As a producer on BeatStars, I believe it’s crucial to have the ability to opt out of the Voloco integration for free downloads. While I understand that the feature may provide networking opportunities, I want to emphasize why this should remain optional and why some of us may not see Voloco as a valuable addition to our workflow or brand strategy.

The Current Issue:

The only way to prevent our beats from being imported into Voloco is by disabling free downloads altogether. This solution unfairly penalizes our audience, as many producers use free downloads to build relationships and allow artists to explore their beats without financial barriers.

Forcing us to choose between offering free downloads and having our beats available on a third-party app we didn’t necessarily agree to collaborate with limits our ability to tailor our business model and marketing strategies.

Why Opt-Out Matters:

Control Over Distribution: Producers should have complete autonomy over where their beats are available. Forcing integration with third-party platforms like Voloco takes away our ability to decide how and where our work is shared.

Branding and Exclusivity: Some producers carefully curate their presence and prefer to avoid platforms like Voloco due to branding strategies or concerns about how their work is perceived or used.

Revenue and Rights Concerns: By enabling free imports to Voloco, our beats are made more accessible without necessarily driving meaningful conversions. This could impact sales and diminish the value of paid licenses for our music.

Not All Producers Benefit: While networking opportunities are valuable, not all producers prioritize email collection or use cases like Voloco’s recording feature. This should not be assumed as a one-size-fits-all solution for every artist on BeatStars.

Respect for Producer Preferences: Giving producers the freedom to opt out shows respect for the diverse needs and strategies within the BeatStars community. Not every feature works for everyone, and it’s essential to provide flexibility.

The Proposed Solution:

Add an option to FULLY disable Voloco integration for individual accounts and / or individual beats while being able to keep free downloads enabled. This feature could be managed directly through account settings, giving producers control without affecting other platform functionalities. And if it was easy to disable Stripe I think it would be easier to disable Voloco for certain accounts.

Why This Benefits Us:

By respecting producer autonomy, BeatStars reinforces trust and satisfaction within its community. A simple opt-out option would demonstrate that BeatStars values producer feedback and prioritizes individual needs.

Thank you for considering this request. I truly believe that allowing producers to opt out of Voloco integration would make BeatStars an even more inclusive and flexible platform for creators.