Distribution Terms (Push to DSPs)

Version 1.1
Effective date: 13 October 2025
Last updated: 13 October 2025

These Distribution Terms (the “Terms”) govern delivery of your recordings and related materials to third-party digital service providers (each a “DSP”) via Crown Booth’s distribution features (“Distribution”). By enabling Push to DSPs, you accept these Terms in addition to the Crown Booth Terms of Service, AUP, Privacy Policy, and Artist Upload Licence & Consent.

Operator (UK Controller): Crown Booth Ltd, 86–90 Paul Street, London, England, United Kingdom, EC2A 4NE. Company number: 16719138.
Affiliate/Processor (US): Crown Booth Company may provide support services.
Contact: support@crownbooth.co.uk

1) Scope & eligibility

1.1 Scope. Distribution covers the non-exclusive delivery of sound recordings, metadata, artwork, and related assets to DSPs for availability on their services.
1.2 Eligibility. You must be 18+ (or have a guardian), have a Crown Booth account in good standing, pass KYC/AML checks where required, and provide valid payout/tax information.
1.3 Territory. You select territories. Availability is subject to DSP and legal restrictions.

2) Your rights grant to Crown Booth

2.1 You grant Crown Booth and its distribution partners a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-bearing licence (sub-licensable to DSPs) to reproduce, format, deliver, communicate/make available, display artwork, and otherwise exploit the Approved Content on DSPs for the Distribution Term (see §13), strictly to provide Distribution.
2.2 You authorise Crown Booth to (i) generate or use identifiers (e.g., ISRC, UPC/EAN); (ii) supply metadata, artwork, credits, and lyrics; (iii) set prices/tiers where DSPs require standard catalog pricing; (iv) register with content-ID/fingerprinting systems; and (v) collect and account for revenues.
2.3 Reservation of rights. Ownership of masters and compositions remains with you/your licensors.

3) Delivery standards

3.1 Audio. Meet minimum specs (e.g., 16-bit/44.1kHz WAV or better; no clipping; correct headroom; final masters).
3.2 Artwork. Meets DSP specs (e.g., 3000×3000 px min, no URLs/pricing, no infringing or explicit content outside DSP rules).
3.3 Metadata. Provide accurate titles, roles, contributors, ISRC/ISWC, splits, territories, rights-holder names, and P-line/C-line. We may reject obvious formatting errors.
3.4 Edits. Minor corrections may be made to conform with DSP style guides (e.g., title casing, featured artist formatting).
3.5 Conflicts. If conflicting versions/claims exist, we may pause delivery and request proof of rights.
3.6 Service levels. Target delivery to major DSPs within 2–5 business days after approval; editorial/UGC platforms may vary. Targets are non-binding and subject to DSP backlogs.

4) Content standards & prohibited content

Your submissions must comply with law, these Terms, the AUP, and DSP rules. Prohibited content includes illegal, infringing, hateful/extremist, non-consensual, or deceptive materials, and AI-generated content that violates DSP disclosure rules or misleads audiences. We may require AI-use disclosures.

5) Pricing, territories & windows

5.1 Pricing. Where DSPs allow, you may set pricing/tier or accept DSP standard pricing. Crown Booth may standardise catalogue pricing where necessary.
5.2 Territories. You control territory selection; geo-blocks may apply for licensing or legal reasons.
5.3 Windows. You may request windowing (pre-save, pre-order, early access); availability depends on DSP support.

6) Editorial, marketing & UGC platforms

6.1 Editorial. We may pitch releases to DSP editors; placement is not guaranteed and is outside our control. No reliance should be placed on indicative timelines or prior placements.
6.2 Marketing tools. We may provide pre-save, smart links/QR, and analytics. You authorise us to use your name/logo and artwork to market your release and to list you as a Crown Booth artist (you can opt out of logo use via support).
6.3 UGC/short-video & social platforms. For platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and similar, you authorise use of fingerprints/claims and shorter clip uses to enable discovery and monetisation per platform rules.
6.4 AI disclosures. You must disclose AI-generated or AI-assisted elements where DSP policies require; failure may result in takedown or reduced reach by DSPs.

7) Revenues, fees, and payouts

7.1 Gross Revenues. Amounts we receive from DSPs for your content, net of DSP taxes/withholdings and platform deductions.
7.2 Crown Booth Fees (Take Rate). Our standard fee is 15% of Gross Revenues (unless otherwise agreed in writing). This fee is deducted first to calculate Net Revenues.
7.3 Negative balances & set-off. If adjustments exceed revenues (e.g., fraud, clawbacks), your account may show a negative balance. We may set off negative balances against future payouts.
7.4 Payouts. We credit your account and pay out per your settings after (i) we receive cleared funds; (ii) monthly accounting cycles; (iii) a minimum payout threshold of £25; and (iv) completion of KYC/AML.
7.5 Adjustments. We may offset chargebacks, fraud losses, DSP penalties/adjustments, or taxes legally required.
7.6 Taxes. You are responsible for your tax filings. We may collect forms (e.g., W-8/W-9) and withhold where required by law.
7.7 Advances & recoupment (if offered). Any advances are recoupable from your future Net Revenues per Schedule F (Recoupment Waterfall); terms appear in an advance addendum.

8) Accounting & audit

8.1 Statements. We will provide transaction views and periodic statements in your dashboard.
8.2 Audit right. Once per 12 months, you may audit our records relevant to your account on 30 days’ notice, during business hours, via an independent accountant under NDA. If an error >5% in your disfavour is found, we will correct and reimburse reasonable audit costs.

9) Takedowns, disputes & repeat infringement

9.1 Your takedown. You may request takedown; DSP processing times apply. Prior purchasers on DSPs keep access per DSP rules.
9.2 Third-party claims. On credible claims (e.g., IP, privacy), we may pause distribution, place payout holds, or initiate takedown while investigating.
9.3 Repeat infringement. Repeated valid claims may lead to suspension/termination.
9.4 Notice process. See our Copyright & Takedown Policy for the notice/counter notice flow.
9.5 Publishing/mechanicals. Where DSPs do not cover mechanical/publishing licenses in a given territory, you are responsible for securing and paying such licenses; we may geo-block if you cannot evidence clearance.

10) Warranties & promises (your reps)

You represent and warrant that: (a) you own/control the rights necessary for Distribution in the selected territories; (b) metadata and credits are accurate; (c) the content complies with law, the AUP, and DSP rules; (d) you have obtained consents for samples, artwork, and likeness/voice uses; (e) no agreement prevents you from granting these rights.

11) Indemnity

You will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Crown Booth and our officers, employees, and processors from claims and costs (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of your breach of these Terms, your content, or third-party claims related to your content, except to the extent caused by our negligence or willful misconduct.

12) Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, neither party is liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages. Crown Booth’s aggregate liability relating to Distribution will not exceed the greater of £100 or the fees you paid to Crown Booth for Distribution in the 12 months before the claim, excluding amounts due to you. Nothing excludes liability that cannot be excluded by law. You acknowledge editorial placements, algorithmic recommendations, and platform policies are outside our control.

13) Term & termination

13.1 Term. Begins when you enable Distribution and continues until terminated.
13.2 Your termination. You may disable Distribution and request takedowns; DSP timelines apply.
13.3 Our termination. We may suspend/terminate for breach, fraud, legal risk, platform policy conflicts, or business viability concerns with 30 days’ notice (immediate for legal risk).
13.4 Survival. Sections 7–12, 15–18 survive termination.
13.5 Change in terms. If a material adverse change is unacceptable to you, you may terminate Distribution for the affected releases.

14) Data & privacy

Processing of personal data is described in our Privacy Policy. Crown Booth Ltd is controller for UK users. Crown Booth Company may act as our processor/sub-processor. We use subprocessors and cross-border safeguards as described in our Trust Center.

15) Compliance & policies

You must comply with: (i) these Terms; (ii) AUP; (iii) Artist Upload Licence & Consent; (iv) Copyright & Takedown Policy; and (v) applicable DSP style guides and policies. If DSP and these Terms conflict, DSP platform rules generally govern the presentation on that DSP.

16) Changes

We may update these Terms from time to time. For material changes we’ll provide notice (e.g., email or in-app). Continued use of Distribution after the effective date constitutes acceptance.

17) Governing law & venue

If you are located in the UK or EEA, these Terms (and non-contractual obligations) are governed by the laws of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have non-exclusive jurisdiction. If you are located elsewhere, the governing law/venue stated in our Terms of Service applies.

18) Contact

Questions about Distribution? Email support@crownbooth.co.uk.

Schedules

Schedule A — Delivery Specification (summary)

  • Audio: WAV 16-bit/24-bit, 44.1–96kHz; peak headroom −1 dBTP; no clipping; final master.

  • Artwork: 3000×3000 px min, JPG/PNG, RGB, no URLs/pricing/callouts, no infringing or explicit imagery outside DSP rules.

  • Metadata fields (minimum): release title, track titles, primary artist(s), featured artist(s), contributors/roles (producer, writer, performer), ISRC per track, UPC/EAN per release, genre, P-line/C-line, release date, territories, lyrics (if available), parental advisory (Y/N).

  • Ancillary assets: lyric files (LRC/SRT), canvas/short loops (where supported), preview start times.

Schedule B — Prohibited/flagged submissions (examples)

  • Infringing or uncleared content (masters, publishing, samples, artwork).

  • Misleading metadata (keyword stuffing, fake artists, deceptive credits).

  • AI-generated or synthetic content lacking required disclosures or misrepresenting a person’s voice/likeness.

  • Content that violates law or DSP policies (hate/terrorism, non-consensual content).

  • Excessive loudness, silence/noise tracks, spam uploads, duplicate releases to game charts.

Schedule C — Revenues & fees (definitions)

  • Gross Revenues: amounts received from DSPs for your content, less DSP deductions (e.g., taxes/withholdings, mechanicals the DSP pays directly, platform fees).

  • Crown Booth Fees (Take Rate): 15% of Gross Revenues (unless a different rate is agreed in writing).

  • Net Revenues: Gross Revenues minus Crown Booth Fees and any disclosed third-party costs.

  • Minimum payout threshold: £25; unsettled balances roll forward.

  • Statement cycle: monthly; subject to DSP reporting lags.

  • Negative balances: may be carried forward and set off against future revenues (§7.3).

Schedule D — DSP list (illustrative, subject to change)

  • Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music/Content ID, Deezer, Tidal, TikTok, Instagram/Facebook, Snapchat, Pandora, Shazam, and regional DSPs as available. We may add/remove DSPs; material changes will be posted.

Schedule E — Commercial terms (fixed at launch)

  • Take rate: 15% of Gross Revenues (standard).

  • Minimum payout threshold: £25.

  • Advance availability: No at launch (may be introduced via separate addendum).

  • Territory restrictions: Content may be restricted from IR, SY, KP and other sanctioned/embargoed regions; additional blocks may apply to RU and BY pending policy and partner requirements.

Schedule F — Recoupment waterfall (if advances)

  1. Crown Booth recoups advances from your share of Net Revenues until fully recouped.

  2. After recoupment, ongoing earnings flow to you per §7.

  3. Chargebacks/fraud related to your releases may reopen recoupment to the extent of the loss.

Schedule G — Service levels (targets, non-binding)

  • Ingest & QC: within 1 business day after complete delivery.

  • Delivery to major DSPs: 2–3 business days (subject to DSP backlog).

  • Takedown requests: submit to DSPs within 1 business day; actual removal depends on DSP.

  • Support response: initial response within 1 business day.