Independent Artist Question & Answers
- What is Trusonic?
- What are playlists?
- How do artists benefit?
- I was an MP3.com artist:
- I was told that my music was going to be deleted after the sale of MP3.com. What happened?
- I successfully logged in to my Trusonic Artist Admin Area for the first time, but there are fewer songs listed than I remember having enrolled in the Trusonic Music Program. Is something wrong?
- When I try to log in to the Trusonic Artist Admin Area using my former MP3.com username and password, it does not recognize me as a Trusonic artist. Is something wrong?
- Based on the answer to the previous question, I've concluded that my music is not currently included in Trusonic playlists that are performed in businesses that use the Trusonic Business Music Service. Does this mean that Trusonic will never perform my music in such businesses?
- How do I remove my music from the Trusonic Music Program?
- What relationship does Trusonic have with GarageBand?
- What are the sign-up requirements and technical specifications for songs?
- What musical qualities make the best candidate for song consideration?
- If I am new to Trusonic, how do I submit songs for consideration?
- Can I represent several artists?
- Are there any guarantees that my submission will be used?
- In my artist admin, what do the three different song statuses mean?
- How will I know if my song is selected?
- How are royalties calculated?
- How can I withdraw a song from the program?
- Will I still retain rights to my song?
- Why do you want to know my Performance Rights Organizations memberships?
- Can I upload a cover song, remix, song with samples, or a master recording that I do not own?
- Can I change the title or information associated with my song?
- What if I'm having problems uploading?
- I'm a non-U.S. resident. How are my tax withholdings determined?
- I'm a non-U.S. resident. Why are my taxes withheld even though I completed a Form W-8BEN?
- How do I contact Trusonic if I have further questions?
1. What is TruSonic?
TruSonic operates a background music and messaging service used by various retail businesses, restaurants and companies. In order to use the service, a TruSonic client must install a playback device in each of their business locations, then by access provided through a password protected account, select and schedule messaging and desired musical content from a variety of genre-specific, pre-sequenced playlists.
2. What are playlists?
Music is made available in various playlists created by TruSonic's music directors from which our clients can choose. Playlists include some songs uploaded to the www.mp3.com website and enrolled in the TruSonic Music Program that we selected as well as some of the songs uploaded through this TruSonic website (trusonic.com). Some playlists also feature songs licensed by TruSonic from various record companies.
When a Trusonic client selects a playlist, re-mastered versions of all songs in the playlist (consistent in volume) are downloaded onto a TruSonic playback device located in each client's business location. Each selected playlist can be played by the client in whole or in part, once or repeatedly during in one or more business location. While being performed, song titles are displayed on the Trusonic playback device.
3. How do artists benefit?
The main benefit for artists whose music is used in this program is increased public exposure to listeners who might not otherwise hear that music. An additional benefit is the royalties earned should your song be included in one or more playlists.
4. I was an MP3.com artist:
4a. I was told that my music was going to be deleted after the sale of MP3.com. What happened?
Trusonic has the audio files of songs upload to www.mp3.com, but only if those songs were enrolled with the artists consent in the Trusonic Music Program as of December 19, 2003. Trusonic does not have access to songs that were not enrolled in the Trusonic Music Program.
4b. I successfully logged in to my Trusonic Artist Admin Area for the first time, but there are fewer songs listed than I remember having enrolled in the Trusonic Music Program. Is something wrong?
If you are an artist logging in to your Trusonic Artist Admin Area for the first time, you only will be able to view those songs currently included in Trusonic playlists that are performed in businesses that use the Trusonic Business Music Service. In the future, Trusonic hopes to add functionality that will enable you to view all your songs that are enrolled in Trusonic, whether or not they are included in such Trusonic playlists at a given time.
As you will have noticed, your Trusonic Artist Admin Area provides only a limited set of administrative tools that are relevant to your continued participation in the Trusonic Music Program. It does not support any type of artist page that is accessible by the public.
4c. When I try to log in to the Trusonic Artist Admin Area using my former MP3.com username and password, it does not recognize me as a Trusonic artist. Is something wrong?
At this time, only artists who have songs currently included in Trusonic playlists that are performed in businesses that use the Trusonic Business Music Service can log in to Trusonic's Artist Admin Area.
As a result, you may not be able to access the Trusonic Artist Admin Area right now. In the future, Trusonic hopes to add functionality that will enable you to view all your songs that are enrolled in Trusonic, whether or not they are being actively performed in business environments at a given time.
4d. Based on the answer to the previous question, I've concluded that my music is not currently included in Trusonic playlists that are performed in businesses that use the Trusonic Business Music Service. Does this mean that Trusonic will never perform my music in such businesses?
No. Actually, Trusonic's music programming staff is constantly rotating and modifying the independent music that is performed in the businesses that use the Trusonic Business Music Service. The fact that your music is not being actively performed in businesses at this time does not mean your music will not be selected in the future.
4e. How do I remove my music from the Trusonic Music Program?
You can remove your music from the Trusonic Music Program by clicking here.
5. What relationship does Trusonic have with GarageBand?
5a. Is the GarageBand relationship still in place?
No. In April 2004, Trusonic and GarageBand.com entered into an arrangement that allowed Trusonic artists to transition their music to GarageBand.com. That arrangement ended in April 2005 and is no longer available.
5b. How did Trusonic end up with my music?
Please see question 4a.
5d. What if I can't remember my MP3.com artist account information? Can you email me my password?
Trusonic understands that it's been a while since you visited your account and that email addresses and passwords may have been changed or forgotten. To recover your forgotten account name and password please send an email message to artistsupport@trusonic.com.
Please do not request your login and password information if you were not enrolled in the Trusonic program as we will be unable to honor your request.
5e. Does Trusonic have all of the MP3.com web site artist music?
No. See 4a.
5f. Can Trusonic give me copies of all my music?
No. Not at this time as we are no longer providing artist pages for free and open music downloads..
6. What are the sign-up requirements and technical specifications for songs?
You must be able to provide full contact information including email and physical address.
Songs you upload should be a stereo MP3 file encoded at 64-512kbps or VBR with 44.1 kHz sampling rate. This is the default setting on most encoders. Make sure you do not use any slashes (/) or other non-alphabetic characters in your song title. Make sure you add .mp3 to the file name if you're using Macintosh.
7. What musical qualities make the best candidate for song consideration?
Our client's require quality music in various genres. TruSonic genres include everything from Pop, Rock, Urban Contemporary, Electronica and Country to Classical, Jazz, New Age, World Music and Children's.
Songs used in playlists are similar to those heard on the radio, in that both have to be suitable for public broadcast. "Family friendly" lyrics are a must with no profanity. Song quality needs to be extremely good, with strong pleasing melodies and very high production values. Basically, ask yourself if the song stands up to the quality of music found on radio playlists relative to the genre.
8. If I am new to TruSonic, how do I submit songs for consideration?
Click the "Sign Up" text link and follow the enrollment instructions. This will create your Artist Admin where you upload and control your content. Songs uploaded are then eligible for review by TruSonic's music directors for possible inclusion in playlists.
9. Can I represent several artists?
The ability to administer different artists is provided through your Artist Admin.
10. Are there any guarantees that my submission will be used?
Since only a small percentage of songs submitted to TruSonic are actually selected for use in a playlist, there are no guarantees that any particular song will be used.
Our content managers regularly review new songs, but we can only review so many at a time. Just because your song hasn't been selected now doesn't mean it won't be in the future. Additionally, there isn't a way for artists to solicit or promote their content directly to TruSonic clients
11. In my artist admin, what do the three different song statuses mean?
NOT APPROVED means the song has not yet been auditioned by TruSonic music staff. APPROVED means it has been deemed suitable for possible inclusion in playlists per our clients' request. DECLINED means it has been deemed not suitable. Reasons could include bad or faulty file quality, profanity, or no client needs at the present time.
12. How will I know if my song is selected?
Currently, the only way of knowing if your song has been selected for use in a playlist is by receiving a quarterly royalty payment. Within 60 days of the close of each calendar quarter during which any of your songs are featured on one or more playlists, TruSonic will send you a royalty check, provided you have at least $50 US in your earnings account. If the at the end of any quarterly period you have less than $50 US, TruSonic will pay those sums when the total cumulative amount owed to you at the end of any particular quarterly period is at least $50 US.
13. How are royalties calculated?
Each quarter, TruSonic allocates a royalty for distribution in connection with songs uploaded to its website and included in playlists. Playlist preference and selection is based on our clients' needs and discretion. Royalties are calculated based on the number of times your song(s) are included in one or more playlists. As TruSonic grows the business, the royalty fund may be re-evaluated and any fair and necessary adjustments will be made. More specific details about royalties can be found in the TruSonic Music Program Terms and Conditions.
14. How can I withdraw a song from the program?
Whether you submitted a song to TruSonic at trusonic.com or enrolled by using the TruSonic interface on MP3.com, at any time you may withdraw your song from the program. Deleting a song from your TruSonic Artist Admin withdraws it from the program. Once deleted your songs will not be featured in any new playlists. It may take up to 60 days to be removed from all playlists, but this usually occurs much faster. You do not forfeit royalties earned by withdrawing a song from the program.
15. Will I still retain rights to my song?
As always, you maintain complete control over your song. You are free to promote it in any other way.
16. Why do you want to know my Performance Rights Organizations memberships?
A Performance Rights Organization (PRO) are such entities as ASCAP and BMI that administer collection and payment for public performance of songs. PROs like ASCAP and BMI maintain non-exclusive relationships. This enables Trusonic to pay our own separate performance royalty for use in our service. Please do let us know which PRO memberships you currently hold, as this may allow for your songs inclusion into additional playlists. Trusonic is not endorsing nor discouraging affiliation with other PROs. If you'd like more information on PROs like ASCAP or BMI, we encourage you to check out their websites.
17. Can I upload a cover song, remix, song with samples, or a master recording that I do not own?
TruSonic does not permit copyrighted audio samples from movies, television programs, videos, games, radio or CDs to be uploaded without prior written permission from the copyright holder(s). If you are uploading a remix of another artist's recording, you must obtain prior written permission from both the owner of the original sound recording and the owner of the underlying musical composition. Tracks determined by TruSonic to be "pirated" recordings will be deleted immediately and associated accounts subject to permanent deletion.
Please note, not only are you responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions, licenses and consents prior to submitting any songs, you may be held liable for any and all costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred by TruSonic as a result of your unauthorized use of copyrighted materials.
18. Can I change the title or information associated with my song?
You should avoid this altogether. Once your song is uploaded the file and song information are locked in our database. This is done to protect the integrity of the database and various playlists.
If it is imperative that you change the information of a song (like the title) you must first delete the original version. This will deactivate the song from all approval processes and playlists. You should then upload the song again with the new title. Keep in mind this will set the song back to "0" in any approval queues.
19. What if I'm having problems uploading?
Make sure your song file meets our specifications: A stereo MP3 file encoded at 128 kbps with 44.1 kHz sampling rate. This is the default setting on most encoders.
Unfortunately, when it comes to uploading music, most browsers and hardware can be temperamental. Make sure you are using the latest versions available for your browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer). If you are using AOL, try minimizing the browser window after you log in and browsing through Netscape. In general, AOL cannot detect when you are uploading and keep you connected, especially when the net is very busy. Try contacting AOL and ask them how to disable the "automatic disconnect feature" or, if you have a lot of music to upload, consider getting another ISP (Internet service provider).
Especially if you're hooked up to a network, firewalls and proxy servers can be problems. If you are connected through a proxy server and experiencing difficulties, try asking your system administrator for help.
Your computer, your software, your modem, your ISP, the condition of the phone lines, and Internet congestion are all variables that can work against you in the uploading process. Change as many of these variables as are in your control, one at a time, and you eventually will be successful.
20. I'm a non-U.S. resident. How are my tax withholdings determined?
You could be subject to United States income tax withholding depending on the country where you live, and the tax treaties between the United States and your country of residence. The tax withholding could be from zero to 30%.
All non-U.S. residents earning "artistic work" royalties are required to complete and submit U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN. This form simply confirms your affirmation that you are a non-U.S. resident and that artistic work royalties you earn are subject to the requirements of the appropriate tax law treaty whereby a specific percentage of your royalties must be withheld.
If you do not complete Form W-8BEN, Trusonic will be required under the U.S. tax law to withhold the maximum amount on any royalties paid. In such cases, the maximum withholding rate is 30%, even if your applicable rate is less than 30%.
For example: If you live in Australia and did not complete Form W-8BEN, TruSonic will be required to withhold 30% of your royalties. If you complete Form W-8BEN, however, based on United States-Australia tax treaties TruSonic will be required to withhold only 10% of your royalties.
21. I'm a non-U.S. resident. Why are my taxes withheld even though I completed a Form W-8BEN?
There is a possibility we did not receive your Form W-8BEN early enough for this quarterly payment period.
Also, a common misconception is that Form W-8BEN exempts you from tax withholdings. Please read the information regarding Form W-8BEN in the question and answer directly above.
22. How do I contact Trusonic if I have further questions?
Please send an email message to artistsupport@trusonic.comThe more information you include about who you are and the details of you inquiry, the faster we can respond to your request. Trusonic will email back to you a service request tracking message, please keep that message for your reference.
