Overview
WAVjunkie is committed to providing a platform where independent artists can share their music while respecting intellectual property rights and maintaining a safe community. These guidelines apply to all content uploaded to the platform.Acceptable content
✅ What you CAN upload
Original music
- Music you composed and produced yourself
- Songs where you own all rights
- Works created using your own samples and sounds
AI-generated music
- Music created using AI tools where you have usage rights
- AI-assisted compositions
- Synthetic vocals and instrumentals you have rights to use
Collaborations
- Joint works where all collaborators consent to the upload
- Features with proper agreements in place
- Co-productions with documented permissions
Licensed content
- Cover versions with valid mechanical licenses
- Remixes with proper remix authorization
- Samples with documented clearance/authorization
Instrumentals & beats
- Original instrumentals
- Beat productions
- Backing tracks you created
Prohibited content
❌ What you CANNOT upload
Copyright infringement
- Music you don’t own or have rights to
- Unauthorized covers (without mechanical license)
- Unauthorized remixes, mash-ups or bootlegs
- Uncleared samples
- Stolen or plagiarized works
Harmful content
- Content promoting violence or terrorism
- Hate speech targeting protected groups
- Content promoting self-harm or suicide
- Harassment or bullying content
Illegal content
- Content that violates any applicable laws
- Content promoting illegal activities
- Child exploitation material (zero tolerance)
- Content violating privacy rights
Deceptive content
- Impersonating other artists
- Misleading metadata or credits
- Fraudulent licensing claims
- Fake or misleading cover art
Technical violations
- Files containing malware or harmful code
- Corrupted or intentionally damaged files
- Files that don’t match their description
- Non-music content disguised as music
Licensing requirements
Original works
No additional documentation needed if you created and own the work entirely.Cover versions
If you’re uploading a cover of someone else’s song, you must:- Obtain a mechanical license from the original rights holder or through a licensing service (Harry Fox Agency, Easy Song Licensing, etc.)
- Upload the license PDF during the upload process (drag-and-drop is supported on the upload tile)
- Accurately credit the original songwriter
Samples
If your release contains samples from other works, you must:- Obtain written sample clearance from the rights holder
- Upload the authorization document (PDF) during upload (drag-and-drop is supported)
- Disclose sample usage in your release metadata
Remixes
For remixes, you need:- Written remix authorization from the original artist/label
- Documentation uploaded during the upload process
- Proper crediting of the original work
Content moderation
How we moderate
WAVjunkie employs a combination of:- Automated systems to detect obvious violations
- Community reporting for user-identified issues
- Manual review by our moderation team
Cover version & sample licence review
All submissions containing cover versions or samples go through a dedicated licence review process:- When you upload a release containing a cover version or samples, your licence/authorization documents are submitted for verification.
- The entire release is held from public view until all flagged tracks are approved — this applies to singles, EPs, and albums alike.
- Once all tracks are approved, the release goes live automatically and shows “Mechanical licence — verified ✓”.
- If any licence is not accepted, you’ll see “Mechanical licence — action required” with instructions to resubmit.
Important for EPs & Albums: If your release contains multiple tracks requiring review (e.g. 2 cover versions), the release remains hidden until every flagged track is individually approved.
- When your licence is approved, you’ll receive an email confirming your release is live, with a direct link to your track page.
- When your licence is not accepted, you’ll receive an email explaining what documentation is needed, where to obtain it, and how to resubmit — your submission stays pending until resolved.
- Navigate to My Releases and click Edit on the affected release
- Upload an updated mechanical licence or sample authorization document
- Your submission re-enters the review queue automatically and the release is held again until approved
Compliance & flag policy
WAVjunkie operates a 3-flag compliance policy. If your account accumulates compliance flags through moderation conversations, the following applies:- 1st flag: Recorded internally, typically resolved with no further action
- 2nd flag: Recorded with a formal warning
- 3rd flag: WAVjunkie policy recommends account suspension pending a compliance review
Reporting content
If you believe content violates our guidelines:- Navigate to the release page
- Click the Report or Flag button
- Select the reason for your report
- Provide additional details if needed
- Submit your report
Review notifications
When our compliance team opens a review on your account or a submission, you will see a notification banner at the top of your dashboard. This banner is informational — no action is required in the dashboard itself. Our team will contact you at your registered email address with full details. The banner remains visible until the review is resolved.Content removal
Content may be removed for:- Violation of these Content Guidelines
- Valid DMCA takedown requests
- Repeated policy violations
- Legal requirements
DMCA compliance
WAVjunkie complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). We take copyright infringement seriously and will respond promptly to valid takedown requests.Filing a DMCA takedown notice
If you believe your copyrighted work has been infringed on WAVjunkie, you may submit a DMCA takedown notice to our designated agent.Required information
Your notice must include:- Your contact information — full legal name, mailing address, phone number, email
- Identification of the copyrighted work — description, registration number (if applicable), links to the original work
- Identification of the infringing material — URL(s) on WAVjunkie and a specific description
- Good faith statement — “I have a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.”
- Accuracy statement — “The information in this notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, I am the owner, or an agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner, of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.”
- Your signature — physical or electronic
Where to send
- Email: compliance@wavjunkie.com
- Subject: DMCA Takedown Notice
- Mailing Address: WAVjunkie DMCA Agent — address provided upon request
What happens after a takedown
- Review — We review the notice for completeness and validity
- Removal — If valid, we promptly remove or disable access to the content
- Notification — We notify the uploader of the takedown
- Counter-notice — The uploader may file a counter-notice if they believe the takedown was in error
Filing a counter-notice
If you believe your content was wrongly removed, you may submit a counter-notice including: your contact information, identification of the removed content and its URL, consent to jurisdiction, a good-faith statement, and your signature.Counter-notice process
- We forward your counter-notice to the original complainant
- The complainant has 10–14 business days to file a lawsuit
- If no lawsuit is filed, we may restore the content
- If a lawsuit is filed, content remains down pending resolution
Repeat infringer policy
WAVjunkie maintains a strict repeat infringer policy:| Offense | Consequence |
|---|---|
| 1st valid DMCA | Warning + content removal |
| 2nd valid DMCA | 30-day upload suspension |
| 3rd valid DMCA | Permanent account termination |
Fraudulent DMCA notices are also taken seriously. Filing false claims may result in legal liability and account termination.
Account consequences
- Warning — first-time minor violations, good-faith mistakes, quickly corrected issues.
- Content removal — guideline violations, valid DMCA takedowns, inappropriate content.
- Upload suspension — repeated violations, serious guideline breaches, multiple DMCA takedowns.
- Account termination — egregious violations, repeat infringement (3+ valid DMCAs), illegal content, fraud or deception.
Appeals
If you believe a moderation decision was made in error:- Email compliance@wavjunkie.com
- Subject: “Content Moderation Appeal”
- Include: your artist/account name, the content in question, why you believe the decision was incorrect, and any supporting documentation.
Best practices for compliance
Before uploading
- ✅ Verify you own or have licensed all content
- ✅ Gather all necessary license documentation
- ✅ Ensure sample clearances are in order
- ✅ Credit all contributors accurately
Documentation to keep
- Mechanical licenses (for covers)
- Sample clearance letters
- Remix authorizations
- Collaboration agreements
- Work-for-hire contracts
When in doubt
If you’re unsure whether content is permissible: don’t upload it, seek legal advice, and contact us at compliance@wavjunkie.com.Questions?
For questions about these Content Guidelines:- Email: compliance@wavjunkie.com
- Subject: Content Guidelines Question
Thank you for helping us maintain a respectful, legal, and creative community on WAVjunkie.