Hey there, and welcome to Volume! Volume is a streaming platform where artists and performers of all kinds can showcase their talent, make connections, interact with fans, and be heard! Volume’s professional quality streams make it simple and convenient for artists of all levels to create top notch performances for fans and new audiences. Signing up for an account is simple and free (and it's the first step to getting started)!
Overview
In this guide, we'll go over the basics of setting up your account and getting your stream up and running. For the purposes of this guide, we'll try to keep things as simple and straightforward as possible, but we've included links to other articles that will have more details on the topics covered here. Let's get started!
What equipment do I need in order to broadcast my performance on Volume?
Our goal is to make broadcasting as easy as possible while maintaining our professional quality audio and video capabilities. As long as you have a camera, microphone (built into a laptop is fine) and Internet fast enough to stream Netflix or Youtube, you will likely be able to perform or broadcast on Volume.com. Of course, the better the camera, the better your broadcast will look!
Recommended Computer Specs and Audio Equipment:
CPU: Intel Core i7 CPU
Ram: 16 gb +
DirectX 10 capable graphics card
Audio Interface
Microphone
Upload speed: 20 mbps +
Minimum Computer Specs and Audio Equipment:
CPU: Intel Core i5 CPU
Ram: 8 gb
Integrated or discrete graphics card compatible with DirectX10
Audio Interface/Built-in microphone
Upload speed: 6 mbps +
How will Volume help artists grow?
One of our main missions is to help artists reach new fans. We host ‘battle of the bands’ competitions and advertise the competitors on our site. We’ll be checking in to share our most popular live performances in each genre, boosting your engagement and streaming numbers. Artists will also be streaming live from venues signed up on Volume.com, which will allow you to perform in new places to new people.
Can I perform cover songs?
As a service to our artists, Volume has entered into license agreements with the three biggest performing rights organizations (“PROs”), ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. This means that you may cover songs that are included in the available catalog of music represented by one or more of these three PROs.
Each of the PROs provides an online searchable list of the song compositions that are included in their performance rights licenses. We’ve compiled the following instructions on how to access and search each catalog. Please let us know if you encounter any trouble with following these instructions, and we’ll be pleased to provide further assistance.
How to search ASCAP’s catalog:
From ASCAP’s home page, click on the “Repertory” link on the left-hand side to access ASCAP’s catalog. You will be directed to a search page where you can search through the following filters: Title, Publisher, Writer, Performer, ASCAP Work ID, and ISWC. After you have entered the necessary search criteria, click on the “SEARCH” button to view the available songs found from your criteria. You can click on any of your search results to view more detailed information on the song/artist/publisher. If you wish to download the full repertory, so that you can review it offline at your leisure, you can click on the “Download ASCAP Repertory” link at the bottom of the search page, and then enter your name, email address, and a reason as to why you would like to download the repertory.
How to search BMI’s catalog:
On BMI’s home page, you can access the “BMI Songview search” function by clicking in the search box in the upper right-hand corner. You will be directed to the search page where you can search through the following filters: Title, Publisher, Writer/Composer, Performer, BMI Work ID, and ISWC. Once you have entered the necessary search criteria, change the “Search in…” option to run your search through “BMI Repertoire” (instead of through “Songview”). Then click on the “Search” button to view the available songs found from your criteria. You can click on any of your search results to view more detailed information on the song/artist/publisher.
How to search SESAC’s catalog:
On SESAC’s home page, click on the “‘Repertory’” link at the top to access SESAC’s catalog. Review SESAC’s terms of use for their catalog search, and if acceptable, click the “CONTINUE” button. You will be directed to the search page where you can search through the following filters: Song, Publisher, Writer, Artist, and SESAC Work Number. You are also given the option to group the results of your search using the same filters. After you have entered the necessary search criteria and chosen a group filter, click on the “SEARCH REPERTORY” button to view the available songs found from your criteria. You can click on any of your search results to view more detailed information on the song/artist/publisher. You can also download the full repertory, so you can review it offline at your leisure, by clicking the “Download Full Repertory” link in the upper right-hand corner.
Can someone take my music?
No—you are the copyright holder to your music, and Volume.com will never claim an ownership interest in your music or Volume.com performances. If someone makes a recording of your music or live show on Volume.com without your permission, then you — as the copyright owner — are entitled to pursue a legal claim against that person. We will provide you with whatever assistance we can to stop the unauthorized use of your work, including our completely free Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) notice service that can be used to send takedown demands for any content illegally captured from your Volume.com shows. Just let us know where you find an unauthorized copy of any content that you published through Volume.com, and we will generate and send DMCA notices to websites, web hosts, search engines, and anyone else we can identify who is participating in the infringement of your copyrights.
Will Volume be using my streams as promotional content?
Volume.com never claims an ownership interest in your performances, which are entirely yours. If Volume.com wants to use your stream as promotional content, we’ll obtain your permission before doing so.
Where is Volume advertising?
Much like an emerging artist, Volume is spreading by going venue-to-venue and city-to-city on a grassroots basis. Our goal is to connect with local music scenes (venues, bars, and artists) all across the U.S. and help up-and-coming artists reach new fans. Make sure that before you perform on Volume.com, you also share the event details on your social media pages!
How do venues work with Volume and host performances?
Venue owners and operators- we want to work with you to supplement your current business! You can live stream your current shows, no matter how big or how small, in order to spread the word about your spot and your favorite local acts. Get in touch by sending a message to support@volume.com!