Articles in this category What Is Songbay? Songbay is a unique library which stores and advertises music and lyrics. These are purchased by anyone needing original material in their productions. Typical users include: Companies looking for ... What rights do I need to upload, license or sell work through Songbay? Before you upload, license or sell any song, lyric, recording or other material through Songbay, you must own all necessary rights in that material. If you own only a share, you must have the clear pe... Who uses Songbay? Who uses Songbay? Songbay is used by: Songwriters, arrangers, lyricists, transcribers, musicians, record companies, publishers, management companies, advertising executives, producers, musical supervi... How Popular is Songbay? Very! Songbay has risen steadily up the search engine rankings over the last few years and is currently listed NO 1 on Google for lyric and in the top 4 for music searches. To prove the point, in your... The prices are all shown in US Dollars, can they be shown in other currencies? Song and lyric listing/purchase prices on Songbay are shown in US dollars. Seller membership/subscription prices are shown separately on the Membership Options page and may be displayed in UK Sterling... Will my Songs or Lyrics sell on Songbay? We would love to answer definitively 'yes' to this question. Some of our users seem to experience success straight away whilst others after several months and sometimes after several years. Our consid... How much does it cost to Sell My Music and Lyrics at Songbay? Membership to Sellers is by subscription. Our business model allows us to keep our pricing exceptionally low. Our seller packages cover admin, hosting and development costs and range from £2.99 to £9.... How much does it cost to join for Buyers? How much does it cost to join? It is entirely free to join and search the Songbay song and lyric library. Once registered, you may also contact our artists directly. If you can't find a suitable o... What type of music or lyric can be uploaded? What type of music or lyric can be uploaded? Every genre of music/lyric can be added to the Songbay library and in any language. Which type of music/lyrics sell best on Songbay? Which type of music/lyrics sell best on Songbay? The list of uses for which buyers require music and lyrics is endless, hence all high quality material (of any genre) stands a good chance of getting ... I am not from the US or UK, can I still use Songbay? Yes, Songbay, although based in the UK , is an International company and welcomes submissions from artists from all round the world. Can I submit Songs and Lyrics in Languages other than English? Yes, we welcome music and lyrics of any language. How do I edit my uploads? We allow a variety of edits to uploads. You can change the description information of your song or lyric and alter the prices for which you wish to sell them. You can delist/ re-list items and add/ re... How do I get paid for my Song and Lyric Sales at Songbay? We use PayPal to forward sale fees and other user payments. PayPal is one of the most efficient and secure forms of money transfer and is free to join for the vast majority of users. To perform neces... How can payment for music or lyrics work if I'm from a country that doesn't have PayPal? If you are from a country where PayPal is not available, please contact us before completing a sale so that we can review whether an alternative payment method is possible. In some exceptional circum... I'm having trouble entering my phone number when registering. As a workaround, please leave the phone number field blank and register as normal. You can always enter your phone number manually once registered from your user area. I have uploaded my song / lyric but is not displaying on my artist page. Please pay particular attention to the notification at the start and end of the upload process. Uploads will not appear live on Songbay until they have been reviewed and approved by our quality team. ... Are there any tie-ins with Songbay? Are there any tie-ins with Songbay? No. You can upgrade or close your account whenever you wish. If you want to upgrade your subscription, please go to songbay.co/membership-options If you no longer ... What is your selection criteria? What is your selection criteria? Music To maintain the quality of our library and the integrity of our service, we maintain exacting professional standards. Quality is such a personal choice that oft... Which formats can be uploaded to Songbay? What formats can be uploaded to Songbay? We currently accept the following file formats: MP3, WAV, .DOC, .DOCX, & JPG files Can I upload lyrics on their own (without music)? Can I upload lyrics on their own (without music) Yes! Do I have to pay commission if I sell, buy or license music at Songbay? Do I have to pay commission if I sell, buy or license music at Songbay? No. Songbay takes no percentages of sales or performance royalties. Artists keep 100% of all the money they make at Songbay. Am I still eligible for performance royalties if I sell music through Songbay? Yes! There is royalty known as the 'performance royalty', which is owed to a composer/lyricist whenever their music is broadcast or performed in public. This is not normally paid by people purchasi... Do I have to pay to search or contact artists? Do I have to pay to search or contact artists? No, we provide this service free of charge. Once registered, you can use the contact link on the artist's page or the live chat function from your user ... Can I still use Songbay if I already have a publishing, recording or management deal? Can I still use Songbay if I already have a publishing, recording or management deal? Yes-Songbay can work concurrently with any company, service or person working for, or on behalf of a songwriter. ... My password is not working. "I'm having a problem with my password. The new password which was sent to me isn't working." Please follow these steps fully: On the login page, use either the reset password link to obtain a n... Copyright and security concerns? How secure is my material once uploaded to Songbay? Copyright Registration at Songbay / Copyright Protection at Songbay It's very secure! We give free Copyright Registration and Protection at Songbay In addition to all the other benefits of Songbay m... Who is responsible for tax declarations on net income generated through sales at Songbay? Who is responsible for tax declarations on net income generated through sales at Songbay? It is the responsibility of the seller, i.e., composer or lyricist, to make appropriate tax declarations to ... Technical Issues Technical issues and Fixes As with all online companies, users may experience technical difficulties from time to time. These are often the result of browser/ server/ software/ hardware conflicts w... I changed an image but the old one is still displaying? Image Display Issue If you change an image, you will often notice that the old image still displays. This is because your web browser is not displaying the most recent version of the page. The soluti... I have taken out a subscription but i can't upload. "I have taken out a subscription but my account is still showing 'Free user' and i can't upload." Log out of Songbay then login again, your account should now be updated. ... I have taken out a subscription but can't see anywhere to upload my songs or lyrics. You may have mistakenly registered as a Buyer Only and taken out a buyer subscription, which will not give you access to the seller features. Please log out, then back in again, and take out a Seller ... I'm interested in collaborating with one of your songwriters, how should i go about this? Please feel free to contact artists directly using the live chat and messages features from your Songbay dashboard, or by using the contact links on each artist page. Collaboration is very popular at ... How can I find collaborators or let artists know I am open to songwriting collaborations? Collaboration is a major part of Songbay. Many songwriters, lyricists, composers, producers, artists, and buyers use Songbay specifically to find original material and connect with other creators. Mem... I need a song written specifically for me, is this something you offer? How to request a bespoke custom-written original song? This is very popular at Songbay. The best approach would be to search for suitable artists writing in your chosen style, then contact them direc... How does the Songbay Copyright Protection work? Copyright Registration at Songbay / Copyright Protection at Songbay In addition to all the other benefits of Songbay membership, we give our Songwriters full Copyright Protection and Copyright Regist... I don't think I've received payment for a sale. Songbay forwards seller payments after completion, fund clearance, and any necessary checks. To perform necessary admin and security checks, and to allow for account processing times, we normally mak... How do I change package / upgrade my account? How do I change my membership package / upgrade my account? There are no tie ins with Songbay, you may switch package/upgrade whenever you wish. To do so, go to our membership options page and sel... I'm having trouble with my profile picture. "I'm having trouble with my profile picture, its sideways. I've tried several different rotations before upload, any tips?" Our system displays an image in the same orientation as the original uplo... How do your subscriptions (packages) work? We offer monthly or yearly subscription packages. A subscription is an ongoing payment giving access to our service. Each subscription package offers different user benefits, features and upload level... How do subscriptions work? We offer monthly or yearly subscription packages. A subscription is an ongoing payment giving access to our service. Each subscription package offers different user benefits, features and upload level... Audio Player Issue. "The player doesn't seem to be working, nothing happens when i press play" This sometimes happens with a web browser we do not support, is out of date or missing various plugins. We support most op... Can membership prices be shown in US dollars or other currencies? For full details of current seller membership benefits and subscription packages, please see our Membership Options page: https://songbay.co/membership-options Seller membership/subscription prices ... I'm looking for a ghostwriter (pop songs). Is this something you offer? Yes this is becoming increasingly popular at Songbay. Although not always mentioned in the artist's profile, many are offering ghostwriting services. It's best to contact any artists you con... Copyright Protection. Can I just upload my songs as they are or do I need to register them with a copyright company? "Hi, Songbay representatives! I've been searching for a long time among the lots of internet-resources and it seems that Songbay is just perfect for my purposes. I'm just at the beginning of selling ... How do I change my password? Login to your Songbay account and from your user dashboard choose the link: 'Songbay Account' From here you will be able to change your Password The direct link to this area is: https://songb... How do I change my email address? Only admin can update email addresses. Please email us or use our contact form, to request an email change. Contact Us >> How do I upload images with my Songs and Lyrics? Login to your Songbay account and from your user dashboard choose the link: 'Edit Your Uploads' From here you will be able to add images to your uploads. The direct link to this area is: http... How do I change my Profile Image? Login to your Songbay account and from your user dashboard choose the link: 'My Songbay Profile' From here you will be able to change your Profile Image. Once you have uploaded your new image, reme... How do I add or update my social media accounts such as Facebook and Twitter? Login to your Songbay account and from your user dashboard choose the link: 'Songbay Account' Select 'Enhanced Info' (at the top of the page) From here, you will be able to add/update your social m... How do I close my account? Close Account Instructions To close your account, simply login to your user area at Songbay and choose the option: 'Songbay Account', you will be asked to enter your security answer. 2. Choose one... I've received a collaboration offer from an interested user, what should i do now? Firstly, you should establish legitimacy of the collaboration offer. Make sure the offer has come directly from the Songbay website and that the user is a registered Songbay member. You should then fi... Can I change the price I originally listed for my songs? Yes, To edit uploads/content/descriptions/prices or to add artwork to uploads, login to your Songbay account and from your user dashboard choose the link: 'Edit Your Uploads' then 'Edit Details' ... If I upload materials on your web page and offer it for sale, can I also use the same materials to sell it on other web sites besides Songbay? Yes, absolutely. There are no exclusive tie-ins with us, so you are free to simultaneously advertise and sell your material on any other platforms. We will also give you full copyright protection of y... Do i need to join a Royalty Collection Agency to use Songbay? Royalty Collection Agencies We are not responsible for tracking or paying royalties. This is the job of a royalty collection agency. We advise all songwriters to register with their regional royalty ... Can I hide or make my uploads private? Can I hide or make my uploads private? Yes, to hide your uploads, use the 'Edit your Uploads' link in your user area, then navigate to the upload you wish to hide, and click on the 'Visible Publicly'... Can I sell Hindi or Marathi language songs on Songbay? We accept all language submissions and Hindi songs are very much on the increase at Songbay. English, and other European languages are still the most popular with buyers. Instructions Video Instruction guides on using the main Songbay Features We have a list of instructional videos of our most popular features. Including: How to upload your lyrics and songs How to edit your lyrics... How do I update my card details? How do I update my payment details used for my subscription? All our customer payment details are stored securely with our payment handlers PayPal or Stripe. We do not handle card details directly. D... OTP password Issue OTP Code not working An OTP code (One time password) is a security measure that our system automatically invokes whenever a user signs in using an unrecognized device, or from a different geographi... Security answer issue Forgotten security answer If you have forgotten your Songbay security answer, please use the Forgotten security answer reset form. You will be asked to confirm your account details and then choose a ... Account Upgrade issue Account Upgrade issue I have taken out a subscription, but my account has not upgraded and I still cannot upload. If you are experiencing this issue, please log out, wait 5 minutes, then log back ... I closed my account but am still being invoiced I closed my account but am still being invoiced It not possible to be charged after closing your account. This could indicate that you may have a duplicate account or subscription in place or have no... Can I use an alias or artist name instead of my public name? Can I use an alias or artist name instead of my public name? Yes, you need to register with your family name (required for sales contract creation), but this information is held privately. You can use... Song approvals: how do I check if my upload has been approved? At the start and end of the upload process, Songbay explains that uploads can take up to 72 hours to approve. In the vast majority of cases, uploads are approved within 24 hours. We do not send approv... How do I purchase a song or lyric at Songbay? Find a work using Buy Songs or Buy Lyrics, preview it, select Purchase and choose the licence that fits your project. Review the terms, confirm the digital-supply notice and complete payment.Payment a... What options can I set when listing a song or lyric? You may set prices for a private Digital Download, a Standard Licence and an Extended Licence. You retain ownership under each of these non-exclusive options and may license the work to more than one ... Which licence should I choose for an advert or online video? Choose a Standard Licence when you want to use the original recording in one project and need only technical edits such as trimming, fades or level changes. Choose an Extended Licence when the same on... Do song purchases include stems or individual tracks? No. A music purchase supplies the stereo file made available by the seller; stems and individual multitrack files are not included. Contact the seller before purchase if your project needs additional ... What Songbay buying options are currently available? Songbay offers three licence types. A Digital Download is one private personal purchase. A Standard Licence covers one project with limited adaptation rights. An Extended Licence covers one project wi... What is the difference between a Standard and Extended Songbay licence? Both licences are worldwide, non-exclusive and limited to one project. For music, Standard permits the original recording to be used with technical edits such as trimming, fades and level changes. Ext... What does a lyricist receive when a licensed lyric is turned into a song? The lyricist receives the full agreed licence fee and a 25% share of the musical composition. The lyricist must be credited and registered as a co-writer. The lyricist retains ownership of the origina... Where do I receive a purchased file and completed contract? Open Sales & Purchases in your Songbay dashboard. Purchased files and completed contracts are downloaded there and are not ordinarily sent as email attachments.Processing means payment and securit... How does a Songbay copyright transfer enquiry work? A displayed copyright amount is the seller's copyright enquiry price. Copyright is not purchased or transferred through Songbay checkout.A potential buyer contacts the seller directly. If they proceed... Does Songbay collect or administer royalties? No. Songbay does not collect or administer mechanical, performance, streaming or publishing royalties. Those rights and payments may need to be registered with the appropriate performing-rights organi... Can I read the full Songbay licence contract? Yes. Read the current full contract example at Songbay Licence Terms. A completed transaction also records the buyer, seller, work, selected licence, fee, acceptance and completion details in Schedule... Does Songbay buy songs or lyrics directly from members? No. Songbay is a marketplace where creators list their work for private downloads, Standard Licences and Extended Licences. Interested buyers purchase through the applicable Songbay checkout, while co...