Tranches, not one lump sum
If unusual streams appear between tranches (e.g. bot traffic, plagiarism strikes), we pause the next tranche and sort it out together. That way you never owe recoupment on streams that weren't real.
ADVANCE · RECOUPMENT · NON-RECOURSE
Advance for musicians: cash against future royalties.
For established OGRECORDS™ artists with proven streaming numbers. Thousands of euros net, signed online via eSignatures, paid in tranches to your bank. No personal liability, because repayment comes only from your royalties.
WHAT YOU GET
A label-style advance for indies.
The kind of advance big labels pay, without acquisition calls, without giving up equity and without hidden clauses.
Thousands of euros net
Your exact advance depends on your recent streaming numbers and the size of your catalog. The personal cap is in the low five-figure range and is discussed during your individual onboarding call.
Paid in 3 tranches
50% straight after signing, 25% after a 30-day check-in, 25% after 60 days. That protects you from a cash-flow gap and us from fraud.
Non-recourse
Recoupment runs 1:1 from your royalties. If streams come in below expectations, you carry no personal liability. No collections, no hit to your credit score.
Online contract in 5 minutes
The contract is generated with your numbers and you sign through our eSignatures integration. No PDF back-and-forth, no lawyer fees. The AI and fraud manifestos are part of every advance agreement.
HOW IT WORKS
Four steps.
01
Eligibility check
On the 1st of every month our system checks whether you qualify: at least 3 releases, a few months on the platform, a connected Spotify for Artists account and completed KYC.
02
Personal offer
If you qualify, your dashboard shows a concrete offer: amount, discount fee and estimated recoupment period. Before that, an internal AI check looks at your catalog, the authenticity of your streams and your socials. If anything looks off, a person reviews the offer.
03
Sign online
You accept the offer and sign via eSignatures.com. The contract states the exact amounts, how recoupment works, the AI manifesto and the fraud-protection clauses. The full text is always available at /ai-manifesto and /fraud-manifesto.
04
Payout in tranches
Tranche 1 (50%) within 24h of signing via SEPA. Tranche 2 (25%) after 30 days, tranche 3 (25%) after 60 days, each subject to a check-in. Recoupment starts with your next royalty statement.
ADVANCE FOR MUSICIANS
Advance for musicians: what it’s for and who gets one.
What a royalty advance is
An upfront payment on income your music has yet to earn: you get part of your expected royalties now instead of spread over months. It is recouped from your future royalties, not from your personal assets.
What musicians use it for
For things that only pay off later: the next production, a music video, marketing or planning a tour. The advance is a financing tool, not a sale of your rights.
Who gets an advance
What matters is your income so far and how stable your streams are. Requirements include at least 3 releases, a few months on the platform, a connected Spotify for Artists account and completed KYC. The check runs automatically every month.
Why it’s paid in tranches
You put the money to work step by step and see how your projects are going before the next tranche arrives. If unusual streams show up in between, we sort them out together before more money flows. That protects you too.
LABEL ADVANCE COMPARED
Record-label advance or royalty advance through your distributor?
Both models pay upfront and recoup the amount from your later income. The difference is what you give up for it.
| Advance from a record label | Royalty advance with OGRECORDS™ | |
|---|---|---|
| Master rights | usually held by the label | stay entirely with you |
| Basis | the label’s view of your potential | what your catalogue demonstrably earns |
| Repayment | recouped from your artist share | only from your royalties, non-recourse, no personal risk |
| Commitment | contract often covers several releases | distribution can be cancelled any time; a running advance is recouped from your royalties |
| Decision | A&R and negotiation | monthly eligibility check based on your streaming numbers |
SAFETY & FAIRNESS
Why there are tranches and manifestos.
AI manifesto & fraud manifesto
When you sign, you confirm our position on AI-generated music (declared openly) and fraud detection (bot streams get deducted). Both manifestos are public and part of the distribution agreement.
No personal liability
Even if your royalties don't cover the expected recoupment, we don't come after you personally. If less than 50% is recouped after 24 months, the rest is written off. The advance investors and OGRECORDS™ carry that loss.
WHAT IS A ROYALTY ADVANCE
Advances for musicians without a label: how the royalty advance works at OGRECORDS™.
A royalty advance is money upfront on income your releases have yet to earn: several thousand euros net, paid out in three staggered tranches to your account. At OGRECORDS™ the system checks every month whether you qualify. Requirements include at least 3 releases and a few months on the platform. If you qualify, you get a concrete offer in your dashboard and sign the contract online in around 5 minutes.
The advance is non-recourse. You carry no personal risk and take on no loan, because the amount is recouped solely from your future royalties. If your income falls short of the expectation, we claim nothing from you personally. We pay in tranches instead of all at once, so we can sort out unusual streams together before the next tranche is released.
For you as an artist that means no hidden obligation, and your catalog stays in your hands. The advance is a tool, not a loan. It's meant for established artists with provable streaming numbers who want to invest in the next release sooner. See how it ties into your delivery at /distribution.
Label advance or an advance through your distributor? With a classic label advance, the label pays upfront and recoups the amount from your artist share. In return the master rights usually sit with the label, and the contract often ties you in for several releases. An advance through your music distribution flips that: it is based on what your catalogue demonstrably earns, it is recouped from your royalties only, and masters, catalogue and creative decisions stay with you. If you already have streams and don’t want to wait for a record deal, it gets you a budget for production, video or promo sooner.
FAQ
Most common questions.
It depends on your individual risk score (catalog size, streaming stability, account age), and the discount fee is shown openly in the offer. Rule of thumb: well below classic label advances, well above a bank loan. We're not a loan; we pre-finance your royalties.
READY FOR AN ADVANCE?
Check eligibility. Three clicks.
The dashboard checks right away whether you qualify and shows your likely advance range. No application form; it all runs automatically.