Terms of service

Last updated: June 6, 2026

Welcome to HotlineBlack.

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) apply to your access to and use of our website, products, services, digital music promotion campaigns, customer accounts, communications, and any related services provided by HotlineBlack (“HotlineBlack,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

By using our website, creating an account, submitting campaign information, or purchasing a service from us, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our website or purchase our services.

Nothing in these Terms limits any mandatory legal rights you may have under applicable consumer protection laws.

1. About HotlineBlack

HotlineBlack provides digital music promotion and outreach services for artists, labels, and music-related customers.

Our services may include outreach to music curators, Spotify playlist curators, radio contacts, blogs, labels, media outlets, and other music industry contacts.

You can contact us at:

HotlineBlack
Email: support@hotlineblack.com
KvK (Chamber of Commerce) number: 99577437
VAT identification number / BTW-ID: NL005396057B65
Established in: Dordrecht, The Netherlands

If you contact us about an order, campaign, refund, or complaint, please include your order number and the email address used at checkout.

2. Definitions

In these Terms:

“Campaign” means a music promotion service ordered through HotlineBlack.

“Customer,” “you,” or “your” means the person, artist, label, company, or representative purchasing or using our services.

“Consumer” means a natural person acting for purposes outside their trade, business, craft, or profession.

“Business Customer” means a person or entity purchasing our services for business, professional, artist, label, management, or commercial purposes.

“Submitted Materials” means the music, links, artist names, artwork, videos, images, biographies, social links, campaign details, audio files, and other materials submitted to HotlineBlack.

“Third-party contacts” means curators, playlist owners, blogs, radio contacts, labels, media outlets, music platforms, social platforms, distributors, and other independent parties outside HotlineBlack.

3. Our Services

HotlineBlack provides promotional outreach services. Depending on the package purchased, this may include activities such as:

Reviewing submitted artist information and music links
Reviewing campaign details
Preparing campaign materials
Pitching music to relevant curators, playlists, blogs, radio contacts, labels, or other industry contacts
Communicating with third-party contacts
Providing campaign-related updates where applicable
Providing live campaign tracking or campaign status updates where available
Providing support related to the campaign
Our services are digital and service-based. We do not sell physical products.

4. You Are Paying for Outreach, Not Guaranteed Results

By purchasing from HotlineBlack, you understand and agree that you are paying for promotional outreach work and campaign services.

HotlineBlack does not guarantee specific results, including but not limited to:

Spotify playlist placements
A specific number of streams
A specific number of listeners, saves, followers, or fans
Radio airplay
Blog features
Label responses or label deals
Royalties, revenue, income, or earnings
Viral growth or social media results
Any specific ranking, chart placement, or platform performance
Any specific social media engagement, views, shares, comments, or followers

Any numbers, examples, projections, estimated streams, estimated reach, expected timelines, or campaign expectations shown on our website, advertisements, emails, messages, pricing pages, or other materials are estimates only and are not guarantees.

Results depend on many factors outside of our control, including song quality, genre fit, curator preferences, timing, audience response, platform rules, third-party decisions, market conditions, and availability of suitable opportunities.

5. No Artificial Streaming, Bots, or Fake Engagement

HotlineBlack does not sell fake streams, bots, artificial engagement, fake followers, fake saves, fake playlist activity, or fake social activity.

We do not promise or guarantee paid playlist placement, artificial streaming, or manipulation of streaming platforms.

You agree not to use our services to request, encourage, or support any activity that violates the rules of Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Meta, radio platforms, blogs, distributors, labels, or any other third-party platform.

We may refuse, cancel, suspend, or stop a campaign if we believe the request, content, artist, track, or campaign may involve fraud, artificial streaming, fake engagement, unlawful activity, platform abuse, or violation of third-party rules.

6. No Affiliation With Third-Party Platforms

HotlineBlack is an independent music promotion service.

HotlineBlack is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, approved by, or officially connected to Spotify, TikTok, Apple Music, YouTube, Instagram, Meta, SoundCloud, DistroKid, TuneCore, UnitedMasters, radio platforms, playlist platforms, labels, or any other third-party platform unless expressly stated in writing.

All third-party names, trademarks, logos, and platform names belong to their respective owners.

7. Artist and Customer Responsibilities

When you purchase a service from HotlineBlack, you agree that:

You have the legal right to submit and promote the music, artist name, images, artwork, videos, links, and other materials you provide to us.
Your submitted music and materials do not infringe any copyright, trademark, publicity right, privacy right, or other third-party right.
The information you provide to us is accurate, complete, and not misleading.
Your track links, artist profiles, and promotional materials are public, active, and accessible.
You will not remove, privatize, delete, or restrict access to submitted content during the campaign period.
You are responsible for your own music rights, distribution, royalties, publishing, metadata, and platform accounts.
You will comply with all applicable laws and third-party platform rules.
You will not submit content that is unlawful, fraudulent, misleading, infringing, abusive, or intended to manipulate platforms.

If you provide incorrect, incomplete, private, unavailable, or broken links, this may delay or prevent proper campaign delivery.

8. Authority to Purchase

By placing an order, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old or that you have permission from a parent or legal guardian to purchase our services.

If you purchase on behalf of an artist, label, company, manager, client, or third party, you confirm that you have the authority to do so and to provide the Submitted Materials to HotlineBlack.

9. Permission to Use Submitted Materials

By submitting music, links, images, videos, artist names, biographies, artwork, logos, or other materials to HotlineBlack, you grant us a limited, non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free permission to use those materials for the purpose of providing our services.

This may include using your Submitted Materials to:

Review your campaign
Prepare campaign pitches
Contact curators, blogs, radio contacts, labels, or other industry contacts
Create promotional campaign materials
Communicate about your campaign
Provide reporting or updates
Promote or reference the campaign, where appropriate

You remain the owner of your music and Submitted Materials. We do not claim ownership of your songs, recordings, artwork, artist name, or other submitted intellectual property.

10. Orders and Payments

All prices are listed on our website or checkout page at the time of purchase.

Payment is due at the time of order unless otherwise stated. By placing an order, you agree to pay the full amount shown at checkout, including any applicable taxes, fees, or charges.

We reserve the right to refuse or cancel any order at our discretion, including orders that appear fraudulent, abusive, misleading, unlawful, high-risk, incomplete, or in violation of these Terms.

If an order is refused or cancelled before service work begins, we may issue a refund where appropriate.

11. Campaign Information and Order Accuracy

You are responsible for submitting complete and accurate campaign information.

This may include, depending on the campaign:

Artist name
Email address
Spotify track link or other music link
Release status
Audio file or unreleased track information
Genre, mood, or campaign notes
Social links
Additional information requested by HotlineBlack

If required information is missing, inaccurate, unavailable, private, or broken, your campaign may be delayed until we receive usable information.

HotlineBlack is not responsible for delays caused by incomplete or incorrect customer submissions.

12. Campaign Start and Service Delivery

HotlineBlack may begin work after your order is completed and after we receive the required campaign information from you.

A campaign may be considered started once HotlineBlack has taken one or more campaign-related actions, including but not limited to:

Reviewing submitted campaign information
Reviewing the submitted track, link, or audio file
Preparing campaign materials
Updating the campaign status
Contacting, preparing outreach to, or pitching to curators, playlist contacts, blogs, radio contacts, labels, or other industry contacts
Providing customer support related to the campaign
Sending campaign-related updates

Because our service involves outreach and third-party review, campaign delivery does not require a guaranteed placement, stream count, response, feature, acceptance, or result from any third party.

Campaign updates, order emails, live tracking information, screenshots, outreach records, internal campaign activity, and support communication may be used as evidence that the service has started, progressed, or been provided.

13. Campaign Timelines

Campaign timelines are estimates only.

Unless otherwise stated, campaigns may take approximately 1–3 weeks to fully process, depending on the package, submitted information, third-party response times, platform availability, curator availability, and campaign activity.

Delays may occur due to:

Incomplete or incorrect campaign information
Unavailable, private, or broken links
Payment issues
High-risk or fraud review
Third-party response times
Platform delays or outages
Customer communication delays
Force majeure events
Other circumstances outside of our control

Because curators, blogs, radio contacts, labels, and other third parties are independent, we cannot control whether they respond, accept, reject, feature, review, playlist, or promote your music.

14. Live Tracking and Campaign Updates

Where available, HotlineBlack may provide live tracking, campaign status updates, order updates, emails, or other campaign-related information.

Live tracking and status updates are provided for transparency and customer communication. They are not a guarantee of specific results, placements, streams, or third-party decisions.

Platform analytics, including Spotify for Artists and other reporting tools, may update with a delay. A live campaign does not always mean that streams, placements, or analytics will appear instantly.

15. Consumer Right of Withdrawal

If you are a Consumer located in the European Union or another jurisdiction with similar consumer rights, you may have a legal right to withdraw from a distance contract within 14 days, unless an exception applies under applicable law.

For service contracts, the withdrawal period generally starts from the day the contract is concluded.

Because HotlineBlack provides digital, service-based music promotion services, you may request that we begin providing the service before the 14-day withdrawal period has expired.

If you expressly request that we begin providing the service during the withdrawal period, you acknowledge that:

We may begin campaign work before the 14-day withdrawal period ends.
If you later exercise a valid right of withdrawal before the service is fully performed, you may be required to pay for the proportion of the service already provided, where permitted by law.
If the service has been fully performed with your prior express request and acknowledgement, your right of withdrawal may be lost where permitted by applicable law.
Nothing in these Terms limits any mandatory withdrawal rights that cannot legally be excluded.

To request cancellation, withdrawal, or a refund, contact us at support@hotlineblack.com.

16. Refunds and Cancellations

HotlineBlack offers a 30-day money-back guarantee as described in our Refund Policy.

Refund requests must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the purchase date by contacting:

support@hotlineblack.com

Refund requests submitted more than 30 calendar days after the purchase date are not eligible for a refund, except where required by applicable law.

If a refund is approved, we may stop, pause, or cancel any active or remaining promotional work connected to the refunded order.

Refunds are generally returned to the original payment method, unless another method is required or permitted by the payment provider or applicable law.

Refund processing times may depend on your bank, card issuer, payment provider, or payment method.

For full details, please review our Refund Policy.

17. Chargebacks, Payment Disputes, and Payment Reversals

If you have a concern about your campaign, payment, order, or refund, please contact us first at support@hotlineblack.com so we can review and respond to your request.

If a payment dispute, chargeback, payment reversal, PayPal dispute, cardholder claim, or similar payment issue is opened, HotlineBlack may pause, suspend, or stop the related campaign while the payment issue is reviewed.

We may provide evidence to the payment processor, card network, bank, PayPal, Shopify, or other relevant provider, including but not limited to:

Order details
Customer information
Payment and checkout records
Campaign submission details
Customer communication
Live chat records
Campaign status updates
Proof that campaign work started
Proof that campaign work was provided
Refund policy and Terms of Service
Website screenshots or policy screenshots
Other relevant records

Opening a payment dispute does not automatically mean that the service was not provided or that a refund is owed. Disputes will be handled according to the rules of the relevant payment provider, card network, bank, and applicable law.

18. Third-Party Platforms and Contacts

HotlineBlack may provide outreach to third-party curators, playlists, blogs, radio contacts, labels, media outlets, platforms, or other industry contacts.

These third parties are independent from HotlineBlack. We do not control their decisions, actions, response times, editorial choices, playlists, platforms, policies, or results.

HotlineBlack is not responsible for:

A third party rejecting or ignoring a submission
A playlist removing a track
A curator choosing not to respond
A blog, radio station, or label declining coverage
A platform changing its rules, algorithm, or policies
A distributor, streaming service, or platform taking action against your music or account
Any third-party claim, removal, takedown, suspension, penalty, or dispute
Delayed or missing analytics from Spotify for Artists or any other platform

You are responsible for complying with the terms and policies of all third-party platforms where your music is distributed or promoted.

19. Promotional Disclosures

Where required by law or platform rules, paid promotions, sponsored content, endorsements, advertisements, or material connections must be properly disclosed.

HotlineBlack does not authorize unlawful undisclosed advertising, unlawful pay-for-play activity, or misleading promotional practices.

You agree to comply with all disclosure rules that apply to your music, campaign, brand, or promotional activity.

20. Prohibited Uses

You agree not to use HotlineBlack or our services for any unlawful, abusive, fraudulent, misleading, or harmful purpose.

You may not submit or promote content that:

Infringes another person’s copyright, trademark, privacy rights, publicity rights, or other legal rights
Contains unlawful, threatening, harassing, defamatory, hateful, or abusive material
Promotes fraud, scams, illegal activity, or platform manipulation
Uses bots, fake streams, artificial engagement, or deceptive promotion
Contains false or misleading artist information
Violates the rules of any streaming platform, distributor, social media platform, radio platform, blog, label, or other third party
Contains malware, malicious links, phishing content, or harmful code
Attempts to impersonate another artist, label, company, or person

We may refuse, suspend, or cancel service if we believe your order or content violates these Terms.

21. Intellectual Property

All content on the HotlineBlack website, including text, graphics, branding, design, logos, service descriptions, and website materials, belongs to HotlineBlack or our licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

You may not copy, reproduce, modify, distribute, sell, or exploit our website content or branding without our written permission.

22. Customer Accounts

You may be able to create or activate a customer account.

You are responsible for keeping your account login details secure. You agree not to share your account access with unauthorized persons.

We may suspend or restrict account access if we believe the account is being used fraudulently, unlawfully, abusively, or in violation of these Terms.

Customer accounts may be used to view order information, campaign details, customer information, store credit, gift card information, or other available account features.

23. Customer Communications

By placing an order, creating an account, submitting a form, or contacting us, you agree that we may contact you by email regarding your order, campaign, support request, account, payment, refund, dispute, or related service matters.

We may also send marketing communications where permitted by law. You may unsubscribe from marketing emails where an unsubscribe option is provided.

You are responsible for providing a valid email address and checking your email for campaign-related updates.

24. Testimonials, Case Studies, and Examples

Any testimonials, case studies, examples, reviews, screenshots, campaign examples, or promotional results shown by HotlineBlack are examples only.

They do not guarantee that you will receive the same or similar results.

We may use anonymized or non-confidential campaign examples for promotional or educational purposes, unless prohibited by applicable law or agreed otherwise in writing.

25. Reviews and User Feedback

If you submit reviews, testimonials, feedback, comments, messages, or public statements about HotlineBlack, you grant us permission to use, display, reproduce, or reference that feedback for marketing, trust-building, customer support, or service improvement purposes, where permitted by law.

We will not knowingly publish private personal information without permission.

Reviews and testimonials must be truthful and not misleading.

26. Gift Cards, Store Credit, and Discounts

HotlineBlack may offer gift cards, store credit, discount codes, or promotional offers.

Gift cards, store credit, and discount codes may be subject to additional conditions shown at checkout, in the relevant email, or on the promotion page.

Discount codes must be applied at checkout before payment is completed. Unless required by law or stated otherwise, discounts cannot always be applied retroactively after purchase.

Store credit and gift cards may only be used according to the conditions that apply to them and may not be redeemable for cash unless required by law.

We may refuse or cancel discount abuse, fraudulent use, duplicate use, or misuse of gift cards, store credit, or promotional offers.

27. Service Changes

We may update, modify, pause, discontinue, or change our services, packages, pricing, website, features, or campaign processes at any time.

Any changes will not affect orders already placed unless the change is required for legal, safety, platform compliance, fraud prevention, payment risk, or technical reasons.

28. Complaints Procedure

If you have a complaint about HotlineBlack, your order, campaign, support experience, refund, or service, please contact us at:

support@hotlineblack.com

Please include:

Your name
Order number
Email address used at checkout
A clear description of the issue
Any relevant screenshots, links, or evidence

We aim to respond to complaints within 2 business days.

We will try to resolve complaints fairly and professionally. If a complaint requires additional investigation, response times may vary depending on the issue, third-party information, payment provider involvement, or platform-related circumstances.

29. Dispute Resolution

If a dispute arises, you agree to first contact HotlineBlack so we can try to resolve the matter informally.

If we cannot resolve the dispute informally, the dispute will be handled according to the governing law and jurisdiction section of these Terms, unless mandatory consumer protection law gives you the right to use another court, authority, or dispute resolution body.

The European Online Dispute Resolution platform has been discontinued. Where applicable, consumers may still be able to seek assistance from relevant consumer advice services, dispute resolution bodies, or competent authorities in their country.

HotlineBlack does not commit to participate in alternative dispute resolution unless required by applicable law or agreed by us in writing.

30. Privacy and Data Protection

Our collection and use of personal data is described in our Privacy Policy.

By using our website, submitting campaign information, creating an account, or purchasing services, you acknowledge that we may process personal data necessary to provide our services, handle payments, communicate with you, prevent fraud, comply with legal obligations, and manage customer support.

Please review our Privacy Policy for more information.

31. Disclaimer

HotlineBlack provides services on an “as available” and “as is” basis.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we make no guarantees, warranties, or representations regarding specific campaign results, revenue, exposure, placements, streams, radio play, label responses, playlist adds, audience growth, or platform performance.

We do not guarantee that our website, customer account pages, campaign tracking, emails, or services will always be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or available.

32. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, HotlineBlack will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages, including loss of profits, loss of revenue, loss of data, loss of opportunities, loss of goodwill, platform penalties, or third-party actions.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, our total liability for any claim related to an order or service will not exceed the amount you paid to HotlineBlack for the specific service giving rise to the claim.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations of liability, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you.

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability where it would be unlawful to do so.

33. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless HotlineBlack from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, arising from:

Your use of our services
Your submitted music, content, links, images, artwork, or materials
Your violation of these Terms
Your violation of any law or third-party right
Any copyright, trademark, royalty, publishing, licensing, or ownership dispute involving your music or materials
Any false, inaccurate, or misleading information you provide to us
Any claim that you did not have authority to submit or promote the music or materials provided to us

34. Force Majeure

HotlineBlack will not be responsible for delays or failure to perform caused by events outside our reasonable control, including technical issues, platform outages, payment processor issues, internet failures, natural disasters, government actions, legal restrictions, labor disputes, war, cyberattacks, pandemics, third-party service failures, or other events beyond our control.

35. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The updated version will be posted on our website with a new “Last updated” date.

Your continued use of our website or services after changes are posted means you accept the updated Terms.

If required by law, we may notify you of significant changes.

36. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Netherlands, except where mandatory consumer protection laws require otherwise.

Any disputes will be handled in the courts or dispute resolution forum of the Netherlands, unless applicable law gives you the right to bring a claim elsewhere.

37. Legal Rights

Nothing in these Terms limits any rights you may have under applicable consumer protection laws that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

If any part of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the remaining sections will continue to apply.

38. Contact Us

For questions about these Terms or our services, please contact:

Country/region