Terms of Service

Version 2.1 · Effective date: 8 October 2026 · Last updated: 8 October 2026 (aligned with the Motiva Groove Distribution Services Agreement, Version 3.1)

1. Introduction

Motiva LTD, a company registered in England & Wales under number 15672311, whose registered office is at 167–169 Great Portland Street, 5th Floor, London, W1W 5PF, United Kingdom, trading as Motiva Groove, provides digital mastering and music distribution services ("the Platform"). By using our Platform, you agree to these Terms.

2. Service Scope

Motiva Groove enables artists and labels to distribute music to global digital streaming platforms ("DSPs"). Motiva LTD may use affiliated or independent upstream distributors, DSPs, technical providers and other service providers as reasonably necessary to perform the services. Motiva LTD does not acquire ownership of any uploaded content.

The mastering tool is a separate, free feature that runs entirely inside your own browser. Your audio is processed locally on your device and is never uploaded to Motiva LTD or to any third party, is not stored on our servers, and is not used to train any model. The mastered file is written directly to your device by your browser.

3. Rights & Ownership

  • You retain 100% ownership of all master and publishing rights.
  • You grant Motiva LTD a non-exclusive, worldwide licence to distribute, monetize, and promote your recordings.
  • Motiva LTD may grant its upstream distribution partners, DSPs and technical providers only the rights reasonably necessary to deliver, host, stream, monetize, report on, fingerprint and check your recordings.
  • Distribution includes platform-native short-form, user-generated-content and content-identification features (for example TikTok, YouTube Shorts, YouTube Content ID and Reels), which you may opt out of. It does not include standalone sync licences for film, TV, advertising or games without your separate consent.
  • While a release is live on a DSP through Motiva Groove, the same master, release or ISRC must not be delivered to that DSP through another distributor.
  • You may request takedown of any release with 30 days' written notice.

4. Payments & Revenue

  • Revenue Split: 80% to Artist / 20% to Motiva LTD of Net Receipts — the amounts Motiva LTD actually receives for your content, after deductions already made by DSPs, upstream distributors and payment systems, required taxes, and refunds, chargebacks or reversals. No deduction is made twice.
  • Reporting & Payouts: earnings statements are made available on a monthly cycle, based on the DSP, store and Service Partner reports received and processed; data that arrives after a statement has been prepared appears in a later statement. Payouts are made within 10 business days after the corresponding funds are received.
  • Minimum payout: €1 (PayPal) / €100 (Bank).
  • Payments require completed KYC verification and valid payout details.
  • Motiva LTD may delay or withhold payment of amounts affected by suspected fraud, a rights dispute or a pending reversal. Any amount withheld is proportionate to the identified risk, and unrelated earnings are not withheld.

5. KYC, Verification Fee & Access Policy

a) Identity Verification

All users must complete Stripe Identity verification before any music distribution or payout can occur.

Important: KYC verification must be completed on a PC or laptop computer. Mobile devices may not be compatible with the Stripe Identity verification system.

b) Verification Fee

A one-time identity verification fee is processed securely through Stripe. The exact amount is shown at checkout before you pay. This covers Stripe's verification costs and is non-refundable once the verification has been carried out — see your 14-day cancellation right in (i) below. Motiva LTD does not profit from this fee.

c) Completion Requirement

Verification is valid only when both steps are completed:

  1. Stripe Identity verification, and
  2. Digital signing of the Motiva Groove Distribution Agreement.

If either step is incomplete or fails, verification is invalid. The user must restart the process and repay the verification fee. Be careful to complete all steps properly to avoid additional charges.

d) No Automatic Access Guarantee

Paying the verification fee does not guarantee account approval or access to distribute. Motiva LTD reviews all profiles to maintain high creative, ethical, and compliance standards. Accounts that fail to meet these standards may be declined without refund.

e) Proof of Ownership

Users must be able to show ownership, control or a valid licence for all uploaded music. Upon request, you must provide:

  • original production files or proof of master rights,
  • signed permissions from collaborators or producers,
  • or label distribution rights documentation.

Failure to provide proof may result in account suspension and removal of the affected release.

f) Fraudulent or Non-Genuine Activity

Fraud, fake streams, AI-generated content without disclosure, false identity, or copyright infringement are strictly forbidden. Violations lead to immediate account removal and forfeiture of royalties earned through the fraudulent or infringing activity. Motiva LTD may share evidence with DSPs, Stripe, and legal authorities.

g) Misconduct & Behaviour

Abusive, threatening, or dishonest behaviour toward Motiva Groove staff, partners, or other artists is a material breach of the Distribution Agreement and may result in:

  • termination of the account,
  • refusal of further submissions,
  • restriction or suspension of the payment methods associated with your Motiva Groove account,
  • and suspension of upload access.

Earnings may be locked pending resolution, and any forfeiture is limited to royalties earned through the misconduct.

h) Non-Refund Summary

  • The Stripe verification fee is non-refundable once the verification has been carried out, subject to your cancellation right in (i) below.
  • Paying the fee does not guarantee approval.
  • Incomplete KYC or unsigned contract = invalid → must repay fee.
  • Fraud or misconduct = loss of account and forfeiture of royalties earned through that conduct.

i) Right to Cancel (14 Days)

If you are a consumer in the United Kingdom or the European Union, you have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days of entering into it, without giving any reason.

  • By starting identity verification, you expressly request that we begin the service immediately, and you acknowledge that you lose the right to cancel the verification once it has been fully performed.
  • If you have paid the fee but verification has not yet been carried out, you may cancel within 14 days and the fee will be refunded in full.
  • The 14-day right applies to the verification fee only. It does not require us to reverse a release that has already been delivered to the DSPs; takedowns are handled under section 7.
  • To cancel, email info@motivagroove.com with your account email. A clear statement that you wish to cancel is enough.

Nothing in these Terms removes or limits your statutory rights as a consumer.

6. Liability & Indemnity

You are responsible for the content you upload. Motiva LTD is not liable for losses caused by your own actions, your content, or third-party claims about your content. Liability for distribution matters, including the cap and how documented costs caused by a breach may be recovered, is set out in the Distribution Agreement.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or any other liability that cannot be limited by law, and nothing affects your statutory rights as a consumer.

Obligations under these Terms are obligations of Motiva LTD only. To the fullest extent permitted by law, you have no contractual recourse against any director, officer, employee, shareholder, contractor or representative of Motiva LTD in their personal capacity for acts done on behalf of Motiva LTD. This does not exclude any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, including a person's own fraud.

7. Term & Termination

  • Agreement term: 12 months from signup, auto-renewed annually.
  • You may terminate anytime with 30 days' notice.
  • Motiva LTD may terminate immediately for fraud, legal breaches, or non-compliance.

8. Data Protection

All personal data, including KYC information, is handled under UK GDPR standards. ID documents are processed directly by Stripe; Motiva LTD only retains verification results.

9. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England & Wales.

If you are acting as a consumer, nothing in these Terms deprives you of mandatory protections under the law of the country where you habitually live, or of any mandatory right to bring proceedings before another competent court.

Company: Motiva LTD, registered in England & Wales (No. 15672311).

Contact: info@motivagroove.com

10. Which Document Applies

  • Distribution Agreement (Artist, or Label / Business): rights, releases, earnings, DSP distribution, claims and payouts.
  • Release Declaration: the confirmations you give for each release.
  • These Terms: use of the website, your account and general platform features.
  • Privacy Notice: how personal data is processed.

If these Terms and your signed Distribution Agreement conflict on a distribution matter, the Distribution Agreement prevails, subject to mandatory law. Each version of these Terms has a version number and effective date, and earlier versions are retained.

Motiva Groove® is a trade division of Motiva LTD, a company registered in England & Wales (No. 15672311).

Registered office: 167–169 Great Portland Street, 5th Floor, London, W1W 5PF, United Kingdom