Not another website to maintain. Do I have time for this?

Merge.fm is a web-app aimed at letting you dominate your unreleased music. Our versioning feature means you’ll never again have to dig around for that great riff you forgot or email an mp3 to a band member to practice for the next show. Unlike a blog, twitter account, or facebook page which make you do extra work, merge.fm is focused around what you care about the most: songwriting and making great music. Then with almost no extra time commitment you can offer your fans access to a much richer experience than a crappy mp3.

Who owns the music content?

It’s simple. The ownership of everything uploaded to a merge.fm artist page remains with the musicians in that artist.

What’s the deal with these versions on the side of the song pages?

As you make music, you almost never get a finished song in one shot. Instead, usually you’ll first come up with a riff or vocal or chord progression. Then you’ll work on it, bang your head, work on it some more, and finally something clicks and it starts to come together. On merge.fm, this process is represented as song versions down the left side of the song page. When you edit and save a song, instead of overwriting all of your previous work, it saves a new version on top of the previous ones, creating a timeline. This not only improves collaboration within your band, but more importantly, it gives your fans the ability to experience where your songs came from and let them be there when you write incredible songs.

What’s the point for my fans?

Musicians know that the highs and lows of making great songs are one of the best parts of music. The point of merge.fm for your fans is to let you share this experience with them, and allow them to engage with you and your music in a new way. You know how it feels when you finally come up with that killer vocal or guitar riff…why not let your fans in on the excitement?

What happens when someone buys access to one of my songs?

When a fan buys access, they will be able to 1) stream and listen to all of the current and future versions in that song, 2) download a mixdown if you choose to add one, and 3) make comments for each version. They will not be able to create new versions. Only musicians can edit the content.

Can people just download and steal my tracks?

We do not enable people to download your tracks. People can only stream your tracks in the web browser, similar to many other music sites. After they’ve purchased access, the only thing they can download is a mixdown of the song if you choose to add one.

How do I get compensated?

When your fans buy access to your songs, we split it with you. This keeps our lights on and keeps merge.fm free for musicians. We believe artists deserve as much as possible, so artists keep 85% after transaction fees. Each month we will send you a check based on the number of purchases that month. You can also choose the price of each song you post, or even make it free. Here are some examples of the breakdown:

Do I have to pay?

No. Merge.fm is completely free for artists. We know that it’s hard enough for musicians and bands to get by as it is.

Why should I make multi-track song versions?

We recommend uploading multi-track versions to really allow your fans to see and hear the changes you make. The more you let them in on it, the more they will likely get into your music.

What audio formats can I upload?

For now, we are keeping it simple with mp3s only. Their smaller file size provides a much faster experience for your fans. Also, if you keep the bit rate above about 192 kbps, then almost nobody will hear the difference compared to the original uncompressed file.

Can I offer downloads of my music to my fans on merge.fm?

Yes. You can upload a mixdown mp3 for each song if you would like. Each fan that buys access to the song will then be able to download the mixdown. You can also change or remove it at any time.

How do I sync my tracks for multi-track versions?

The tracks must be synced before you upload them. This means that when you output each individual track from your audio software, let’s say a drum track, guitar track, and vocal track, you must output each one from the beginning of the song until the end of the track, even if the track doesn’t come in until later in the song. So far this hasn’t been a problem for anyone, but if you are having trouble, please let us know. We really want to keep the interface simple and clean whenever possible.

Can I remove songs?

Each song you make has a delete button next to it. This button will remove that song permanently for both you and any of your fans that paid for access.

How should I market this to my fans?

This concept of offering your digital music as an interactive experience revolving around making music can only work if you spread the word to your fans. In our experience, diehard fans are much more likely to be fired up about this than casual music listeners. We’re working on ways to help you market to your diehard fan base, and the first one is a myspace widget that can be found on your account page. We’d also love to hear other things you’ve tried and how they went. We’ll be sure to let you know as we launch more features to help you out.

I’m in. How do I get an artist account?

Sign up for a free account. Each person in your band should make an account. Then fill out the new artist form.

I still have questions

Fantastic! We love questions. Send us an email at support@merge.fm

Why would I want this?

Ever wondered what it was like at the moment when the great songs of all time were made? Was it a single moment of inspiration? Was it a painstaking process that took months of writing and tweaking? Did they wake up in the middle of the night and record that killer vocal from a dream? Were they drunk and made it by accident? I bet each one was different and each was just about the most incredible thing ever. But, no one really knows how it happened or what it felt like except the musicians who made it and the few who were lucky enough to be there. I want something like merge.fm because I would get the biggest kick ever to experience where great music came from and hopefully be there in some way when great songs are made.

But my favorite artist isn't on merge.fm

If you suggest an artist we'll let you know when they join us! Also, reach out to your favorite artists and let them know you want to experience their music in more depth on merge.fm

Why does it cost money?

The artists have to eat too! The majority of the money that you pay to access songs goes straight to the artists. With the music industry struggling, the artists are the ones that usually end up getting shafted and we want to change that. Rather than coming up with complicated advertising or royalties, we just make it simple. They make music and you pay to experience it in a new way.

Can I try it for free?

Of course! Each artist has one free preview song that you can check out for free. Just look for the free preview badge on an artist's page.

I still have questions

Fantastic! We love questions. Send us an email at support@merge.fm