Updated August 1, 2008
ABOUT THE SITE
1. What is UrbmobTM?
Urbmob is a powerful resource enabling artists to reach the stars. It is a platform designed for recording artists, models and other talent to release original content including (not limited to) music, photography, paintings, graphic design, and film. Through Urbmob, talented people can reach a world-wide audience, build a fan base, and ultimately earn money. In addition, Urbmob is a social networking community (like Myspace), a ringtone distributor (like AT&T), a widget company (like Slide), and a record label (Urbmob Records). Talented people can use the tools we’ve created (sharing tools on urbmob.com, wap.urbmob.com, and the Myspace Widget) to promote their art and make money.
2. What does Urbmob cost?
There is no cost involved in creating or promoting material through Urbmob. In the event that a user wishes to download unlimited content to his or her mobile device, a monthly subscription fee of $3.99 applies. The $3.99 is billed to the user's monthly phone bill.
3. How do I make money on Urbmob?
Every artist and model can make money in two ways on Urbmob. First, through the Talent Rank revenue share program. Second, through our New Subscriber Referral Fee Program, which pays $1.00 for each new, first-time, unique user who subscribes to and is billed the $3.99 monthly subscription when downloading ringtones from our Widget. For details see Talent Rank Revenue Share Rewards and New Subscriber Referral Fee Program Guidelines.
4.What is “Share this player” all about? What is a “Widget”?
Each artist has the ability to embed his or her personal music player on Myspace, Blogger or a personal website by clicking on the “Share this player” link on each music player and embedding the code found there on those sites. When the player is embedded on a third party website like Myspace, we call it a “Widget”.
Friends and fans can download ringtones from the Widget. It’s important to use the Widget because each new, unique user who subscribes and is successfully billed the $3.99 monthly subscription fee, when downloading content from your player embedded on Myspace, Blogger, or any other website earns you a $1.00 referral fee. (see Talent Rank Revenue Share Rewards and New Subscriber Referral Fee Program Guidelines).
5. Why do you charge $3.99 to download ringtones and wallpapers?
The mobile carriers require payment to deliver content via mobile phones. A large portion of the $3.99 fee is a service charge which goes directly to the carriers to enable service. The other percentage of the subscription revenue is allocated to the talented artists on Urbmob by way of Talent Rank (see Talent Rank Revenue Share Rewards and New Subscriber Referral Fee Program Guidelines)
6. What mobile carriers are compatible with the service?
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Suncom, and Verizon Wireless.
7. Will it work with my phone?
The service works with most cell phones but is not compatible with all cell phones. You are not charged if we’re unable to deliver a ringtone or wallpaper to your phone during the order process.
8. What is Talent RankTM ?
Talent Rank is a system that tracks how popular users are on Urbmob so that they can be rewarded with cash and marketing resources. The more content unique users (different from the content owner) download from a profile, the higher rank the content owner’s rank. Talent Rank monitors activity and successful sharing of material daily. The artists, models and fans working the hardest to promote themselves end up at the top (see Talent Rank Revenue Share Rewards and New Subscriber Referral Fee Program Guidelines).
9. What is Urbmob RecordsTM ?
Urbmob Records is our in-house record label. Through Urbmob.com, we have the opportunity to evaluate and sign artists based on their success on Talent Rank. If you want to get signed to Urbmob Records, we encourage you to become a user by creating a profile.About Urbmob Records.
What is the difference between an Artist, Model, Fan or Other? What does it mean in terms of my approach on Urbmob?
Your profile type determines what Talent Rank category you will be put in (and how you qualify to earn cash and marketing rewards).
11. How do I upload more music to my profile?
Once you have created your own user profile, every time you log in you will be directed to a "Dashboard". The Dashboard allows you to manage your profile activity. Go to "My Music" and follow the steps to upload your music. To create ringtones, select the "Ringtone Mode" on the music player. Use the Widget to distribute your ringtones from Myspace, Blogger and other websites.
12. How do I upload more photos to my profile?
After logging in, go to the Dashboard and click "My Photos". Follow the steps to upload new photos.
13. What formats for music and photos can I use?
We would prefer 128 Kbps MP3 music files. We cannot accept files larger than 10 MB at this time. We would prefer high-resolution JPEG photo files. We can accept lower resolution photos but they will not appear to be as clear and well-defined as higher resolution versions.
14. How do I create a Custom Profile Banner and Custom Profile Background for my profile?
After logging in, go to your Dashboard and click "General". On the left side you will find options to upload Custom Profile Banners and Backgrounds. The "Custom Profile Banner" is the photo/graphic that appears directly above your personal information. The Banner is not size or shape limited, but rectangular graphics render better. The "Custom Profile Background" is size limited (1727 x 2222 pixels). Tiled images or graphics tend to render better as only about 1/10th of the image will appear (the background image fills in spaces on the on the left and right sides of the main profile information).
15. How do I share my music or photos with friends and other users? How can I create a “Widget”?
Once you have uploaded your original music and photos, and have created ringtones and wallpapers in your profile, you may share your material. Look for the "Share" icon next to a piece of music or photo (wallpaper). Once clicked on, you will have the ability to: 1) send the song or photo to a friend through Urbmob; 2) send the song or photo to a friend's email account; 3) link to the song or photo on your profile from another website by using the html code; 4) if it's a ringtone, you may also share to a friend's mobile phone.
You can also share your content using our “Widget”. On each profile, the music player (featuring that user’s original content) can be embedded on Myspace and other websites. Click the “Share this player” link on the music player. Embed the html code (all of it) on your Myspace, Blogger or personal webpage. Your friends and fans can now listen to your music and download your ringtones from Myspace!
16. Can I change my status from Fan to Artist or From Model to Other?
Yes. To change your status log into your profile. Click on the My Account tab and change the category on this page. Earnings will be adjusted accordingly. It is important to categorize yourself correctly as the user category you select determines where you get placed in Talent Rank.
ABOUT TALENT RANK AND THE NEW SUBSCRIBER REFERRAL FEE PROGRAM
17. How does Talent Rank work?
Talent Rank monitors and ranks Artists, Models and Fans daily based on the number of times content is downloaded from their user profile to mobile devices. Any time a Talent's content is downloaded to a mobile device, the Artist or Model receives one download credit on Talent Rank. Any time content gets downloaded to a mobile device from a Fan's user profile, the Fan gets one mobile download credit and the Artist or Model whose content is downloaded gets one mobile download credit. Based on these rankings, we will distribute 100% of the user cash pool to our winning users each day. The amount of cash earned depends on a user’s Talent Rank ranking. Each individual user account will be updated daily to reflect these daily cash awards. For more details, see Talent Rank Revenue Share Rewards and New Subscriber Referral Fee Program Guidelines
18. How does the New Subscriber Referral Fee Program work?
Artists have $1.00 placed in their Urbmob Account for each new, first-time, unique subscriber that subscribes to and is billed the $3.99 monthly subscription fee, when prompted to do so when downloading content from a Widget (music player) embedded on Myspace, Blogger, or any other website (see Talent Rank Revenue Share Rewards and New Subscriber Referral Fee Program Guidelines).
19. Where does the money for the Talent Rank pool come from?
Each day 25% of Urbmob revenue (from mobile subscriptions) gets added to a cash pool and distributed to the winners of Talent Rank (see Talent Rank Revenue Share Rewards and New Subscriber Referral Fee Program Guidelines).
20. How do you choose the #1 Artist each day?
Each day, activity on all user profiles on Urbmob are tracked. The Artist with the most downloads from his or her user profile wins the Artist Talent Rank competition for the day, and is rewarded cash from the cash user pool per the terms of our Talent Rank Revenue Share Rewards and New Subscriber Referral Fee Program Guidelines.
21. How do I get paid?
Your daily ranking in our Talent Rank, and any money you earn from our New Subscriber Referral Fee program determines how much money you earn each day (see Talent Rank Revenue Share Rewards and New Subscriber Referral Fee Program Guidelines). Urbmob keeps a running total of dollars earned, and once you reach $100, you have the option of "cashing out". To request payment, you must send an email to support@urbmob.com with "Payment Request" in the subject. To set payment up, you will need to fax (only for the first time) a W-9 tax form to 703-860-0078. Payments are made within a month after the request around the 15th. Unclaimed dollars in your user account are subject to forfeiture if you have no log-in activity on your account for three months or more.
22. What kind of promotion, marketing, and advertising support do you offer to Artists and Models?
Urbmob.com offers promotion, marketing and advertising on a case-by-case basis at its sole discretion.
23. If I get a marketing reward where could I be featured?
We have marketing relationships with major hip-hop blogs, Clear Channel/Radio One, Black Men/SSX Magazine, Smooth Magazine, King Magazine, XXL Magazine, The Source and BET. Our marketing rewards are coordinated through these relationships plus new partnerships that are established every day. Our PR function serves to help launch careers of our talented Artists and Models.
24. Can I transfer money or points to another account and/or user?
No, dollars earned are non-transferable.
ABOUT URBMOB RECORDS
25. Can I get signed to Urbmob Records?
Yes. Urbmob Records is actively looking for the next major urban star. As a full-service label that includes digital and traditional distribution, publishing, management and merchandise services, Urbmob Records has the infrastructure to launch top talent into stardom. Only artists who have active user profiles on Urbmob.com are eligible for recording contracts.
25. Can I get signed to a major record label?
Yes. We have relationships with independent and major labels. Urbmob.com is a great resource for major labels looking to sign new talent.
ABOUT YOUR UPLOADED FILES
26. All files intended for mobile content (i.e. ringtones and wallpapers/images) are subject to mobile carrier content standards. This means you should not load any of the following:
Any such material will be denied.
ABOUT YOUR COPYRIGHT
27. If I upload my music to Urbmob do I still own it?
Yes. You are only licensing it to us for use on the site (which allows us to digitally distribute your music, among other benefits to you). You can terminate our limited license to your content at any time by giving us notice of your intent to terminate it and by removing the related content from your user profile. Please allow us a short period of time to remove your content for administrative purposes. Terms of Use
28. Do I get paid when people download my ringtone or wallpaper?
Not exactly. We provide an opportunity for our users to earn cash and marketing rewards through our Talent Rank Revenue Share Rewards and New Subscriber Referral Fee Program Guidelines. While we don't pay you for individual downloads from your user profile, you can earn cash for consistent presence at the top of Talent Rank (based on the number of daily unique downloads from your user profile). You can also earn a $1.00 referral fee for each new, first-time, unique subscriber that is successfully billed a monthly $3.99 subscription fee when new, first-time, unique users download ringtones from a Widget embedded by an Artist on Myspace, Blogger or any other website.
You waive your right to any publishing royalties (including public performance royalties), or master recording royalties from or through us when you upload your content to Urbmob.com. You get an opportunity to earn cash and marketing rewards per the terms of our Talent Rank program instead.
See Terms of Use.
ABOUT YOUR PRIVACY
29. Do you guys share my information with 3rd parties?
We do not share your personal information with anyone without your consent.
See Privacy Policy
PREVENTING PIRACY
30. Can I upload my MP3's?
You may only upload music you created or have the right to publicly perform and distribute digitally.
You don't have the right to upload a track from 50 Cent, unless you are 50 Cent's label. Don't upload music unless you are an Artist with original compositions and/or you legally hold rights to the music. Don't upload photos unless you are a Model and own the rights to those photos.
Piracy will not be tolerated. We reserve the right to remove your profile if we have reason to believe content on our site is pirated or otherwise in violation of applicable law.
31. What happens when I upload illegal music?
We will take it down and may also file a report to the RIAA. They have a strict policy against illegal file sharers.
32. I am a DJ and have copyrighted music. If I remix it can I upload it to Urbmob?
We understand the art of the remix but please only upload tracks that you have underlying rights from the copyright owners. If in doubt, don't upload it.
33. Someone has uploaded my content illegally. How do I report it to you?
Please contact our security team at: support@urbmob.com.
We take piracy seriously.
34. Someone is uploading content they don't own. How do I tell you?
Please contact our security team at: support@urbmob.com.
TALK TO US: CUSTOMER SUPPORT
35. How do I report account abuse or send a message to the Urbmob staff?
Please send any problems or general inquiries to: support@urbmob.com.
36. How can I delete my profile?
Login and go to "Account," then click the "Delete Profile" link. A message will be sent to the support team who will then remove the profile. Please allow up to 48 business hours for the profile to be removed.
37. How can I stop you from billing my phone?
You can unsubscribe at anytime. Just text the word STOP to URBMOB (872662).
38. What happens if I can't download a ringtone or mobile wallpaper?
Please contact our support team at: support@urbmob.com
BUSINESS AND OTHER INQUIRIES
39. I want to suggest an awesome feature for Urbmob, how can I tell you guys?
Please send your idea to: marketing@urbmob.com.
40. I am an advertiser, record label, agent, producer or member of the press and would like to contact Urbmob. Who should I contact?
Please contact: advertising@urbmob.com.
For general business or partnership inquiries (including record labels) contact: bd@urbmob.com.
For press inquiries contact: bd@urbmob.com.