Lightnin’ Stik Productions Presents:

A White Paper for Local Bands, Global Fans, Real Royalties

Empowering Bands to Promote Each Other and Share in the Success of a National Rock Scene

Initial Date: June 22, 2025
Modified: August 6, 2025
Contact: Rick Williams – label@lightninstik.com

This Opportunity IS Epic

This is a peer-powered royalty-sharing network that puts independent bands at the center of a growing fan economy for songwriters and themselves by creating a cooperative platform where local cover bands perform and promote original songs from songwriters, in exchange for a share of performance royalties and co-ownership incentives. The goal is to collectively reach 500,000 verified downloads per song or LP for RIAA Gold Certification and replace the current music industry with those who matter – the fans, the bands, the songwriters.

📍 Executive Summary

Lightnin’ Stik Productions introduces a revolutionary music collaboration platform that empowers local bands and independent songwriters to grow together – and get paid doing it.

Our Shared Catalog Model lets local bands perform songs by other emerging artists, promote them to their live audiences using unique download codes, and earn real publishing royalties. Simultaneously, songwriters gain exposure and royalties when their songs are performed and promoted by bands across the country – without ever leaving their hometown.

This is the grassroots, fan-powered alternative to the broken traditional music industry. Fans drive discovery. Bands drive downloads. Songwriters and performers both get paid. No subscriptions. No industry gatekeepers. Just community-driven success.

🚀 The Opportunity

Millions of fans see live music in bars, breweries, and festivals across the U.S. every week.
Independent songwriters struggle to reach them.
Cover bands need fresh, original content and new revenue streams to keep them.
Fans want to support local music in real ways.

This platform connects them all — through one network, one catalog, and one goal:
Royalties for performance-driven promotion.

For Songwriters:

Submit your original music for catalog consideration.
Get performed live by other bands across the country.
Earn royalties for every download — even if you’re not the one performing.

💰 Revenue & Royalty Breakdown

Each song download = $1
After admin & taxes (normally 5–10%):
- ~40% goes to the performing band who drove the download
- ~40% goes to the songwriter or music owner
- ~20% covers operations and legal

🔁 Bands earn just by performing and promoting.
✍️ Songwriters earn every time their song is downloaded — no matter who performs it.

🔄 Catalog Contribution & Quality Control

To avoid dilution and maintain a high-quality catalog:

Bands earn song submission rights by reaching verified download milestones.
Max 3 song submissions per year per band to prevent catalog flooding.
Under-performing songs may be removed after 12 months.
Performance > Popularity. This is about action and effort — not just likes.

📋 Requirements to Participate

Bands & Songwriters Must:

Sign a Royalty Participation Agreement & NDA
Submit only original, registered songs
Actively promote using unique codes for 12 months

We Provide:

Song catalog access
Download tracking system
Royalty payout processing
Fan engagement tools & contests

🏆 Incentives & Competitions

We keep the energy high with:

Download leader boards
Fan voting for best performances
Contests with gear, cash, and spotlight features
Gold, Platinum, Diamond status milestones with rewards and extended royalty periods

🎯 Goals & Milestones

Year 1 Target:

20 participating bands
5 songwriters
100,000 downloads

Long-Term Vision:

Build a fan-powered national network of independent artists
Help bands and songwriters reach Gold (500K), Platinum (1M), and beyond
Reshape what it means to “make it” in music – without major labels

📌 Why This Works

No subscriptions. No gatekeeping. No overhead.
Real fans supporting real bands and songwriters.
No one needs to “blow up” online – you just need to play, promote, and perform.
Royalties and rewards are tracked and paid transparently – no fluff.

📨 Join the Movement

For Cover Bands & Local Acts:

Request catalog access
Get your promo code
Add songs to your set
Start earning royalties

For Original Artists & Songwriters:

Submit music for catalog review
Sign the royalty agreement
Promote the network
Earn every time your song is downloaded

📬 Contact

Rick Williams
📧 label@lightninstik.com
📬 P.O. Box 2156, Littleton, CO 80161
🌐 www.lightninstik.com

⚡ Let’s Build a Grassroots Music Revolution ⚡

This is more than a royalty-sharing system. It’s a nationwide community of musicians and fans helping each other rise above the current gate keepers of the music industry. No red tape. Just music, money, and movement.

🎸 The Economics of Fan-Driven Music Growth

Lightnin’ Stik Productions introduces a transformative initiative to rebuild the music industry from the ground up – powered by local live bands, independent songwriters, and the fans who already support them.

The Shared Catalog Model is a revolutionary system where local bands perform original songs by emerging writers, promote those songs through live shows using unique download codes, and earn royalties based on fan purchases. Songwriters, in turn, gain exposure through the live scene and earn royalties when bands drive downloads of their music.

This model unites creativity with performance, replacing the outdated, gate kept system with a fan-powered ecosystem. No subscription fees. No label dependence. No streaming suppression. Just real music and real royalties from real fans.

Background & Market Opportunity

💡 The Problem:

Independent songwriters have no efficient way to get their music in front of live audiences.
Cover bands rarely receive performing royalties despite drawing in fans night after night.
The music industry exploits both with streaming payouts too small to matter and gatekeeping that favors the already-famous.

🎯 The Opportunity:

Thousands of local venues host live music every night.
Fans at these shows are ready to support musicians in real, direct ways.
We can connect songwriters with bands to expand reach, boost royalties, and create a grassroots royalty-sharing economy – without independent labels or syndicated radio.

The Shared Catalog Model (Business Model)

🔄 System Overview

Bands + Songwriters + Fans = A Cooperative Royalty Network

🎤 Cover Bands / Local Performers:

Access the Catalog: Choose from high-quality original songs submitted and approved.
Perform Songs Live: Add them to your regular set list to give audiences something fresh.
Share Download Code: Distribute a unique code at shows so fans can download songs.
Earn Royalties: Every tracked download using your code earns you royalties.

✍️ Songwriters:

Submit Your Original Music: Provide ASCAP/BMI-registered songs with ISRC codes.
Get Performed by Other Bands: Expand your exposure nationally without touring.
Earn Royalties: Every time any band drives a download of your song, you get paid.
Share Ownership (Optional): Songwriters can retain full or partial ownership and offer royalty-sharing incentives based on milestones (see sliding scale model).

🧩 Platform:

Manages the catalog, track downloads, distributes royalties, runs contests, and ensures quality control.
Operating revenue is earned from a small percentage (5–10%) of each download.

Catalog Submission Rules & Quality Control

To maintain catalog integrity:

Download Milestones = Submission Rights
- Earn rights to submit songs by reaching fan download targets (e.g. 5,000–10,000).
Limit of 3 Songs Per Band Per Year
- Prevents over-saturation and ensures fair visibility.
Under-performing Songs May Be Removed
- If a song fails to reach 10,000 downloads in 12 months, it may be cycled out.
All Songs Reviewed for Quality
- We maintain performance-focused curation for bands to find real hits, not filler.

Platform Infrastructure

Digital Distribution: All songs carry ISRC codes and are distributed exclusively via Lightnin’ Stik’s website for this program only (you are free to distribute your song on other platforms).
Tracking System: Each download is tied to promo codes for accurate attribution.
Band Leader Boards: Live reports on performance, download revenue, and royalty growth.
Third-Party Verification: Potential integration with blockchain or third-party accounting tools for transparent auditing.

Marketing Strategy

“Be Part of a Gold Record” campaigns targeting cover bands
Fan codes at shows = direct financial support of favorite bands
Competitions and leader boards to gamify engagement
Live Performance Video contests for fan-voted best performance of select tracks
Spotlights and features on top-performing bands and songwriters

Risks & Mitigation

Risk	Mitigation Strategy
IP Ownership Disputes	NDA, contracts, ASCAP/BMI verification
Fraudulent Downloads	Promo code system + third-party auditing
Over-saturation of Catalog	Strict submission limits and quality reviews
Inactive Band Participation	Annual performance reviews and rotation
Revenue Dependency	No guaranteed payouts – royalty-only model

Participation is voluntary and experimental in early phases. We provide legal protections and transparency, but results are performance-driven.

Revenue Model for Platform

20% per download to cover operations
Label management of Lightnin’ Stik catalog content
Tips/donations from fans and bands
Broadcasting/media revenue
Contests, merchandising, and sync licensing

Call to Action

✅ Bands:

Join the catalog
Start performing new songs
Promote downloads with your code
Earn royalties from your stage presence

📬 Contact

Rick Williams
📧 label@lightninstik.com
📬 P.O. Box 2156, Littleton, CO 80161
🌐 www.lightninstik.com

⚡ Let’s Rebuild the Music Industry, Together

This is more than a song catalog. It’s a grassroots movement to empower local bands, reward songwriters, and reconnect fans with the music that moves them. It’s royalties for influence – and a way to build sustainable careers without asking permission from the old industry.

🎵 BandShare: A Local-Driven Music Distribution Platform

Objective:
To create a national network of local performing bands to promote twenty original songs from our private catalog of songwriters per year to incentivize fan support through royalties and revenue-sharing. This model bypasses traditional label gate-keeping by enabling bands and songwriters to share royalties directly from paid downloads, ultimately creating a self-sustaining music economy of music fans.

Goal
Achieve 500,000 paid downloads across a catalog of 20 songs per year, offering 40% royalties to songwriters, 40% to performing bands via promo code or 40% of non-promo code purchases shared between initial fans, and 20% drawn for operational administration and taxes or professional services that may be required.

Key Features:

Local bands are paid to perform in person, creating nightlife value.
Each band receives a promo code tied to download purchases for accurate royalty tracking.
Fans take a part in the success of each band and songwriter through successful revenue-sharing when sales targets are met.
All royalties split 50/50 between bands/fans and songwriters, unless otherwise agreed to.
Label draws 20% of the top for taxes/admin.
No investor capital required – this model is self-funding through download sales and local performances.

1. 📈 Strategic Goals

Short-Term (0–12 months):

Build a song catalog of high-quality original songs (minimum 20 songs).
Onboard 20–30 local cover bands from different U.S. regions.
Set up digital download platform with promo code functionality.
Initiate local performances with promo incentives for fans.
Reach initial 100,000 paid downloads milestone.

Mid-Term (12–24 months):

Reach 500,000 paid downloads across catalog or any one song or album.
Establish monthly royalty distribution cycles.
Grow band network to 50+ cities.
Initiate fan royalty pool program based on email submitted at initial purchase.

Long-Term (24–36+ months):

Scale to 1M downloads/year.
Expand catalog to 100+ songs.
Introducerotating top bands to perform around the nation based on competitions.
Launchmerch and sync licensing opportunities.

2. 🎤 Content & Songwriter Management

Private Song Catalog:

Original songs curated and quality-controlled by label.
Writers receive 40% royalty per download sale.
Exclusive to platform (not released on Spotify, etc.).
Minimum royalty trigger: 100 paid downloads/year, any song or songs.

Songwriter Agreements:

Non-exclusive performance rights to participating bands.
Royalties accrue regardless of the band performing the song.
Bands earn from downloads with codes and only for the initial 12-months song is performed.
Additional pool earnings (from downloads without codes) split equally among fans for the initial 12-months.

3. 🎸 Performer (Local Band) Strategy

Recruitment:

Focus on mid-size cities with active music scenes, entertainment districts, VFWs, and rural event centers.
Partner with venues/festivals with a 500+ occupancy and perform regularly.
Bands receive song materials and promo code for performing and tracking downloads.
Meet five paid promo code downloads from 100 fans per show for an extra $200 per show.

Promo Code & Email Mechanism:

Each download requires a promo code and email at checkout.
Promo code links the sale to a specific band for royalties.
Email links the sale to a specific fan for shared royalties from non-code downloads.
Used to track sales and gain date for royalty payments.

4. 🎧 Digital Distribution

Platform:

Custom download format storefront with paypal and venmo purchasing (bypasses Spotify/Apple Music).
Downloads sold directly to fans for ~$1 per song.
Promo code and email field required at checkout.
Transparent data collected for bands, writers, and label to track sales and earnings.

Revenue Split Example:

$1.00/song sale:
- $0.20: Admin/taxes
- $0.40: Band (via promo code)
- $0.40: Initial Fans (via pool of no promo code)
- $0.40: Songwriter

Fan Pool System:

Once 500,000 downloads is reached for any one song or album of songs:
- Royalties to bands will increase to 45% and decrease for songwriters to 35% for a period of 12-months.
- Fans who purchased songs during the initial 12-months will receive 30% for a period of 12-months.

5. 📊 Financial Projections

Metric	Value
Song Price	$1.00
Songs/Year	20
Download Goal	500,000
Gross Revenue	$500,000
Admin (10%)	$50,000
Net to Split	$450,000
Songwriters (50%)	$225,000
Bands (50%)	$225,000

Breakeven:

Download volume required to cover all admin and payouts is 60,000–70,000 downloads/year.

6. 🧩 Operational Structure

Label/Administrator Role:

Maintain catalog & contracts.
Handle payments, accounting, and tax compliance.
Oversee platform development and maintenance.
Coordinate regional band promotions and competitions.
Enforce royalty schedule and transparency.

Tech Infrastructure:

Download and sales tracking portal.
Royalty and fan data dashboard.
Promo code management engine.
CRM and email campaign system for fan engagement.
Online community for bands and fans to interact

7. 📣 Marketing & Promotion

For Bands:

Digital flyers, local press kits, social media templates.
Band-branded download pages with affiliate earnings.

For Fans:

Loyalty and reward programs.
Royalty pool share leader board.
Exclusive content from bands and songwriters.

For Writers:

Brand exposure via band networks.
Promo through live performance, email campaigns, and fan engagement.

8. 🧾 Legal and Compliance

Contracts for bands and songwriters with standard royalty splits.
Compliance with copyright, publishing, and distribution laws.
Sales tax and royalty reporting managed by label (20% admin fee covers this).
Fan pool payments handled through legally compliant revenue share model (via digital wallet or loyalty rewards).

9. 🚀 Scaling Opportunities

International bands to promote localized versions.
Genre expansion (pop, country, hip-hop, gospeletc.).
Live event sponsorships and regional festivals.
Merchandising and NFTs for digital memorabilia.
Sync licensing (TV/Film) using catalog songs.

10. 🏁 Conclusion

This grassroots model bridges the gap between talented songwriters and real fan bases by leveraging the credibility and presence of local working musicians. With a clear financial incentive, built-in promotion engine, and fan-inclusive royalty model, this approach offers a sustainable and scalable music economy — no massive capital required.