Royalty Agreement

"Artist" means any individual or entity that uploads, distributes, or monetizes music or video content through PesaBass.

"Content" means any audio recordings, music videos, artwork, metadata, or other materials provided by the Artist to PesaBass.

"Net Revenue" means gross revenue generated from Content, less applicable taxes, payment processing fees, and chargebacks.

"Stream" means a qualifying play of Content lasting at least 30 seconds for audio or 10 seconds for video, as measured by PesaBass analytics.

"Pay-Per-View (PPV)" means a one-time purchase granting access to a specific piece of premium or exclusive content.

Artists earn revenue from multiple sources on PesaBass. The following rates apply:

Note: Rates are calculated on Net Revenue. PesaBass reserves the right to adjust rates with 60 days' advance written notice.

3.1 Pro-Rata Model: Streaming royalties are calculated using a pro-rata model. Each month, the total subscriber revenue pool is divided among all qualifying streams proportionally based on each artist's share of total streams.

3.2 Ad-Supported Revenue: For free-tier listeners, royalties are derived from advertising revenue and allocated on the same pro-rata basis.

3.3 Minimum Stream Threshold: A stream qualifies for royalty payment only if it meets the minimum duration (30 seconds for audio, 10 seconds for video). Repeated plays from the same user within a short period may be consolidated.

3.4 Fraud Prevention: Artificial streaming (bots, click farms, stream manipulation) will result in disqualification of those streams, forfeiture of associated earnings, and potential account termination.

4.1 Payment Schedule: Royalty payments are processed monthly, on or before the 15th of each month, for revenue earned in the prior calendar month.

4.2 Minimum Payout: The minimum payout threshold is KES 500 (or equivalent in your local currency). Earnings below this amount roll over to the next payment cycle.

4.3 Payment Methods: Payouts are made via M-Pesa, bank transfer, or other supported mobile money services as configured in your Artist Hub settings.

4.4 Currency: All royalty calculations are performed in Kenyan Shillings (KES). If you receive payment in a different currency, the conversion rate at the time of processing applies.

4.5 Taxes: Artists are responsible for all applicable taxes on their earnings. PesaBass may withhold taxes where required by law and will provide documentation for tax reporting purposes.

4.6 Disputed Payments: If you believe a payment is incorrect, you must raise a dispute within 90 days of the payment date. Disputes submitted after this period may not be honored.

5.1 Ownership: You retain full ownership of your Content. Nothing in this Agreement transfers copyright or ownership to PesaBass.

5.2 License Grant: By uploading Content, you grant PesaBass a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free (subject to the royalty payments herein) license to reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, display, and make available your Content on the platform and in promotional materials.

5.3 Promotional Use: PesaBass may use brief excerpts (up to 30 seconds of audio, 15 seconds of video) and artwork in platform promotions, playlists, social media, and advertising without additional compensation.

5.4 Takedown Rights: You may request removal of your Content at any time through the Artist Hub. Content will be removed within 5 business days, though cached copies may persist for a reasonable period.

5.5 Original Work Warranty: You represent and warrant that your Content is original, that you have all necessary rights to distribute it, and that it does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights.

6.1 Analytics Dashboard: PesaBass provides a real-time analytics dashboard in the Artist Hub showing streams, revenue, audience demographics, and content performance.

6.2 Monthly Statements: Detailed royalty statements are generated monthly and accessible in your Artist Hub. Statements include a breakdown by revenue source, content, and region.

6.3 Audit Rights: You may request an audit of your royalty calculations once per calendar year by submitting a written request. Audits will be conducted by an independent third party at the requesting party's expense, unless a material discrepancy (greater than 5%) is found, in which case PesaBass will bear the cost.

7.1 Termination by Artist: You may terminate this Agreement at any time by removing all your Content and closing your Artist account. Outstanding royalties will be paid within 60 days of termination.

7.2 Termination by PesaBass: PesaBass may terminate this Agreement if you breach any terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or violate community guidelines. We will provide notice and an opportunity to cure non-material breaches within 14 days.

7.3 Effect of Termination: Upon termination, PesaBass will cease distribution of your Content within 5 business days. Any earned but unpaid royalties will be paid according to the normal payment schedule, subject to the minimum payout threshold.

7.4 Survival: Sections regarding payment of accrued royalties, dispute resolution, and limitation of liability survive termination.

8.1 PesaBass's total liability under this Agreement shall not exceed the total royalties paid to you in the 12 months preceding the claim.

8.2 PesaBass is not liable for revenue losses due to platform downtime, changes in audience behavior, content removal for policy violations, or third-party payment processor failures.

8.3 This Agreement is governed by the laws of Kenya. Disputes shall be resolved through arbitration in Nairobi, Kenya, under the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration rules.