Royalty Payment Policy

Effective Date: 14.05.2023

Last Updated: 31.03.2026

This Royalty Payment Policy explains how Waves Music Group ("we", "our", "us") collects, calculates, and distributes royalties to our artists, labels, and rights holders.

1. Royalty Sources

We collect royalties from digital music platforms, including but not limited to:

Streaming Services: Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music, etc.
Video Platforms & Content ID: YouTube (AdSense & Content ID), TikTok, YouTube Music.

Social Media Monetization: Meta (Facebook & Instagram) performance and synchronization royalties.

Download Stores: iTunes, Amazon MP3, Beatport.

2. Royalty Calculation & Revenue Share

Standard Commission: Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Waves Music Group retains a 30% administrative commission from the net royalties received from DSPs. The Artist/Label receives 70% of the net income.

Calculation: Royalties are calculated based on the net revenue reports provided by each Digital Service Provider (DSP).

Currency Conversion: Payments are received in various currencies (USD, EUR, GBP). Conversions to your local currency are based on the exchange rates provided by our bank or payment processor at the time of settlement.

3. Payment Schedule & Thresholds

Payment Cycle: You may choose to receive your royalties on a Monthly or Quarterly basis (processed around the 1st of the month). Royalties are typically available 45–60 days after the end of the month in which they were reported by the platforms.

No Minimum Threshold: For payments via Digital Wallets (Payoneer, T-Bank, etc.), there is no minimum threshold. You can request a payout regardless of the amount in your balance.

SWIFT/IBAN Exception: Due to high intermediary bank fees, a minimum threshold of $200 applies to all international bank transfers (SWIFT/SEPA/IBAN).

Rollover: If a bank transfer threshold is not met, the balance will roll over to the next payment cycle indefinitely until the limit is reached.

4. Payment Methods

We support the following payment methods:

Bank Transfer: SWIFT / SEPA / IBAN.

Digital Wallets: Payoneer, T-Bank, or other agreed-upon e-wallets.

Fees: Any transaction fees, currency conversion fees, or intermediary bank fees are the sole responsibility of the payee.

5. Anti-Fraud, Penalties & Withholding

Waves Music Group maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards artificial streaming.

Artificial Activity: Payments will be withheld if fraudulent or bot-generated streams are detected.

DSP Penalties: If a DSP (e.g., Spotify) imposes a financial fine on Waves Music Group due to artificial activity associated with your content, that fine will be deducted from your royalty balance.

Negative Balance: If DSPs claw back royalties already paid out to you (due to fraud or copyright claims), your account may reflect a negative balance. Future earnings will be used to offset this debt.

Copyright Disputes: Royalties will be withheld during active ownership claims or DMCA disputes.

6. Taxes & Documentation

Responsibility: You are responsible for all personal income taxes in your country of residence (Armenia or elsewhere).

Documentation: We may request identity verification (KYC) or tax residency information before processing payouts.

Withholding Tax: If required by international law, we will deduct the necessary withholding tax and provide relevant documentation.

7. Disputes & Audit Rights

Reporting Errors: Discrepancies must be reported in writing within 30 days of the statement date.

Evidence: You must provide specific data (ISRC, platform, territory) to support your claim.

Finality: If no dispute is raised within 90 days, the report is considered final and binding.

8. Policy Changes

We reserve the right to update this policy to reflect changes in the music industry or payment regulations. Continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact

Waves Music Group 

Email: ceogor@wavesmusicgroup.com

Address: Armenia, Gavar, Noratus, Sevan St 14-4