Terms of Service

Last updated: 16 June 2026

1. Who we are and what these terms cover

The Vocal Market ("The Vocal Market", "Platform", "we", "us") is operated by Bas Cornelis Lefeber, trading as The Vocal Market, a sole proprietorship registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK) under number 66659809, VAT identification number NL002392610B98, with its address at Churchillplein 120, 3011 EW Rotterdam, Netherlands.

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Platform, including both:

• the Ready-Made Store, where finished vocal recordings are sold as instant digital downloads under a licence; and
• the Hire-a-Vocalist Marketplace, where Producers commission custom vocal recordings from independent Vocalists.

By creating an account, making a purchase, posting a job, sending or accepting a quote, or otherwise using the Platform, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

2. Definitions

• Vocalist — an independent provider who uploads/sells recordings or accepts commissions. Vocalists are independent contractors, not our employees or agents (except for the limited payment-agency role in clause 7).
• Producer / Buyer — a person or business who purchases a recording or commissions a Vocalist.
• Consumer — a Buyer acting outside their trade, business, or profession.
• Recording — any vocal audio file, stem, acapella, or sample offered or delivered through the Platform.
• Commission — a custom Recording ordered through the Marketplace.
• Licence — the rights a Buyer receives in a Recording, as set out in the applicable licence tier or Commission Agreement.

3. Accounts and eligibility

You must be at least 18 and able to enter a binding contract. You are responsible for your account and credentials. You must provide accurate information and keep it current. We may suspend or close accounts that breach these Terms or applicable law.

4. Ready-Made Store — licences

Each Recording in the Ready-Made Store is sold under one of the licence tiers set out in the Licence Tiers document (Non-Exclusive, Exclusive, or Cover), as shown on the product page and confirmed at checkout. The applicable tier text, in the version in force at the time of purchase, forms part of your contract.

Exclusive sales. When an Exclusive Licence is sold for a Recording, we remove that Recording from further sale and will not issue new licences for it. Non-Exclusive Licences validly issued for that Recording before the Exclusive sale remain valid; the Exclusive Buyer acknowledges that such pre-existing Non-Exclusive Licences may exist and survive.

5. Hire-a-Vocalist Marketplace — how it works

1. A Producer posts a brief or contacts a Vocalist. 2. The Vocalist sends a quote stating the price and the licence/usage terms that will apply to the delivered Recording (see clause 6). 3. The Producer pays the full quoted amount to the Platform. 4. We hold the funds (via our payment provider) while the Vocalist produces the Recording. 5. The Vocalist delivers the Recording through the Platform; the Producer reviews and accepts it. 6. On acceptance (or on automatic release under clause 7.4), we release the amount minus our commission to the Vocalist and retain the commission.

6. Marketplace — intellectual property in Commissions

6.1 Vocalist sets the terms. The licence, exclusivity, territory, term, and permitted uses of a commissioned Recording are those stated in the Vocalist's accepted quote, as recorded in the Commission Agreement generated for that project. Those terms prevail.

6.2 Default fallback. Where the Vocalist's quote does not specify the licence terms, the following applies on full payment: the Producer receives a worldwide, royalty-free, non-transferable, exclusive licence to incorporate the commissioned Recording into their own musical works and to distribute those works (streaming, download, physical, sync). The Vocalist retains ownership of the master Recording and all neighbouring and moral rights, and retains any songwriting/composition (publishing) share in lyrics, topline, or melody unless that share is separately agreed and paid for. The Producer may not resell, sublicense, or distribute the isolated Recording, or register the unaltered Recording with any copyright office, Content ID, or performance-rights organisation.

6.3 Publishing/songwriting. A Vocalist who writes lyrics or topline retains their author's rights and publishing share by default. Any transfer or split of that share must be set out expressly in the Commission Agreement.

6.4 Rights pass only on full payment and acceptance (or automatic release under 7.4). Until then the Vocalist retains all rights.

7. Payments, payment agency, and our role

7.1 Payment provider. All payments are processed by Stripe, which is the regulated payment service provider. We do not store card or bank details. Vocalists must complete Stripe onboarding (identity verification and bank details) before they can be paid.

7.2 We act as commercial agent of the Vocalist. For Marketplace transactions, the Platform acts solely as the commercial agent of the Vocalist, authorised by the Vocalist to offer and conclude the sale of the Vocalist's services to Producers and to receive payment from the Producer on the Vocalist's behalf. We do not act as agent of the Producer.

7.3 Payment discharges the Producer's obligation. Payment by the Producer to the Platform discharges the Producer's payment obligation to the Vocalist. The Vocalist is paid by us releasing funds to the Vocalist's connected account, less commission.

7.4 Holding period and automatic release. We hold Commission funds only until the Producer accepts the delivery or until 7 days after delivery, whichever is first, after which funds are automatically released to the Vocalist less commission.

7.5 Commission. Our Marketplace commission is 15% of the Commission amount.

7.6 Currency, fees, payout corridors. Payouts are available to Vocalists with supported (SEPA/EEA) connected accounts at launch; other countries require verification before payout is enabled.

8. Chargebacks and clawback

If a Producer's payment is later reversed, charged back, or refunded after we have released funds to a Vocalist, the Vocalist owes us the released amount. We may recover it by deducting from the Vocalist's Platform balance or future payouts, or by direct recovery. You authorise these deductions. We are entitled to reverse or withhold payouts where fraud, a dispute, or a chargeback is reasonably suspected.

9. Refunds and right of withdrawal

Refunds and any statutory right of withdrawal are governed by our Refund Policy, which forms part of these Terms.

10. User obligations and warranties

10.1 Vocalists warrant that they own or control all rights necessary to offer, sell, or deliver each Recording; that the Recording is their original work and free of uncleared samples or third-party rights; and that the Recording does not infringe any third party's rights.

10.2 Producers warrant that they will use Recordings only as permitted by the applicable Licence or Commission Agreement, and are responsible for clearing any third-party rights their use requires.

10.3 All users must not: break the law or infringe IP; circumvent or manipulate the Platform's payment systems; upload unlawful, defamatory, or infringing material; use another's name, image, or likeness without consent; or redistribute Platform content in competition with us.

11. Tax information reporting (DAC7)

We are required under EU Directive 2021/514 (DAC7), as implemented in the Netherlands, to collect, verify, and report to the Belastingdienst identifying and income information about Vocalists who earn through the Platform. By using the Platform as a Vocalist, you agree to provide the required information (name, address, Tax Identification Number, date of birth, and financial account details) and acknowledge that we will report it as legally required. We may suspend payouts until this information is provided.

12. Disputes between users

We are not a party to the creative contract between a Producer and a Vocalist beyond our payment-agency role. We may, but are not obliged to, provide a dispute-resolution process and may make reasonable decisions about holding or releasing funds while a dispute is open.

13. Termination and licence revocation

We may suspend or terminate accounts, remove content, or revoke licences where a user breaches these Terms or the law, or where fraudulent, misleading, or infringing activity is detected. If a licence is revoked for the Buyer's breach, the Buyer must immediately stop using the affected Recording in new works.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold us, our affiliates and licensors harmless from claims, damages, losses, and reasonable legal costs arising from your use of the Platform, your Recordings, or your breach of these Terms, including third-party intellectual property claims.

15. Disclaimers and limitation of liability

The Platform and its content are provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind to the extent permitted by law. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited under Dutch law, including a Consumer's mandatory statutory rights.

16. Data protection

We process personal data as described in our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms.

17. Changes

We may update these Terms by posting a revised version with a new "Last updated" date. Material changes will be notified where required. Continued use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.

18. Governing law and jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Netherlands. Disputes will be resolved by the competent courts in the Netherlands, without prejudice to the mandatory rights of a Consumer to bring proceedings in, or rely on the protections of, their country of residence.

19. Contact

Bas Cornelis Lefeber t/a The Vocal Market, Churchillplein 120, 3011 EW Rotterdam, Netherlands. Email: bas@thevocalmarket.com.