Overview
WAVjunkie provides independent artists with a platform to sell their music directly to listeners. When you make a sale, your earnings are tracked in your Artist Dashboard and become available for payout after meeting our requirements.How earnings work
Platform fee
WAVjunkie charges a 20% platform fee on all sales by default. This fee covers payment processing (Stripe fees), platform hosting and maintenance, marketing and discovery features, and customer support. Early Supporter discount: Artists who signed up for pre-launch notifications start with a reduced 15% platform fee as a thank you. The discount is applied automatically when you create your account using the same email address. Example (standard 20% fee):- Sale price: $8.99
- Platform fee (20%): $1.80
- Your earnings: $7.19
- Sale price: $8.99
- Platform fee (15%): $1.35
- Your earnings: $7.64
Amounts are rounded to the nearest 2 decimal places.
When do earnings appear?
Artist earnings are updated automatically as soon as a sale is confirmed. You’ll see the sale reflected in your Artist Dashboard earnings and receive an email notification for each sale.7-day holding period
All sales are subject to a 7-day holding period before becoming available for payout. This protects both artists and buyers in the event of a duplicate charge or fulfilment issue. Intentional purchases are not eligible for refund under WAVjunkie’s purchase policy, which buyers agree to at checkout. You can track the status of pending earnings in your Artist Dashboard, where each sale shows a countdown to availability.Payout requirements
Minimum threshold: $25.00 USD
Before you can request your first payout, you must accumulate at least $25.00 USD in total earnings. This threshold:- Applies to your lifetime earnings, not just available balance
- Only needs to be reached once
- Helps ensure efficient payout processing
6-month threshold exception
If after 6 months of your first sale you have NOT achieved the $25 payout threshold, you may request a payout of your available balance. The 7-day hold still applies to individual sales. A payout of your available balance will be processed. The standard WAVjunkie commission has already been deducted at point of sale — no additional fees apply.Quarterly payout schedule
After reaching the $25 minimum threshold, payouts are processed quarterly:| Quarter | Processing month |
|---|---|
| Q1 | March |
| Q2 | June |
| Q3 | September |
| Q4 | December |
Payout requests submitted during a quarter will be processed at the start of the next processing month.
Payout method: Stripe Connect
WAVjunkie uses Stripe Connect as the exclusive payout method for all artists.- 🔒 Maximum security — No sensitive financial data is stored on WAVjunkie
- ⚡ Automated payouts — Earnings transfer directly to your bank account
- 🌍 Global availability — Stripe supports payouts in 40+ countries
- ✅ Identity verification — Stripe’s secure onboarding protects everyone
Setting up Stripe Connect
- Navigate to your Artist Dashboard
- Click on Payout Settings
- Click Connect with Stripe to begin onboarding
- Make sure your profile country is set correctly before you start. Stripe locks the country during onboarding.
- Complete Stripe’s identity verification: legal name and date of birth, address, bank account details, identity documents (if required).
- Once verified, your account status will show as Active.
Stripe Connect account status
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Not Connected | You haven’t started the onboarding process |
| Onboarding | You’ve started but haven’t completed verification |
| Restricted | Additional information or documents required |
| Active | Fully verified and ready to receive payouts |
Requesting a payout
Once you’ve reached the $25 minimum threshold, have available earnings (past the 7-day hold), and set up your payout method, you can request a payout from your Artist Dashboard.Payout processing
- Requests are reviewed and processed within the first 5 business days of the quarterly processing month.
- You’ll receive an email notification when your payout is sent.
- Transaction references are provided for tracking.
Understanding your dashboard
- Total earnings — Your lifetime earnings from all completed sales (after the platform fee).
- Available for payout — Earnings that have passed the 7-day hold.
- Pending earnings — Sales from the last 7 days still in the holding period.
- Payout threshold progress — Visible until you reach $25 lifetime earnings.
Account deletion & payouts
If you wish to delete your artist account, WAVjunkie will ensure any earnings owed to you are paid out before your account is closed. The standard commission has already been deducted at point of sale — no additional fees apply. Navigate to Profile Settings and click Delete My Account.- Pending earnings within the 7-day hold: Account deletion is temporarily paused until all pending earnings have cleared. You’ll receive a reminder when they’re ready.
- Available balance over $5.00: Your balance will be paid out at the next quarterly processing date and your account is automatically deleted after payout.
- **Available balance 5.00 minimum processing threshold cannot be paid out and contribute to WAVjunkie’s operating costs. You’ll be asked to confirm before proceeding.
- Balance $0.00 with no pending earnings: Account deleted immediately.
Frequently asked questions
When will I receive my money?
After you request a payout, it will be processed during the next quarterly processing period (March, June, September, or December). Processing takes 3–5 business days from the quarterly date.Why is there a $25 minimum?
The minimum threshold helps us process payouts efficiently and reduces transaction overhead. It only needs to be reached once.Can I change my payout details?
Yes. Update your bank account or other payout details through your Stripe Express dashboard, accessible from Payout Settings → “Manage Stripe Account”.What if a customer requests a refund?
If a refund is issued within the 7-day holding period, the earnings will be deducted before becoming available.Are there any fees for payouts?
WAVjunkie doesn’t charge additional fees beyond the platform fee already deducted from sales. Stripe may apply minimal fees for certain payout methods or currencies — these are handled automatically.How do I track my payout status?
Your Artist Dashboard shows all payout requests and their current status: Pending, Approved, Processing, Completed, Rejected.What information do I need to report for taxes?
Artists are responsible for reporting income for tax purposes. WAVjunkie provides earnings history, transaction records, and payout history. Consult a tax professional for your specific obligations.Payout timeline example
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 1 | You sell an album for $8.99 |
| March 1 | You earn $7.19 (after 20% fee) |
| March 8 | Earnings become available (7-day hold complete) |
| March 10 | You request a payout |
| March processing | Quarterly processing — your payout is sent |
| March + 1–5 days | Funds arrive in your bank account |
This example assumes you have already reached the $25 lifetime earnings threshold. Late-quarter requests are queued for the following quarter.
Need help?
If you have questions about payouts or your earnings:- Email: admin@wavjunkie.com
- Subject: Payout Support
WAVjunkie reserves the right to modify payout policies. Artists will be notified of any significant changes via email and dashboard announcements.