Frequently asked questions

Most of the work happens over email. I'll collect the details of what's going on, ask clarifying questions, and put together a plan with clear next steps. When needed, I contact your distributor and DSPs directly. If you'd rather talk things through, I'm always happy to schedule a video call.

$175 opens your case. That covers collecting the details, creating a plan, and contacting your distributor and DSPs as needed.

If earnings have been withheld or locked, there's also a 15% success fee, which applies only if the funds are successfully recovered. If you're not sure whether I can help, send me a note first.

You've paid the $175 case fee, and that's all. The 15% success fee only applies if withheld funds are recovered, so if nothing is recovered, no success fee is charged.

The success fee is due once the recovered funds have been successfully paid out to you. You can pay by PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or a similar service.

It depends on the reason for the ban and a few other factors. I'll always do my best, and I'll tell you whether I think reinstatement is likely.

Mainly distributor disputes and royalty recovery:

• Frozen or escrowed royalties
• Locked or terminated distributor accounts
• False DMCA takedowns
• Copyright and ownership claims
• Fraudulent duplicate uploads
• Payout holds

I also help with release planning, metadata (ISRC, UPC, credits, splits), royalty setup, and streaming-fraud risk checks.

Independent artists, managers, small labels, and the lawyers who represent them. I also advise music platforms and distribution teams.

Both. Most people start with a single case to solve a specific problem. If you need ongoing support, such as catalog audits, release rollouts, or team training, we can discuss a longer engagement.

Absolutely. Email is usually the easiest way to gather information, but I'm always happy to schedule a video call on request. Just mention it in your message or reply to our email thread.

My focus is distribution, royalties, and metadata: the operational side of releasing music. For publishing deals, sync representation, or legal advice, I'd recommend working with a music attorney or publisher. I can point you in the right direction.

I spent almost ten years as employee #2 at DistroKid, helping build systems that serve millions of independent artists. I've worked on everything from artist support to fraud prevention to internal tooling. You can read more on the About page.

Gatefolded is my company. It's public or private music sharing for artists, producers, and labels: send demos and advance music as one private link, give fans a music-first page, and see who actually listened. Consulting clients and readers get 50% off.