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Distribution Terms & Agreement

Effective: April 14, 2026 · Last updated: April 14, 2026

These terms govern the distribution of your music through Aether Drift Records ("the Label") via our distribution partner DistroKid. By submitting a release for distribution, you agree to the following terms.

1. Royalty Split

80% Artist / 20% Label

For every dollar of streaming and download revenue generated by your distributed release, you receive 80% and Aether Drift Records retains 20% to cover DistroKid distribution fees, platform maintenance, and label operations.

  • The 80/20 split applies uniformly to all subscription plans (Free, Artist, and Studio).
  • The royalty split is locked at the time of submission and does not change retroactively if you upgrade or downgrade your plan.
  • Royalties are calculated on gross revenue received from streaming platforms, before any platform-specific deductions.

2. Publishing Fees

A one-time publishing fee is charged per release to cover the cost of distribution through DistroKid. The fee varies by your subscription plan at the time of submission:

  • Free Plan: $9.99 per single, $19.99 per album
  • Artist Plan: $4.99 per single, $9.99 per album (1 free release per month included)
  • Studio Plan: $1.99 per single, $4.99 per album (3 free releases per month included)

Free releases included with paid plans reset monthly. Unused free releases do not roll over.

3. Distribution Process

Upon submission and payment (if applicable), your release enters our review queue. The Aether Drift team will:

  • Review your submission for quality and completeness
  • Upload approved releases to DistroKid under the Aether Drift Records label
  • Update your release status as it progresses through distribution
  • Provide streaming links once your release is live on platforms

Aether Drift Records reserves the right to reject submissions that do not meet quality standards or violate platform guidelines. Rejected releases will include a reason, and you may revise and resubmit at no additional cost.

4. Royalty Reporting & Payments

  • Royalties are reported monthly based on revenue data received from DistroKid and streaming platforms.
  • Royalty amounts are visible in your Distribute dashboard under "Royalty Earnings."
  • Payouts are processed when your accumulated artist earnings reach a minimum threshold of $25.00.
  • Payments are made via Stripe to the payment method associated with your account.
  • Aether Drift Records will provide a transparent breakdown of gross revenue, the 80/20 split, and net artist earnings for each reporting period.

5. Subscription Changes & Royalty Access

Important: Your subscription status may affect royalty access.

If you cancel or downgrade your subscription, your previously distributed releases remain live on streaming platforms. However, access to detailed royalty reporting in your dashboard requires an active account. Accumulated unpaid royalties will still be paid out to you regardless of subscription status.

  • Releases distributed while on a paid plan remain live even if you later downgrade to the Free plan.
  • The royalty split locked at submission time (80/20) is honored permanently, regardless of future plan changes.
  • If your account is deactivated or deleted, any unpaid royalties above the $25 minimum will be paid out within 60 days.
  • Reactivating your account restores full access to royalty reporting and dashboard features.

6. Content Ownership & Rights

  • You retain full ownership of your original musical compositions and lyrics.
  • By submitting for distribution, you grant Aether Drift Records a non-exclusive license to distribute your music on streaming platforms worldwide.
  • You represent that you have the right to distribute the content and that it does not infringe on any third-party intellectual property rights.
  • AI-generated music created on the Aether Drift platform may be distributed, subject to applicable AI content guidelines of each streaming platform.

7. Takedown & Removal

  • You may request removal of your release from streaming platforms at any time by contacting support.
  • Takedown requests are processed within 5-10 business days, depending on platform processing times.
  • Royalties earned up to the point of removal are still owed and will be paid according to the standard payout schedule.
  • Aether Drift Records may remove content that violates platform guidelines or these terms, with notice provided to the artist.

8. Limitation of Liability

Aether Drift Records acts as an intermediary between you and streaming platforms via DistroKid. We are not responsible for:

  • Platform-specific delays in making your release available
  • Changes to streaming platform royalty rates or policies
  • Temporary unavailability of streaming services
  • Revenue fluctuations due to streaming algorithm changes

9. Changes to Terms

Aether Drift Records may update these terms with 30 days' notice. Existing releases will continue under the terms in effect at the time of their submission. New submissions will be governed by the then-current terms.

10. Contact

For questions about these terms or your royalty payments, contact us at support@aetherdriftrecords.com.

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