FAQ
Questions people ask before they start.
Plain answers about Sessions, collaboration, rights, and money.
Basics
- What is a Session?
- A Session is one song's workspace on In Progress — the official cut, every version people submit, and the history of how the record was made. One song, one Session.
- How is this different from sending stems in a folder?
- Every take and version lives in the Session where everyone can hear it against the song. You accept what belongs in the official cut; nothing overwrites your original until you say so. Credit follows the work.
- Who controls the song?
- The artist who opened the Session. Collaborators propose versions; the artist accepts or passes. When the record is marked final, that released cut is frozen with credits intact.
- What is a final release?
- Marking a Session final closes the creative chapter: the official cut at that moment becomes the released record. You can sell it on In Progress, keep streaming previews public, or distribute elsewhere — your choice.
- Can I hear songs before they are finished?
- Yes. Public Sessions are meant to be listened to while they are still in progress. Browse Explore or Sessions to press play on work that is still being made.
- Do I need a DAW?
- No. Start with whatever you have — a rough take, a voice memo, or a project file — and the Session keeps it. When you are ready to work in Ableton, Logic, or another DAW, In Progress Bridge helps you move stems in and out without losing the Session history.
- Is In Progress free?
- Browsing and collaborating on public Sessions is free. Artists can sell final releases directly on the platform; a small fee applies to track sales. Optional Pro features exist for creators who want more.
Rights and copyright
- What is the rights checkbox when I upload audio?
- Every audio upload asks you to confirm you have the rights to use that audio in the Session. The acknowledgement is stored on the server when your file uploads — it's how we keep the platform honest about whose music is whose.
- Why did I see “possible match found” after uploading?
- Uploads are checked in the background against a music recognition service. If your file matches a commercially released recording, you'll see a banner asking you to confirm your rights. The check never blocks your upload. Choose This is my music or I have permission to use it if the rights are yours, or I uploaded the wrong file if it was a mistake.
- Why did my Session suddenly become private?
- If a public Session's audio matches a commercial recording, the Session is automatically switched to private until you confirm your rights. After you confirm, you can make it public again from Session settings.
- Why can't I sell my track yet?
- If any audio in your Session ever matched a commercially released recording, selling requires a one-time manual review. The publish flow shows a sale approval panel where you submit a short message and licensing documents; once approved, the sale can go live. Sessions without match history don't go through this step.
- What happens when content is reported?
- Every report opens a moderation case reviewed by a human — nothing is auto-deleted. Depending on the outcome, content can stay active, be limited from public discovery, or be removed. Details in the Community Guidelines; formal copyright notices go through the Copyright & DMCA page.
Buying, selling, and Pro
- What do I get when I buy a track?
- Full streaming and download access to the released record, from the Session page and your Library. Once purchased, the Session shows You own this. Sale-only releases play a timed preview until you buy.
- What are the fees when I sell?
- Track sales carry a 10% platform fee; fan contributions carry a 5% fee. The rest is split according to the master split every participant accepted. Payouts go through Stripe, so sellers complete a one-time Stripe onboarding first.
- What is In Progress Pro?
- A $5/month subscription for creators who need more room: unlimited private Sessions (free accounts get 3), 50 GB of storage (up from 5 GB), a Pro badge, and featured discovery eligibility. See /pro. Making music here stays free.