FairWave Artist Program
Sonveil FairWave Royalties™
What this agreement means for youYou own your music. Sonveil streams it, pays you a guaranteed minimum of $0.015 per stream, and passes 97% of all tips directly to you. This agreement sets out exactly how that works.
The Sonveil FairWave Artist Program is open to independent musicians and bands worldwide who create and own original, human-made music. To apply, you must:
Sonveil reviews every application personally. We will notify you by email within 5 business days of receiving your application. Approval is at Sonveil's sole discretion.
All music on Sonveil must pass our HumanVerified™ certification process before appearing in the discovery catalog. This process includes:
Tracks that pass certification receive the HumanVerified™ badge, which is displayed to listeners across the Sonveil platform and browser extension.
Certification does not guarantee permanent status. Sonveil reserves the right to revoke certification if new evidence suggests a track is AI-generated, or if our detection technology is updated.
Sonveil exists specifically to be a sanctuary for human-made music. Submitting AI-generated content — including music created with AI tools such as Suno, Udio, or similar — is strictly prohibited and constitutes fraud. We take this seriously. Accounts found submitting AI content will be permanently banned, all earnings will be forfeited, and we reserve the right to pursue legal remedies.
You own your music. Sonveil does not claim ownership of any music you submit. You retain full copyright and all rights to your work.
By submitting music to Sonveil, you grant Sonveil a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to:
This license is in effect for as long as your music remains on the Sonveil platform. You may remove your music at any time by contacting artists@sonveil.app, which terminates this license within 14 days.
By submitting music, you represent and warrant that: (a) you own or control all rights in the submitted content; (b) the content does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights; and (c) the content was created by human beings without substantial AI generation.
Sonveil pays a guaranteed minimum of $0.015 per qualifying stream. A qualifying stream is defined as a continuous play of at least 30 seconds of a certified track by a paying Sonveil subscriber.
Streams from free-tier listeners count at a proportional rate based on ad revenue allocation (if applicable) or at the discretion of Sonveil's royalty pool model as the platform scales.
The $0.015 rate is a floor, not a ceiling. As Sonveil grows its subscriber base and revenue, rates may increase. Sonveil will communicate any rate changes to artists at least 30 days in advance.
Royalty calculations are performed monthly. Artists can view their real-time stream counts and estimated earnings in the Artist Dashboard.
Sonveil listeners can send tips directly to artists. Tips are processed through Stripe. Sonveil passes 97% of every tip directly to the artist. The remaining 3% covers Stripe's payment processing fee. Sonveil takes no cut of tips.
Tip amounts are set by listeners and are not guaranteed. Sonveil does not promote tipping as a primary revenue mechanism but provides it as an additional channel for artist support.
Royalties and tips are paid on the 15th of each month for the prior month's earnings, via Stripe direct deposit or Stripe payout to a linked bank account or debit card.
The minimum payout threshold is $10.00 USD. Earnings below this threshold roll over to the following month.
Artists are responsible for all applicable taxes on their Sonveil earnings. Sonveil will issue a 1099-NEC (for US artists earning $600 or more annually) as required by US law. Non-US artists are responsible for compliance with their local tax laws.
To receive payouts, artists must complete Stripe onboarding (name, bank account, and identity verification as required by Stripe). Artists must maintain accurate payout information. Sonveil is not liable for failed payouts resulting from incorrect payout details.
You may not submit music or content that:
As a FairWave artist, you agree to:
Approved artists receive access to the Sonveil Artist Dashboard, which provides:
Dashboard data is for informational purposes. Official royalty calculations are performed by Sonveil's royalty engine and may differ slightly from dashboard estimates due to processing timing.
Artist-initiated: You may leave the FairWave Program at any time by emailing artists@sonveil.app. Your music will be removed within 14 days. Any unpaid earnings at the time of termination will be paid out in the next regular payout cycle, provided the minimum threshold is met.
Sonveil-initiated: Sonveil may terminate an artist's participation immediately and without notice for: submission of AI-generated content, copyright infringement, fraudulent activity, stream manipulation, or any other material violation of this Agreement. Earnings are forfeited upon termination for cause.
Upon termination for any reason, the license granted in Section 3 terminates, and Sonveil will remove the artist's music within 14 days.
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota. Any disputes shall be resolved in the state or federal courts of Hennepin County, Minnesota.
If you have a dispute regarding royalty calculations or payouts, please contact artists@sonveil.app first. Sonveil commits to investigating and responding to royalty disputes within 10 business days.
Sonveil may update this Agreement from time to time, including adjustments to royalty rates. We will provide at least 30 days' written notice to all active FairWave artists before any changes take effect. If you do not agree to the revised terms, you may terminate your participation before the effective date.
For artist program inquiries, royalty questions, or to submit music for consideration:
Ready to join the FairWave Artist Program?
Apply Now →