For general ReverbNation help, go here. For digitial distribution specific questions, please see the FAQ sections below. If you can't find what you need there, check out the ReverbNation discussion forum. If you still can't find satisfactory answers, send an email to support@reverbnation.com including your user id and/or registered email address.

Who is eligible for digital distribution
Am I giving ReverbNation any rights over my music?
Is my music guaranteed to get placed at these retailers?
What if my music is placed at some retailers, but not all? Do I get a refund?
How many releases can I get?
Are there discounts for high volume customers?
When will my credit card be charged for distribution?
If I cancel before the year is up, do I get a pro-rated refund?
If I've already submitted and paid, can I cancel before my releases have been placed at retail?
I or someone I know downloaded or streamed my music and it sounds horrible. What do I do?
Is digital distribution supported for label accounts at ReverbNation?
Can I mail in my CD and have ReverbNation set up my release?
If my question isn't answered here, who do I contact?

Do I have to own the rights to the music?
Do I own the rights to the music?
What do I get paid?
How do I get paid?
When do I get paid?
How much do you make off my songs?
Are my sales reported to BMI, ASCAP, or any other performing arts organization?
Are my sales reported to SoundScan?
How do I track sales of my music?
What if someone else has uploaded my music without my permission?
My music is available online and I know I've had sales. Why are my sales stats not reflecting this?
My sales stats say I had X number of track/album sales, but I didn't get paid very much. Why?

How many release submissions do I get?
Can I get more release submissions?
What format do my songs have to be in??
What is a WAV and how do I create one?
Can I upload existing songs from my ReverbNation profile directly to the distribution service?
Why do I have to upload distribution service songs separately?
Can I customize which retailers I would like to use?
What if my songs are already on some of these retailers?
Can I set the price of my music?
Are explicit lyrics allowed?
What qualifies as explicit lyrics?
Is there a limit or minimum to the number of tracks I can have?
Is an EP counted as a release?
Can I release an album sampler?
Can I release a single track?
What do I do if I have a 2CD album?
Can I upload liner notes?
Can I add tracks to my release after it has been submitted?
How do I list other performers on particular tracks?
Can I have a separate performer name than my artist account name?
What if I have a song that features another artist?
What is the mix field?
What can I put in for my album art?
What if I don't have cover art for my release?
What is a UPC and ISRC number?
Can I print the UPC code that I am assigned?
Does it cost extra for a UPC?
What if I have my own UPC?
Where do I find my UPC code on my CD?
What is a catalog number?
What if I have a specific release date?
Is this distribution digital only or for physical CDs as well?
Can I sell physical copies of my CDs?
Can I sell my merch through the distribution model?
What if I made a mistake upon uploading?
How long will my release be available?
How long does it take to get my releases up on iTunes, Amazon, etc?
How do I know when my releases are actually live?
Will my album be available for purchase in all countries?
After I upload my music, what changes can I make?
Someone else has my band name, what do I do?
My release status says "_____". What does that mean?
What information should I include on my album art?
My release is already online through another company. Can I also put it online with ReverbNation or transfer it to ReverbNation?

Now that my release is on a retailer, how do I promote it?
Can I use Street Teams to generate sales?
Will this affect my band equity score on ReverbNation?
Can my music sales be incorporated into my Reverb Press Kit?
How does distribution relate to FairShare?

How do I remove an album from the retailers?
If I terminate my ReverbNation account, do I keep my distribution?
What happens if I fail to make a yearly payment or my credit card is declined?
How do I take down/reinstate an abandoned release if I have deleted my ReverbNation profile or can't recover my password?

Who is eligible for digital distribution?
All ReverbNation artists who pay for the digital distribution service are eligible.

Am I giving ReverbNation any rights over my music?
No you are NOT. You are simply giving us the non-exclusive rights to submit your music to digital retailers on your behalf. The same terms and conditions you agreed to when you registered for ReverbNation apply.

Is my music guaranteed to get placed at these retailers?
No. Each retailer has the right to refuse your release. Common reasons for refusal include the quality of the recording or cover art, or a pre-existing release with the same UPC/ISRC.

What if my music is placed at some retailers, but not all? Do I get a refund?
No.

How many releases can I get?
You can subscribe to digital distribution mulitiple times.You get one release per subscription. (See next question)

Can I get more releases?
Each digital distribution subscription is for one release and costs $34.95/year

Are there discounts for high volume customers?
Not at this time.

When will my credit card be charged for distribution?
You will be charged for the first year immediately, with the annual payment charged automatically at your first year anniversary date.

If I cancel before the year is up, do I get a pro-rated refund?
No.

If I've already submitted and paid, can I cancel before my releases have been placed at retail?
Yes, but the takedown or termination fee will still apply. There will be no refund. See the Removal / Termination FAQ for more info .

I or someone I know downloaded or streamed my music and it sounds horrible. What do I do?
Contact us at support@reverbnation.com and make sure to include all relevant information

Is digital distribution supported for label accounts at ReverbNation?
Yes, and no. We do not currently offer a digital distribution service for users signed up as 'Labels'. However, labels can access each individual Artist account and set them up for digital distribution one at a time.

Can I mail in my CD and have ReverbNation set up my release?
Absolutely! To find out how, login to your artist control room and visit our mail-in information page.

If my question isn't answered here, who do I contact?
You can always contact support@reverbnation.com with any questions you have about any of our tools or services.

 

Do I have to own the rights to the music?
You must own the rights or have been prior, explicit permission by the rights owner for all music you submit to the service.

Do I own the rights to the music?
You should check your contract or copyright to determine. You MUST own the necessary rights to your music in order to use the Digital Distribution Service.

What do I get paid?
Below is a table of the current payout settings for each retailer involved in the Digital Distribution Service. ReverbNation transfers 100% of these payments directly to the artist. **Warning: These payout levels are subject to change without notice by the respective retailers**

Retailer	Payment
Amazon	$0.70/Track & $6.50/Album
eMusic	60% of net
iTunes	US & CDN: Single Track - $0.70; Album - $7.00; iPhone Ring Tone Service (US only) - $1/ring tone
iTunes AUSSIE & NZ	Single Track - $0.99 AUD & $1.17 NZD; Single Video - $1.98 AUD & $2.33 NZD; Album - $9.99 AUD & $11.75 NZD
iTunes EU (S.a.r.l.)	Single Track - GBP ₤.47 & Euro €.68; Album - GBP ₤4.60 & Euro €6.70
iTunes Japan	Single Track - Int'l & Standard Domestic - ¥89 & Premium Domestic - ¥118; Album - ¥890 (IS) &¥1186 (PD)
Napster, LLC	US - $0.70/track; $7.00/album; UK - ₤0.48/track; ₤4.80/album; Canada - C$0.65/track; C$6.50/album; Germany & other EU countries - €0.65/track; €6.50/album; Japan - Permanent Downloads: 60% of retail (net of taxes). $0.01 for "Premium" streams; $0.02 for "To Go" streams (payment in other currencies will be similar based on current conversion rates)
Rhapsody (Real)	US - $0.70 for singles; $0.70 x # of tracks or $7.00 (whichever is less) for albums; $0.01 for streams; outside US subtract mechanicals for all permanent downloads.

How do I get paid?
All royalties received from the service provider are put into your ReverbNation Bank and are subject to ReverbNation withdrawal requirements. Currently you must have a balance of at least $5 to withdraw funds.  Also, Your RN bank account must be linked to PayPal.  You do this by logging into your profile and clicking the "EDIT PROFILE" button next to your profile pic and enter your PayPal email into the Paypal Email field.

When do I get paid?
You will receive your money in your ReverbNation bank when the retailer reports the information on your sales and sends payment. For sales in a particular quarter, EMusic sends this information within 45 days after the end of EVERY THREE MONTHS. The rest of the retailers (iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, and Amazon) send this information approximately 60 days after the END OF EACH MONTH in which you had a sale.

How much do you make off my songs?
ReverbNation does not take any percentage of the royalties from your music.

Are my sales reported to BMI, ASCAP, or any other performing arts organization?
No, you are responsible for paying any performing arts organization fees.

Are my sales reported to SoundScan?
Yes. Each retailer reports your sales to SoundScan.

How do I track sales of my music?
Visit the STATS section of your ReverbNation Admin/Tools. The retailers report these STATS to us and we currently update them monthly. More frequent updates are coming soon.

What if someone else has uploaded my music without my permission?
Contact us at support@reverbnation.com and make sure to include all relevant information.

My music is available online and I know I've had sales. Why are my sales stats not reflecting this?
Sales stats are not reported in real time. We receive sales reports at varying intervals. Please check the Copyrights/Royalties/Payments section for more information on sales reports.

My sales stats say I had X number of track/album sales, but I didn't get paid very much. Why?
Each type of sale from the various retailers is worth a different amount. Also some retailers pay for simple streams of your music. Please check the Copyrights/Royalties/Payments section for more information.

How many release submissions do I get?
Up to 1 release submission is supported for the digital distribution service. (See next question)

Can I get more release submissions?
You can purchase additional release submissions for $34.95/year.

What format do my songs have to be in?
Ideally, your songs will be in WAV format (44.1Khz, 16 bit samples, no compression). See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV for details on this format. If you upload a WAV file with a higher bits per sample or sample rate, we will attempt to resample your track for you. However, you are responsible for making sure that the resulting audio is correct. If it is not correct, does not sound good to you, or you don't want us to resample your song; use the recommended WAV specifications. You can also upload a 320kbps, 44.1Khz MP3. This to will be converted to a WAV file. As with WAV resampling, you are responsible that the resulting WAV is correct. Please listen to your tracks to ensure they are correct.

What is a WAV and how do I create one?
WAV files are large files that can be played on most any computer or CD player. The WAV format is larger because it is "lossless," meaning it does not compress or discard any of the sound information. We recommend you set your ripping software to rip into the WAV format directly (16 bits per sample at 44.1Khz sample rate). You can also search the Internet for WAV converters, there are thousands, however we do not recommend converting from low-bit rate, "lossy" formats for the purposes of digital distribution.
Here are some WAV creation tips for common audio software packages.

Can I upload existing songs from my ReverbNation profile directly to the distribution service?
No. (see next question)

Why do I have to upload distribution service songs separately?
Many artist choose to release different tracks for promotional streaming versus distribution. Also, the meta-data requirements for digital distribution are different from online streaming.

Can I customize which retailers I would like to use?
Not at this time.

What if my songs are already on some of these retailers?
If they share the same UPC, then those retailers will reject the release. The existing contracts with those retailers will remain in place. The other retailers will receive the submission.

Can I set the price of my music?
Not at this time.

Are explicit lyrics allowed?
Yes. But you must indicate if you have explicit lyrics when you submit your music.

What qualifies as explicit lyrics?
Each online retailer has their own definition of what constitutes as explicit lyrics. If you aren't sure, we recommend marking the lyrics as explicit to be on the safe side.

Is there a limit or minimum to the number of tracks I can have?
No, but there is a limit of 150MB per song, which translates to about 15 minutes of audio.

Is an EP counted as a release?
Yes.

Can I release an album sampler?
No.

Can I release a single track?
Yes, but this will be counted as your releases.

What do I do if I have a 2CD album?
We don't currently support 2CD albums, but you can upload as 1 release, or split it into 2 separate releases.

Can I upload liner notes?
No, many of the retailers do not support this feature anyhow.

Can I add tracks to my release after it has been submitted?
No. To add tracks after the release has already been submitted, requires a take down request and resubmission of the release.

How do I list other performers on particular tracks?
Check the song options on that particular track to note other contributors.

Can I have a separate performer name than my artist account name?
No.

What if I have a song that features another artist?
Check the song options on that particular track to list a featured artist.

What is the mix field?
This is the field where you can denote which mix of the song the track is, if you choose. Examples of this could be: The Remix, The Extended Late Night Mix, or The Booty Shakin' Earth Quakin' Monster Incredible Mix.

What can I put in for my album art?
Album art must be JPEG, GIF, or PNG format. Recommended size is 1000px X 1000px. Resolution less than that may be rejected by some retailers. The absolute minimum is 600px X 600px. Please note that the aspect ratio of any file you upload will be altered so the picture is square and resized to 1000px X 1000px.

What if I don't have cover art for my release?
All releases must have cover art. Unfortunately, we do not provide nor recommend any art creation services.

What is a UPC and ISRC number?
A Universal Product Code (UPC) is a number (from 12 to 14 characters long) exclusively associated with your release. If you are like most of the Artists on ReverbNation, this is your first time publishing this music, which means you probably won't have a UPC. That's okay, we'll generate one for you for free.  Retailers use the UPC as a unique identifier for your release and track and report all sales according to the UPC.  Most published CDs have the UPC printed, along with the bar code form, on the back cover. An International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) will be assigned to each of your songs. This is for accounting and tracking purposes. Each ISRC is 12 characters long, and is a combination of letters and numbers. If you already have an ISRC number for your song, use it. If not, ReverbNation will assign one for you. When typing your ISRC, do not include any dashes.

Can I print the UPC code that I am assigned?
If ReverbNations is assigning you a UPC code, the number will be available when your release enters the Delivered status. You can take the number you are assigned to various online locations and print the UPC code from there. Examples: http://www.barcodesinc.com/generator/ or http://www.barcoding.com/upc/

Does it cost extra for a UPC?
No.

What if I have my own UPC?
Use it! You will be prompted for it when you setup your release.

Where do I find my UPC code on my CD?
Your UPC code is located at the bottom of your barcode.  View UPC Code A Universal Product Code consists of 12 to 14 digits. The first digit (from the left) is the UPC type. The next five digits are the Manufacturer code. The next five digits are the product code which is assigned by the manufacturer. The final digit is the check digit. Example UPC Code.

What is a catalog number?
If you are on a label, your label will assign your release a catalog number. If you do not have a catalog number, ReverbNation will assign you one. Most Artists on ReverbNation won't have a catalog number.

What if I have a specific release date?
For most Artists, the release date is the day you submit your release (if you are submitting today, your release day is today's date). If you have a specific release date, enter it. If you have a future release date, the retailers will also honor that. However, visibility of your release before the release date depends on the retailer. In some cases, you can view the album art, and in other cases the album is completely hidden from all customers until the date arrives.

Is this distribution digital only or for physical CDs as well?
Digital only.

Can I sell physical copies of my CDs?
Not through ReverbNation's digital distribution service.

Can I sell my merch through the distribution model?
Not through ReverbNation's digital distribution service.

What if I made a mistake upon uploading?
PLEASE double and triple check everything before you submit your release. Changes are a slow, manual process for each retailer effectively equivalent to a take-down and repost. Any changes will likely delay your release for months and involve additional fees. There is no method of making these changes through the site, please contact support@reverbnation.com.

How long will my release be available?
Your release will be available for as long as you are a subscriber to the Digital Distribution Service.

How long does it take to get my releases up on iTunes, Amazon, etc?
This varies for each retailer, but can be as much as 6-8 weeks. iTunes has a more extensive review process and is typically takes the longest. You will be charged the yearly subscription fee even if your music is not yet live at retailers.

How do I know when my releases are actually live?
Currently, only iTunes is providing this feedback to us. For now, you will need to periodically check with the other retailers. At minimum, we will mark the album Live when you receive your first royalties payment.

Will my album be available for purchase in all countries?

1. Rhapsody – US Only
2. eMusic – United States, Canada, Europe
3. Amazon – US Only (announced plans in Jan 2008 for Canada, UK, Germany, Austria, France, China, and Japan. No ETA available)
4. Napster – United States, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union
5. iTunes Worldwide – Austrailia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

After I upload my music, what changes can I make?
You can edit your music and release data until you submit it. PLEASE double and triple check before you submit your music. Changes involve a manual process and additional processing fees. DO NOT submit anything that you are not 100% certain is complete and accurate.

Someone else has my band name, what do I do?
The UPC determines the "uniqueness" of the release and who will get paid for all sales. The similarity of your band's name to another band's name may result in other trademark infringement issues but should NOT immediately affect your ability to use this service.

My release status says "_____". What does that mean?
These are the various release statuses you may see.

Status	Meaning/Duration
Not Submitted	Your release still needs to be validated and submitted.
Ready for Submission	You have validated your release and it is ready to be submitted.
Payment Pending	Your release has been validated, but Digital Distribution has not yet been paid for.
Submitted	Your release has been submitted to ReverbNation. We typically start the review process within a few days of your submission.
Under Review	Your release is being Quality Reviewed by ReverbNation. This typically takes 1 week from your submission date.
Ready for Transmit	ReverbNation has finished reviewing your release and it has been placed in the transmit queue (estimated time: 1-2 business days)
Processing	Your release has been transmitted and is being processed. This process typically takes 1-3 weeks from the date ReverbNation transmits your release.
Delivered	Your release has been sent to the online retailers. This will remain the status of your release until we get a live status report from iTunes or your first sales report.
Live	We have received a notification from at least one retailer that your release is Live. Many retailers don't have this feedback mechanism so your release will most likely be Live before we know it. Sales will be reported as they become available. Time to confirmation of first sale will be approximately 60 days after the end of the month in which the first sale occurs.
Abandoned	Your release has been Abandoned. Please check the Removal/Termination section for more information.
Takedown Requested	A take down request has been made for your release and has been paid for. Please check the Removal/Termination section for more information.

What information should I include on my album art?
On your album art, you should include your artist name and/or your release title. Please make sure that your art is free of all URLs, email addresses, and any trademarked logos or images.

My release is already online through another company. Can I also put it online with ReverbNation or transfer it to ReverbNation?
No. You will need to take down the release from retailers and re-upload it via ReverbNation.

Now that my release is on a retailer, how do I promote it?
You can promote your release through many of the tools and services provided to you by ReverbNation. Make sure to include all relevant links to your releases in the STORELINK section of your artist profile's Admin/Tools section. This will allow fans to also get linked to your music through ReverbNation widgets. Also alert your fans in your General Tab that you have music for sale on these retailers.


Can I use Street Teams to generate sales?
Of course! Announce a mission to help spread your TuneWidget, which includes the STORE tab. This tab links anyone interested in purchasing your music to the appropriate places. We will attempt to populate your STORE tab with links to the retailers as soon as we can determine the proper links.

Will this affect my band equity score on ReverbNation?
Solely signing up for the digital distribution service will not affect your band equity score. However, promoting your new revenue stream will certainly increase your traffic and fan activity, thus giving you a better chance at increasing your score and adding new fans.

Can my music sales be incorporated into my Reverb Press Kit?
This feature is coming soon.

How does distribution relate to FairShare?
The digital distribution service does not affect FairShare.

How do I remove an album from the retailers?
Go through the takedown process. There is a button regarding this beside each release. This can take up to 2 months and does involve a processing fee.


If I terminate my ReverbNation account, do I keep my distribution?
No.

What happens if I fail to make a yearly payment or my credit card is declined?
You will be given 30 days to remedy the situation. If you do not provide an active credit card within the remedy period or pay the necessary takedown fees, ReverbNation will then consider the release 'abandoned'. The email account on record will be notified that the release has been abandoned. While it's abandoned, ReverbNation will earn all royalties from sales of your music. At any time, ReverbNation may decide to take down the release either with or without notification to the user. While abandoned, and at any time prior to a takedown order, the user can reinstate their subscription for a one time fee of $15 dollars plus regular subscription fees. While abandoned, and at any time prior to a takedown order, the user can also choose to pay the regular takedown after abandonment fee ($50 per release) and have ReverbNation remove the release from the retailers.

How do I take down/reinstate an abandoned release if I have deleted my ReverbNation profile or can't recover my password?
The email you received when the release was abandoned has the code necessary to interact with your abandoned release. Please keep this email safe as anyone who has this code will be given access to your release.

**Note: 100% of the normal takedown fee goes to our digital distribution service partners. In order to keep this fee as low as possible, ReverbNation does not include its customer service or takedown management costs in these fees**