Artist Obligations | FFP Radio Distribution

Mandatory Obligations

As an artist using FFP Radio Distribution, you are legally obligated to comply with the following requirements. Failure to do so may result in account suspension, content removal, and potential legal action.

Ownership Verification

You must own or control all rights to the content you submit. This includes the sound recording, underlying composition, lyrics, and any samples used. You must have written agreements with all collaborators, co-writers, and featured artists.

Accurate Metadata

All metadata must be accurate and complete, including correct song titles, artist names, composer credits, ISRC codes, and UPC codes. Intentionally misleading metadata (e.g., false artist names, misleading titles) is strictly prohibited.

Truthful Information

All personal and professional information provided during registration must be truthful, accurate, and kept up to date. You must notify us of any changes to your legal name, banking details, or contact information within 14 days.

No Prohibited Content

You must not submit content that infringes third-party rights, promotes hate speech, contains explicit sexual content involving minors, or violates any South African law. AI-generated content must be disclosed.

Financial Obligations

Tax Compliance: You are responsible for declaring all royalty income to SARS and paying all applicable taxes. We will issue tax certificates where required by law.
Accurate Banking Details: You must provide valid South African bank account details. We are not responsible for failed payments due to incorrect banking information.
Revenue Sharing: If you have collaborators, you are responsible for distributing their share of royalties. We pay the full amount to the account holder.
Fee Payment: All distribution fees must be paid before content is submitted to DSPs. Unpaid accounts may be suspended.

Content Quality Obligations

Audio Quality: All audio files must meet minimum quality standards (minimum 44.1kHz/16-bit WAV or high-quality MP3 320kbps).
Cover Art: Cover art must be original or properly licensed, minimum 3000x3000 pixels, and must not contain explicit content unless properly labelled.
Sample Clearance: You must obtain all necessary clearances for samples, interpolations, or cover versions before submission.
No Duplicates: You must not submit the same content multiple times or under different artist names to manipulate streaming numbers.

Marketing and Conduct Obligations

No Stream Manipulation: You must not use bots, click farms, or any artificial means to inflate streaming numbers. This violates DSP terms and South African law.
Accurate Promotion: All promotional claims about your music must be truthful and not misleading.
Professional Conduct: You must interact with our staff, DSP representatives, and other artists professionally and respectfully.
Brand Representation: You must not use the FFP Radio Distribution name or logo without prior written consent.

Serious Violation: Stream manipulation is a criminal offence in South Africa under the Cybercrimes Act, 2020. Offenders will be reported to authorities and DSPs.

Ongoing Obligations

Regular Account Review: You must log into your account at least once every 90 days to keep it active.
Respond to Inquiries: You must respond to our communications, including content review requests and royalty queries, within 14 days.
Update Content: You must promptly update or remove content that is subject to legal disputes or ownership changes.
Compliance with DSP Terms: You must comply with the terms of service of all DSPs we distribute to, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failure to meet your obligations may result in:

Content removal from all DSPs.
Account suspension or permanent termination.
Forfeiture of pending royalties.
Legal action for breach of contract.
Reporting to relevant authorities for criminal violations.
Blacklisting from future distribution services.

Questions About Your Obligations?

If you are unsure about any of your obligations, contact us before submitting content:

Email: support@ffpradio.co.za
Phone: +27 12 345 6789