
  • Rights necessary for using your sound recording for producing videos and making them publicly available on fanatic.fm and providing your sound recording on fanatic.fm for promotional purposes (the rights to grant a master-use license);

You also represent that you have the rights necessary to use album jacket images, song titles, lyrics, or any other material contained in your musical albums for the purposes relevant to the activities of fanatic.fm activities. You also represent and warrant that you have the rights, federal or state, statutory or common law, to prevent others from using Your name, likeness, voice or others for commercial purpose ("publicity rights").

What's the difference between Official and Pre-release Music?

  • Pre-release is like a “trailer” of your Official released music. You can publish a Pre-release version first to attract sponsors for your Official released music. And you'll be requested to upload the music before the release date.
  • Or you can, of course, directly publish your Official released music.

What is CPMP?

CPMP is Cost Per Music Play. This is what you earn from each music play.

What's the process of publishing your music?

  • First, you need to sign up and create your profile.
  • Second, you publish by uploading your music. You can choose from Official or Pre-release options.
  • Third, you set a value for Cost Per Music Play.

Can I upload my songs to other sites aside from fanatic.fm?

Yes, but we believe that publishing exclusively on fanatic.fm will make your music more attractive to brands.

Should I upload new music or old music?

It's your choice but we believe that new or previously unreleased music will be more exciting to sponsors. Considering the fact that fanatic.fm is a platform for getting sponsorship, we recommend you to upload new music.

What if I am already a member of ASCAP, BMI, etc.?

You are solely responsible for taking all steps necessary to inform such performing rights organizations (PRO) or music publishers of your grant of a royalty-free license to fanatic.fm for the uses set forth herein for the Hosting, including public performances and communications to the public, of your Musical Works, and that no fees or payments of any kind whatsoever shall be due to any PRO or music publisher for the Hosting of your Musical Works on fanatic.fm.

What music file formats do you accept?

We only receive mp3 files for now.

How many songs/albums can I upload?

No limits. You'll be sponsored by the song collection or album.

Getting Sponsorship

Can I choose my sponsors?

Yes, you will be approached by different brands for sponsorship, and you have the freedom to choose amongst them. In addition, you can proactively invite a brand to sponsor you instead of just waiting for them to come to you.

Can I refuse certain sponsors?

Sure. You may not want to receive a sponsorship from certain companies or brands. You have the right to decline.

How many sponsors can I have for my album?

No limits. But we believe most sponsors would prefer to not share with too many other sponsors.

Can I have an exclusive sponsor for my album?

Absolutely.

Can Pre-release music be sponsored?

You can showcase your Pre release to attract sponsors but the sponsorship starts when your Official album is released.

Collecting Revenue & Donations

How much do I get?

You receive 70% of the sponsorship budget. From this 70%, 2.5% of that goes to a charity you select as a donation.

Is the donation mandatory?

Yes. We recommend choosing a charity at the beginning of your campaign. By donating 2.5% of your revenue (an amount which fanatic.fm will match) , you engage the charity and its supporters in promoting your music. Support for the charitable cause generates goodwill for everybody involved.

When and how can I collect my earnings?

You can claim your earnings when the accumulated amount reaches $50. We remit it to your Paypal account upon your request , on the 15th of the following month.

When and how do I donate?

  • 2.5% of your sponsorship revenue will be directed to a charity you choose. Our system will accumulate the exact amount which you will then be able to allocate to the charities you choose.
  • We, fanatic.fm, also donate the same amount to the charity that you chose.

What if the charity I want to donate to is not on fanatic.fm?

Please let us know who they are by sending an email to charity@fanatic.fm, then we'll contact them and ask them to upload their information on fanatic.fm.

Others

What if my artist/band name is already taken?

  • Our name policy follows a first come, first served basis. If two bands or artists have the same name, they will be numbered (e.g. Coldplay2, Coldplay3, etc.)
  • However, if you think someone has stolen your name on purpose, you can claim an infringement to us here.

What happens if we change our artist/band name?

You can change your name in you account settings. You can have a new artist/band name and URL as long as the name isn't taken by another artist or band on fanatic.fm.

How do I report copyright infringements?

To report a copyright infringement by a fanatic.fm user, all you need to do is fill out our automated DMCA form.

Can I advertise/sell concert tickets or merchandise directly from our page/channel on fanatic.fm?

Our system currently focuses only on publishing your new music through sponsorships from brands. However, you can spotlight concert information in your profile which is displayed on fanatic.fm and include a link to concert and ticket information.

Can I sponsor other musicians too?

Yes you can. But you need to first create a sponsor account on fanatic.fm.