Terms of Service

Effective Date: December 30, 2024

Welcome to MusicBoost ("we," "us," or "our"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the MusicBoost website located at musicboostgrants.org (the "Website") and all services offered through the Website, including our Music Review Service and discretionary Grant Program (collectively, the "Services"). Please read these Terms carefully before using the Services.

By accessing or using the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of these Terms, you may not access or use the Services.

1. Nature of Services

MusicBoost operates two distinct but related services:

  • Music Review Service: A paid service wherein independent musicians submit their work for evaluation and honest feedback by our review panel. Every submission receives a written feedback report analyzing the artistic merit, production quality, and commercial potential of the submitted work. This is the primary service purchased when paying the review fee.
  • Discretionary Grant Program: A separate, merit-based funding initiative wherein MusicBoost may, at its sole discretion, award grants to selected artists. Grant funding is drawn from a separate fund and is not derived from review service fees. Receipt of a grant is not guaranteed and is not a product or service that can be purchased.

Important: The Music Review Service and the Grant Program are legally and operationally separate. Payment of the review fee purchases the review service only. Grant consideration is provided as a courtesy to all applicants but is not a guaranteed outcome, prize, or product being sold.

2. Music Review Service

2.1 Service Description

When you pay the Review Fee, you are purchasing the following deliverables:

  • Honest evaluation and feedback on your submitted music by our review panel
  • A written feedback report delivered via email within 30 days of the application deadline
  • Assessment of artistic merit, originality, technical execution, and project viability

This feedback report is the tangible product you receive in exchange for your payment, regardless of any grant decisions.

2.2 Review Fee

The current Review Fee is $7 USD. This fee is non-refundable once your submission has been processed and entered into our review queue. The fee compensates our panel for their time and expertise in evaluating your submission and preparing your feedback report.

The review fee is not an entry fee, contest fee, or payment for consideration in a sweepstakes, lottery, or game of chance. You are paying for a review service with a guaranteed deliverable (your feedback report).

2.3 Fee Waiver Program

We believe financial barriers should not prevent talented artists from accessing honest feedback on their work. If you are experiencing financial hardship and cannot afford the review fee, you may request a fee waiver by emailing anthony@musicboostgrants.org with the subject line "Fee Waiver Request" and a brief explanation of your circumstances.

Fee waiver requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Approved fee waivers entitle you to the same Music Review Service, including the written feedback report, at no cost. Fee waiver status has no effect whatsoever on grant consideration. Artists who receive fee waivers are evaluated by the same criteria and have the same opportunity for grant selection as paying applicants.

3. Discretionary Grant Program

3.1 Nature of Grants

MusicBoost may, at its sole and absolute discretion, award grants of up to $2,000 USD (monthly) or up to $10,000 USD (annual) to selected artists. These grants are:

  • Discretionary gifts, not products or services being sold
  • Funded from a separate pool unrelated to review service fees
  • Awarded based solely on merit as determined by our review panel
  • Not guaranteed to any applicant regardless of payment status

3.2 Selection Process

This is NOT a sweepstakes, lottery, raffle, contest, or game of chance. Grant recipients are selected exclusively through qualitative, merit-based evaluation. Our review panel assesses:

  • Musical quality and originality
  • Artistic vision and creative direction
  • Technical skill and production quality
  • Project feasibility and strategic use of potential funds
  • Potential impact on the artist's career

No element of chance, random selection, drawing, or luck determines grant recipients. Payment of the review fee does not increase your likelihood of receiving a grant. Fee waiver recipients receive equal consideration.

3.3 Grant Amounts

Stated grant amounts represent maximum potential funding. The actual amount awarded to any recipient is determined at MusicBoost's sole discretion based on factors including project scope, funding availability, and demonstrated need. MusicBoost reserves the right to award amounts less than stated maximums.

3.4 Annual Recognition

Monthly grant recipients may be considered for additional annual recognition of up to $10,000 USD based on demonstrated merit, impact, and achievement. This selection is also merit-based and not determined by chance.

4. Eligibility

To use the Services, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be an independent musician or band not currently signed to a major record label
  • Have at least one original song publicly available
  • Submit only original work or work you have legal authority to submit

5. Submission Requirements

You represent and warrant that all submitted materials are accurate, truthful, and either your original work or work you have legal rights to submit. Submitting plagiarized content, content belonging to others without permission, or fraudulent information will result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of any fees paid.

Music created with AI assistance is permitted provided you hold all necessary rights and comply with applicable laws and third-party terms of service.

6. Intellectual Property

You retain all ownership rights to your submitted music and materials. By submitting, you grant MusicBoost a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use submitted materials solely for:

  • Evaluating your submission and preparing your feedback report
  • Promotional activities related to MusicBoost (e.g., showcasing grant recipients)

This license terminates upon your request if you do not receive a grant, except for archival purposes or as required by law.

7. Payment Processing

Payments are processed by Square, a third-party payment processor. By making a payment, you agree to Square's terms of service. MusicBoost does not store your complete payment card information.

8. Refund Policy

Review fees are non-refundable once your submission enters our review queue. If you experience technical issues preventing submission, contact us within 48 hours for assistance.

9. Disclaimers

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. MUSICBOOST MAKES NO GUARANTEES REGARDING GRANT SELECTION. YOUR PURCHASE OF THE REVIEW SERVICE GUARANTEES ONLY THE DELIVERABLES DESCRIBED IN SECTION 2.1.

MusicBoost is a for-profit entity. We are not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, MusicBoost shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Services, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, or opportunities, regardless of whether we were advised of the possibility of such damages.

Our total liability for any claim arising from the Services shall not exceed the amount you paid for the review service.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless MusicBoost, its owner, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your use of the Services, your submissions, or your breach of these Terms.

12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of Hamilton County, Tennessee.

13. Modifications

We may modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be announced with at least 30 days' notice. Continued use of the Services after modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

15. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms or the Services:

  • Email: anthony@musicboostgrants.org
  • Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA