Distribution Agreement

UPDATED November 2025

This Distribution Agreement and Terms of Service (this “Agreement”) is a binding legal agreement between you and ANS Enterprise LLC, a company incorporated under the laws of the State of Wyoming, United States of America, having its registered office at 30N Gould St, Sheridan, WY 82801, USA, hereinafter referred to as “ANS Music”, “we”, “our”, or “us”. This Agreement governs your use of the ANS Music digital distribution platform, including the distribution of your musical recordings and audiovisual content to selected digital service providers (“DSPs”), streaming platforms, and online stores (collectively, our “Service”). This Agreement also applies to ANS Music’s content protection tools, fingerprinting systems, and any other features or services offered by ANS Music relating to the distribution, monetization, and management of your content. If you are entering into this Agreement on behalf of one or more other individuals, an artist group, a record label, a company, or any legal entity, then by accepting this Agreement you represent and warrant that you are duly authorized to bind such person(s) or entity(ies) to this Agreement. In such cases, the term “you” shall include all such represented parties, and ANS Music is entitled to rely fully on your authority. By clicking to accept this Agreement, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by all terms and conditions set forth herein. This Agreement becomes effective on the date you click to agree to this Agreement (the “Effective Date”). ANS MUSIC DOES NOT TAKE ANY COPYRIGHT OWNERSHIP OR PROPRIETARY INTEREST IN YOUR MUSIC. ANS Music only receives a limited license to distribute, monetize, and protect your content as described in this Agreement. You understand and agree that you must own or control 100% of the rights necessary to reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, monetize, and otherwise exploit any recordings, musical compositions, literary works, dramatic works, spoken word, artwork, or any other materials that you upload to the ANS Music platform. This includes, without limitation, the rights to distribute digital downloads, streaming transmissions, and any other electronic communications of your content as required for ANS Music to deliver its Services.

Quick Summary
  • Exclusive worldwide digital distribution
  • You keep 70% of Net Receipts
  • 3-year term + automatic 2-year renewals
  • Monthly reports, monthly payouts
  • UGC/Content ID monetization included

01Purpose of This Agreement

The Contractor agrees to provide and deliver the Content (as defined in the Definitions section) to ANS Music for the sole purpose of digital distribution and monetization across all approved platforms and territories. During the Exclusive Distribution Period, the Contractor grants ANS Music the exclusive right to distribute, deliver, monetize, and make the Content available worldwide, including all existing back catalog as well as any new releases submitted during the term of this Agreement.

02Content

The term “Content” includes all Recordings, Music Videos, and any Ancillary Material owned or controlled by the Contractor during the term of this Agreement. Content also includes any materials delivered or uploaded by the Contractor to ANS Music through ANS Backstage, API delivery, email, physical storage devices, or any other delivery method approved by ANS Music.

03TERRITORY

This Agreement grants ANS Music all rights, permissions, and authorizations necessary to distribute, deliver, monetize, and otherwise exploit the Content on a Worldwide basis. ANS Music may make the Content available in all territories and countries globally, including any digital platforms, services, and partners operating within those regions, without geographical limitation.

04Exclusive Distribution Period

This Agreement begins on the Effective Date and shall continue for an Initial Period of three (3) years, commencing on the date the Contractor delivers the first Recording to ANS Music in accordance with ANS Music’s delivery requirements.
Upon expiration of the Initial Period, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive Extended Periods of two (2) years each, unless either party provides written notice of non-renewal at least three (3) months prior to the end of the Initial Period or any subsequent Extended Period.
During any renewal term, all provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless both parties mutually agree in writing to modify specific terms.

05Financial Terms — 70/30 Revenue Share

The Contractor shall be entitled to receive seventy percent (70.00%) of the Net Receipts (as defined in the Definitions section) earned and actually received by ANS Music from the exploitation, distribution, and monetization of the Content.

Net Receipts shall be calculated after deducting:

The remaining thirty percent (30%) of Net Receipts shall be retained by ANS Music as its distribution fee.

All earnings are exclusive of taxes. You must submit the correct IRS form (W-9, W-8BEN, or W-8BEN-E).

06Exclusive Rights Granted to ANS Music

During the Exclusive Distribution Period, the Contractor hereby grants ANS Music the exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide right to distribute, promote, exploit, monetize, and otherwise administer the Content across all digital formats and platforms, whether currently existing or developed in the future.
This grant of rights includes, without limitation:

The Contractor may request disabling monetization, enabling blocking, or removing Content from specific UGC platforms at any time, and ANS Music will act within a commercially reasonable timeframe.

07Delivery Timeline & Commercial Release

The delivery timeline for each item of Content submitted through ANS Backstage (as defined later) shall be mutually agreed upon by the parties in good faith. The Contractor agrees that the first items of New Releases and/or Back Catalogue must be delivered no later than one (1) month following the Effective Date.

The Contractor acknowledges that if Content is delivered less than one (1) week prior to the intended commercial release date, DSPs may, at their sole discretion, delay or modify the release date, and ANS Music shall not be held liable for any such delays.

The commercial release date for each Recording shall be determined by mutual agreement, provided that all required materials are delivered on time and in accordance with ANS Music’s technical specifications.

Content shall be considered compliant with ANS Music’s and the DSPs’ technical and Metadata requirements unless ANS Music notifies the Contractor of any issues within fifteen (15) days of delivery.

ANS Music reserves the right to create, revise, adjust, replace, or remove Metadata to meet DSP requirements, content identification standards, or delivery specifications. ANS Music may charge the Contractor for reasonable costs associated with such corrections or optimizations.

The Contractor agrees to deliver and commercially release a minimum of one (1) new item of Content per calendar month during the Exclusive Distribution Period. If the Contractor fails to deliver at least one new Recording or Music Video within any given month

The Contractor understands that DSPs may, at their sole discretion, refuse, suspend, delay, or permanently remove the Content from their services or impose specific conditions related to it. ANS Music shall not be liable for any such decisions made by DSPs.

08Mechanical Rights

If DSPs require ANS Music or the Contractor to obtain Mechanical Rights (as defined later) licenses for Content distribution in a specific Territory, ANS Music will use commercially reasonable efforts to manage these licenses on behalf of the Contractor (including obtaining and paying for them).

If, for any reason, such Mechanical Rights licenses are unavailable or have not been cleared in a particular Territory, and ANS Music has satisfactory proof of this, ANS Music may, at its sole discretion, suspend the digital distribution of the affected Content via the relevant DSPs in that Territory.

09Payment Terms, Taxation & Audit

9.1 Royalty Statements, Payments, and Taxes

ANS Music will generate monthly royalty statements for the Contractor, accessible via the Backstage platform or another designated system. Each statement will include:

Statements for revenue earned in a given month will be published between the 1st and 5th of the second following month. For example: January revenue will be reported between March 1–5.

Payments will be processed between the 15th and 20th of that same month (e.g., January earnings paid between March 15–20), provided the Contractor’s balance exceeds USD 50. Balances below this minimum will roll into the next cycle.

Payments are made via bank transfer or another approved method. The Contractor is responsible for all currency conversion and recipient-side bank charges, except for fees charged by ANS Music’s bank.

Any dispute regarding a royalty statement must be submitted in writing within 30 days of its publication; otherwise, the statement shall be considered final and binding.

All payments are exclusive of VAT/GST unless otherwise noted. ANS Music may withhold and remit taxes as required by law. The Contractor is responsible for maintaining accurate tax residency information and is liable for any penalties resulting from incorrect tax data.

9.2 Self-Billing & Invoicing

The Contractor authorizes ANS Music to issue invoices on their behalf under a self-billing arrangement in accordance with applicable tax laws. The Contractor agrees not to issue duplicate invoices for the same services.

Self-billed invoices will be clearly marked “SELF-BILLING” and shall be deemed valid unless the Contractor submits a written objection within 15 days of issuance.

The Contractor must provide accurate and up-to-date tax information (including VAT/GST data) and promptly update any changes. ANS Music may suspend payments until all required tax documents are complete and verified.

9.3 Audit Rights

The Contractor may audit ANS Music’s royalty records once per calendar year by providing 30 days’ advance written notice (email or registered post).

Audits will take place during normal business hours either at ANS Music’s office or remotely if mutually agreed.

If an audit reveals an underpayment exceeding 10% of total Net Receipts for the audited period, and ANS Music accepts the findings, ANS Music will reimburse reasonable audit expenses up to USD 3,000.

If the Contractor raises no objection within two (2) years of a royalty statement’s publication, that statement becomes final and may not be disputed or audited.

9.4 Tax Compliance Declaration

ANS Music complies with all applicable tax regulations under the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Contractor must provide valid tax residency certification by submitting one of the following forms through Backstage:

The Contractor must provide accurate tax information before receiving payments. Tax details may be updated at any time inside the Backstage account. ANS Music may request supporting documentation, and payments may be withheld until verification is complete.

ANS Music will not deduct payroll-related taxes (Social Security, Medicare, unemployment tax). Both parties acknowledge that they operate as independent contractors. This Agreement does not create any employment, partnership, or agency relationship.

The Contractor is solely responsible for reporting and paying all taxes in their country of residence on income received from ANS Music. ANS Music bears no responsibility for the Contractor’s personal or business tax obligations.

10Representations and Warranties

The Contractor represents and warrants that they have the full legal right, authority, and capacity to enter into this Agreement and to grant all rights specified herein to ANS Music, including all rights related to the Content, the Artist’s performances, and all associated materials.

The Contractor further guarantees that the Content, including any third-party materials contained therein, is fully owned or properly licensed by the Contractor, is free from liens, encumbrances, claims, or disputes, and does not infringe upon the intellectual property, privacy, publicity, moral, or contractual rights of any third party.

The Contractor confirms that all necessary permissions, licenses, waivers, and written consents from Artists, performers, producers, beat-makers, contributors, session musicians, copyright holders, and any other stakeholders have been validly obtained. The Contractor is solely responsible for all payments, royalties, fees, and obligations owed to these parties.

The Contractor warrants that the Content complies with all applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards, including but not limited to copyright laws, competition laws, and consumer protection regulations. The Contractor also guarantees that no Content has been submitted or distributed in violation of DSP-specific rules, including but not limited to prohibitions against artificial streaming, chart manipulation, fake audience growth, Metadata fraud, or any other deceptive practices.

11Claims, Remedies & Indemnification

Claims & Contractor Responsibilities

If any third party makes or threatens a claim (a “Claim”) against ANS Music relating to the Content, or if the Contractor materially breaches this Agreement, ANS Music will notify the Contractor in writing as soon as reasonably possible. The Contractor must promptly take all necessary steps to settle, contest, or defend the Claim in good faith and must provide all documentation, evidence, and reasonable assistance required by ANS Music.

If there is immediate legal risk or potential commercial harm, ANS Music and/or its DSP partners may take protective measures without prior notice, including suspending or removing the disputed Content.

Content Removal, Fraudulent Activity & Account Actions

If a takedown notice is received under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) or a similar copyright claim, the Contractor must submit valid ownership proof within three (3) business days. If the Contractor fails to respond or the claim is valid, ANS Music may remove the Content and apply a penalty of USD 15 per release.

If fraudulent activity or misrepresentation (including fake streams, Metadata manipulation, or unauthorized Content distribution) is reasonably determined by ANS Music to be proven, the affected Content will be immediately removed from all platforms. Related royalties may be held for up to six (6) months during an investigation, with extensions if legally or operationally necessary.

  • Royalties proven to be dishonestly generated will be returned to DSPs and will not be payable to the Contractor.
  • The Contractor may permanently lose entitlement to such earnings.
  • ANS Music may pursue legal action if required.

The Contractor must submit valid ownership documentation to dispute or reclaim any withheld royalties.

If fraud or violation is suspected, ANS Music may temporarily disable the Contractor’s Backstage account and will notify them within three (3) business days. To reinstate access, the Contractor must provide valid ID, Artist links, and proof of legitimacy within five (5) business days. Failure to comply may result in permanent suspension and forfeiture of royalties.

Indemnification & Remedies for Breach

The Contractor (the “Indemnifying Party”) agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless ANS Music, its affiliates, officers, employees, and agents (the “Indemnified Parties”) from any direct and documented losses, liabilities, damages, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) arising from:

  • Any material breach of this Agreement
  • Any false, misleading, or incomplete information provided by the Contractor
  • Any third-party claim related to Content ownership, rights, or intellectual property
  • Any external contracts or representations made by the Contractor that contradict this Agreement

If a material breach occurs, the non-breaching party will issue written notice (via email or registered mail) outlining the issue and the required correction. The applicable cure period will depend on the severity of the breach. If the Contractor cures the breach, ANS Music will release any withheld payments.

If the breach is not cured, ANS Music may:

  • Suspend Payments: Withhold future payments to prevent financial loss.
  • Suspend Obligations: Pause performance of duties until resolution.
  • Require Reimbursement: For any DSP Royalty Adjustments (clawbacks), the Contractor is fully responsible for reimbursement.
  • Request Advance Repayment: Return of unpaid advances or outstanding balances.
  • Terminate the Agreement: Through written notice.

These remedies may be used separately or together, and ANS Music may seek compensation for actual damages incurred. Both parties acknowledge these measures are necessary to protect ANS Music’s business.

If the Indemnified Party owes payments but also has an indemnity claim, it may offset amounts owed against future payments. If the offset is insufficient, the Contractor must pay the remaining balance within fifteen (15) days of receiving the invoice. All indemnity claims must be supported with proper documentation.

Good Faith Review of Non-Fault Claims

If a Claim arises without the Contractor’s fault, negligence, or misconduct — for example, due to DSP error, incorrect fingerprinting, or Metadata misinterpretation — both parties agree to review the matter cooperatively and in good faith. Liability in such cases will be shared fairly and proportionally based on actual circumstances and involvement.

12Duration and Termination

This Agreement begins on the Effective Date and remains in full force until the end of the Exclusive Distribution Period unless terminated earlier as outlined below.

12.1 Termination for Insolvency or Business Closure

Either party may terminate this Agreement immediately upon written notice if the other party:

  • Enters liquidation (except voluntary liquidation for restructuring or merger),
  • Permanently ceases business operations, or
  • Is declared bankrupt or becomes subject to insolvency proceedings.

12.2 Termination at the End of Term

Either party may terminate this Agreement at the end of the Initial Period or any Extended Period by providing at least three (3) months’ prior written notice. If no such notice is provided, the Agreement will automatically renew under the same terms.

12.3 Early Termination by the Contractor

If the Contractor terminates this Agreement before the end of the Exclusive Distribution Period for any reason other than a material breach by ANS Music, the Contractor must pay a one-time early termination fee of USD 200.

This fee represents a fair estimate of ANS Music’s administrative, technical, and commercial costs associated with early Content withdrawal, including:

  • Processing and technical removal of Content from systems
  • DSP takedown operations
  • Lost commercial opportunities

The fee is payable within fifteen (15) business days of the Contractor’s written termination notice. If unpaid, ANS Music may delay royalty payments, delay DSP content removal, and/or deduct the outstanding fee from future royalties.

For Contractors with more than 50 releases or catalogs exceeding 100 tracks, both parties may negotiate a reduced termination fee in good faith.

In cases of force majeure, documented illness, or genuine incapacity, ANS Music may partially or fully waive the fee at its sole discretion, subject to valid documentation.

12.4 Access After Termination

After termination, the Contractor will retain Backstage dashboard access for three (3) months. During this time:

  • Unpaid royalties will remain visible,
  • Payments will be processed normally to the Contractor’s bank account.

After three months, Backstage access will be permanently disabled.

ANS Music will notify relevant DSPs of expired distribution rights and request Content removal. ANS Music is not responsible for DSP delays or failures in executing removals.

ANS Music will continue providing royalty statements and payments for earnings generated during the term, even if received after termination.

12.5 Force Majeure

Neither party shall be liable for delays or failures caused by events outside their reasonable control, including:

  • Acts of God
  • War or terrorism
  • Strikes or labor disputes
  • Epidemics or pandemics
  • Natural disasters
  • Internet outages
  • Government restrictions

If such an event lasts more than sixty (60) consecutive days, either party may terminate this Agreement without penalty by providing written notice.

12.6 Takedown Requests During Exclusive Period

If the Contractor requests ANS Music to remove any Content during the Exclusive Distribution Period without a valid reason (such as copyright infringement, legal obligation, or ANS Music’s material breach), or if ANS Music determines the reason is insufficient, a non-refundable administrative takedown fee of USD 10 per release will be charged.

This fee covers DSP takedown operations, metadata updates, and communication with platforms.

13Miscellaneous

13.1 Moral Rights Waiver

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Contractor permanently waives all moral rights in the Content, including the right of attribution, the right to object to derogatory treatment, and the right to prevent distortion or modification. The Contractor agrees to any editing, adaptation, remixing, formatting, or transformation reasonably necessary for distribution, promotion, or technical compliance with DSP requirements or applicable law.

13.2 Dispute Resolution – Good Faith Negotiation and Mediation

If any dispute arises under this Agreement, the parties shall first attempt to resolve it amicably through good-faith negotiation. If the dispute remains unresolved for thirty (30) days after written notice, the parties agree to participate in non-binding mediation before initiating any formal legal action. Mediation shall be conducted in Wyoming unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing.

13.3 Survival

Clauses relating to Claims, Remedies & Indemnification, Confidentiality, Data Privacy, Trade Restrictions, and any other provisions intended to survive termination shall remain fully effective even after the Agreement ends.

13.4 Severability

If any part of this Agreement is found invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, that part shall be modified or removed only to the extent necessary, and the remainder of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

13.5 Assignment

The Contractor may not assign, transfer, or sublicense this Agreement or any rights or obligations herein without ANS Music’s prior written consent. ANS Music may assign or transfer this Agreement to an affiliate, third party, or successor (including during mergers or acquisitions) without the Contractor’s consent. Unless a novation is executed, ANS Music remains responsible for fulfilling its obligations.

13.6 Independent Contractor

Nothing in this Agreement creates an employment relationship, joint venture, partnership, or agency between the parties. Each party acts solely as an independent contractor.

13.7 No Third-Party Beneficiaries

This Agreement benefits only the parties and their permitted successors. No third party shall have any rights, claims, or remedies under this Agreement unless expressly stated.

13.8 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Wyoming, United States of America, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. All disputes shall be resolved exclusively by the courts of Wyoming unless both parties mutually agree in writing to submit the dispute to international arbitration in a neutral forum such as Singapore or London. Arbitration shall be conducted in English, and the decision shall be final and binding, with each party bearing its own costs unless otherwise determined by the arbitral tribunal.

13.9 Data Privacy

Both parties agree to comply with all applicable privacy laws, including the Wyoming Information Protection Act (FIPA), the U.S. Federal Trade Commission Act, and, where applicable, the GDPR. The Contractor authorizes ANS Music to record, process, and store all Personal Data embedded within the Content and share such data with DSPs or third-party service providers under lawful agreements. The Contractor guarantees that all affected Data Subjects have consented to such processing. All Personal Data will be processed in accordance with ANS Music’s privacy policy available on the Backstage platform.

13.10 Trade Restrictions

“Sanctions” refers to any U.S. federal or international sanctions, embargoes, or trade restrictions issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the United Nations, or the European Union. Both parties agree not to engage in business with sanctioned individuals, entities, or jurisdictions. Any violation of this clause constitutes a material breach of this Agreement.

13.11 Confidentiality

Both parties acknowledge that this Agreement and any information exchanged during its negotiation and performance constitute “Confidential Information.” This includes, but is not limited to, business strategies, financial data, technical processes, unreleased music, master details, and marketing plans. Confidential Information may only be shared with legal, financial, or regulatory advisors, or employees with a legitimate need to know, provided they are bound by similar confidentiality obligations.

No press releases or public statements regarding this Agreement may be made by the Contractor without ANS Music’s prior written approval.

13.12 Notices

All notices under this Agreement must be in writing and delivered via:

Email for ANS Music: legal@ansmusiclimited.com
Email for Contractor: The email provided in this Agreement or any updated email provided in writing.

Deemed Delivery:

If an email notice is sent outside normal business hours (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM local time), it is deemed received on the next business day.

13.13 Electronic Signature

This Agreement may be executed electronically. Electronic signatures (including DocuSign or Adobe Sign) are legally valid under the Wyoming UETA and the U.S. E-SIGN Act. Each party verifies that the signing representative is authorized and the electronic identity is authentic.

13.14 Ethics Code

ANS Music’s Code of Ethics, available at https://ansmusiclimited.com/privacy-policy/, is incorporated into this Agreement. The Contractor must comply with this Code and ensure that their business partners and subcontractors also comply. The Contractor must promptly notify ANS Music of any known or suspected violation.

14Definitions

Ancillary Material Any artwork, images, photos, liner notes, credits, biographies, logos, trademarks, and any other visual or textual content related to the Recordings or Music Videos, provided by the Contractor for distribution or promotion.
Artist The musical artist(s) or group(s) whose performances are embodied in the Content.
Backstage ANS Music’s proprietary dashboard used by the Contractor to submit Content, manage releases, access royalty statements, and communicate with ANS Music.
Content Collectively, the Recordings, Music Videos, and Ancillary Material, including all Metadata and documentation owned or controlled by the Contractor and delivered to ANS Music.
Contractor The individual or entity identified in this Agreement who grants distribution rights to ANS Music.
Data Subjects Identifiable natural persons to whom Personal Data relates.
DSPs (Digital Service Providers) Platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, TikTok, and other digital distributors through which Content is made available.
Effective Date The date this Agreement becomes legally binding.
Exclusive Distribution Period The period during which ANS Music holds exclusive distribution rights, as defined in Clause 4.
Extended Period Each additional two-year renewal term following the Initial Period.
Initial Period The initial three-year term of this Agreement.
Mechanical Rights Rights to reproduce and distribute musical compositions required for digital distribution (e.g., streams, downloads).
Metadata Descriptive information for Content such as titles, artist names, credits, ISRC, UPC, genre, and release dates.
Music Videos Audio-visual recordings containing musical performances.
Net Receipts Amounts received by ANS Music from DSPs after deducting DSP fees, distribution costs, and applicable taxes.
Personal Data Information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person.
Recordings Sound recordings, including masters, in any audio format.
Royalty Adjustment (Clawback) Any amount deducted or reclaimed by DSPs due to fraud, copyright disputes, billing errors, or policy violations.
Territory The geographical scope of rights granted under this Agreement, defined as Worldwide.
UGC Platform Platforms hosting user-generated content, such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, Snap, and Lickd.

ANS Music reserves the right to offer customized terms, pricing, royalties, and conditions based on catalog size, release volume, or individually negotiated agreements.