UNIFIED Ground Floor — Terms & Conditions

Last Update: 22 August 2025

UNIFIED Music Group Pty Ltd (UNIFIED) has opened applications for the 'Ground Floor' Program. Applicants must agree to the below terms and conditions ("Terms and Conditions") to apply for the Program. By submitting an Application for the Program, these Terms and Conditions will form an agreement between UNIFIED and the Applicant.

DEFINITIONS

Applicant means the solo artist or band submitting an Application.

Application means the application submitted to UNIFIED via the Community Website for the Applicant to be considered for participation in the Program.

Community Music Agreement means the standard Community Music Artist Services and Distribution Agreement, of which the Key Terms are annexed below. Please note the "Key Terms" are subject to a set of standard "General Terms", which may be provided to Applicants upon request, and will in any event be provided to Successful Applicants for their review before signing.

Independent means not signed to a record label or distributor (other than Community Music) that would restrict the Applicant from entering into a Community Music Agreement for the Applicant's Upcoming Release(s).

Program means the 'Ground Floor' Program offered by UNIFIED, which includes the following over the course of the Program Period:

  • a minimum of 5, 1-hour workshops or mentorship sessions with key UNIFIED representatives tailored to the Program Participant's needs around some or all of the following: media training, bookings, social media/content, sync licensing, management, legal and/or finance;
  • priority marketing and DSP playlist pitching support via Community Music and The Annex for the Program Participant's Upcoming Release(s);
  • a Live performance slot at a UNIFIED showcase or Community Live event (or equivalent); and
  • press releases and social media promotional material around the Program Participant's participation in the Program (subject to artist's prior written approval).

Program Period means a 6-month period starting on the date each Successful Applicant accepts the Program offer.

Release Timeline means a 12-month period starting on the date of the Applicant's Application.

Successful Applicant means an Applicant selected by UNIFIED who shall be offered the opportunity to participate in the Program.

Upcoming Release(s) means new, original, unreleased master recordings, intended for commercial release by the Applicant within the Release Timeline, consisting of either an EP (4-6 master recordings), an LP (7-15 master recordings) or series of singles (at least 4 master recordings in total).

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicant Criteria

  1. To be eligible to be considered for the Program, Applicants must, at the date of Application:
    1. be an Independent music artist or band;
    2. be a resident living in Australia;
    3. be at least 16 years of age;
    4. intend on releasing the Upcoming Release(s) within the Release Timeline; and
    5. be willing and able to participate in and commit to the Program.
  2. For the avoidance of doubt, Applicants already signed to Community Music will be eligible for the Program.

Application Criteria

  1. Applications must:
    1. Be submitted via https://www.communitymusic.net/ground-floor and include:
      1. the requested information as set out in the Application form;
      2. 3 of the Applicant's original master recordings or demos which may or may not form part of the Applicant's Upcoming Release(s); and
      3. Acceptance by the Applicant of these Terms and Conditions.
    2. be submitted at least 4 months before the date the Applicant plans on commercially releasing the Upcoming Release(s).
  2. UNIFIED will not accept or consider any Applications that, in its sole discretion, do not satisfy the above criteria.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

  1. Applications for the Program open at 9am AEST on 2 September 2025 and close at 5pm AEST on 1 September 2026 (2025-2026 Intake).
  2. UNIFIED will review the Applications periodically as they are submitted and select a shortlist of Applicants to progress to an interview stage.
  3. The Applications will be assessed by a committee of UNIFIED representatives who will determine the shortlisted and Successful Applicants based on their professional opinion of each individual Applicant's skill, creativity, potential, and distinctiveness as a band or artist taking into consideration our commitment to diversity. Decisions shall be final and at UNIFIED's full discretion.
  4. Applicants agree to provide more information and supporting materials or evidence for their Application upon request from UNIFIED.
  5. During the 2025-2026 Intake, UNIFIED will select 4 Successful Applicants in its sole discretion. The Successful Applicants may be selected at any time during the 2025-2026 Intake. Notwithstanding, UNIFIED may in its sole discretion decide to select more than 4 Successful Applicants during the 2025-2026 Intake if it receives an overwhelming volume of high-quality Applications.
  6. UNIFIED will contact each Successful Applicant at any time during the 2025-2026 Intake and each Successful Applicant shall have 7 days to accept the offer to participate in the Program. Successful Applicants are under no obligation to accept.
  7. Upon a Successful Applicant's acceptance of an offer to participate in the Program (hereafter referred to as a Program Participant), UNIFIED shall announce the Program Participant publicly during the 2025-2026 Intake period. Program Participants agree that their name, details and images may be made publicly available for such announcement.
  8. UNIFIED may in its full discretion decide to run the Program again for a 2026-2027 intake.

PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  1. Program Participants acknowledge and agree that:
    1. the Program is designed to benefit the Program Participants, and that UNIFIED will use its best efforts to curate the Program around the Program Participants' specific needs;
    2. participation in the Program is conditional upon the Program Participant entering into the Community Music Agreement for the Upcoming Release(s);
    3. they will make themselves reasonably available for the scheduling of meetings and workshops, and will work with UNIFIED in good faith to schedule the Program; and
    4. they may 'opt out' of the Program at any time, notwithstanding the termination of the Community Music Agreement is subject to the termination terms within it once signed.

DISCLOSURE OF APPLICATION INFORMATION

  1. Applicants acknowledge and agree that for the purposes of determining Successful Applicants, information included by the Applicant in the Applications (including confidential or personal information) will be disclosed to:
    1. directors and employees of UNIFIED;
    2. directors and employees of UNIFIED's related bodies corporate (i.e. UNIFIED Artist Management and UNIFIED Recorded Music); and
    3. directors and employees of UNIFIED partner businesses (this includes The Annex Creative, Lonely Lands Agency, Sound Story and STL Tones).

APPLICANT RIGHTS AND WARRANTIES

  1. Applicants warrant that all information and materials provided in the Application are true and correct, do not infringe on third party rights, and are not contrary to any law.
  2. Any individuals submitting an Application on behalf of an Applicant, have the power and authority to do so on behalf of the relevant Applicant and to agree to these Terms and Conditions on behalf of the relevant Applicant.
  3. Where the Applicant (or any member of the Applicant) agreeing to these Terms and Conditions is under the age of 18, their parent or legal guardian is deemed to have consented to the minor entering into this agreement and agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions on the minor's behalf. The parent or legal guardian further acknowledges and agrees that this agreement is for the benefit of the minor and accepts full responsibility for the minor's compliance with its terms.

UNIFIED's RIGHTS

  1. Program Participants grant to UNIFIED a royalty-free transferable and assignable licence in perpetuity to use the Applicant's image, likeness, logos, branding and other materials provided to UNIFIED in relation to the Program ("Applicant Materials") in any media for the purposes of promoting the Program and/or UNIFIED and its related bodies. This licence includes the right to edit, copy, exhibit and/or publish the Applicant Materials and Applicants waive any and all moral rights in relation to this grant of rights. Applicants warrant that UNIFIED's use of the Applicant Materials shall not infringe the rights of any third-parties and shall not otherwise be contrary to law.
  2. Applicants will not disclose UNIFIED's confidential information without UNIFIED's prior written consent or as required by law.
  3. UNIFIED may immediately terminate this agreement if an Applicant:
    1. breaches these Terms and Conditions;
    2. fails to participate in the Program;
    3. provides false or misleading information in the Application or otherwise; and
    4. does anything that does, or could, bring UNIFIED, its directors, employees or affiliates into disrepute (determined in UNIFIED's sole discretion).
  4. If UNIFIED terminates this agreement in accordance with clause 20, UNIFIED shall have no further liability to the Applicant, and the Applicant must immediately take down any public material or cease any public disclosure that Applicant is an applicant or program recipient (as relevant).

MISCELLANEOUS

  1. Applicants shall indemnify and keep UNIFIED, its related bodies corporate, employees and officers (the "Indemnified Parties"), indemnified against any loss, damage, claims, costs (including legal costs) suffered by, or demands sustained by or made against, the Indemnified Parties by any person, arising out of, caused by, directly or indirectly related to a breach of these Terms and Conditions, the relevant Applicant's Application, or the Program.
  2. UNIFIED collects Applicant's information in accordance with its Privacy Policy which can be found on the Community Music Website. Applicant acknowledges and agrees that their personal information is collected by UNIFIED for the purpose of considering Applications, administering the Program, promotion of the Program and UNIFIED, and for marketing materials we may send to you from time to time.
  3. While the Program is intended to help enhance the careers of emerging music artists, UNIFIED makes no representations or guarantees that the Program will enhance or positively impact the Program Participants and their careers.
  4. The laws of Victoria, Australia apply to these Terms and Conditions. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Victoria, Australia.
  5. This Agreement does not give rise to an employee, agent or partner relationship and neither party is authorised to bind or represent the other party.

ANNEXURE

Note — the below "Key Terms" are subject to a set of standard "General Terms" which shall be provided to you upon request, and/or if you are selected as a Successful Applicant for your review and acceptance before signing.

Community Music Artist Services and Distribution Agreement — Key Terms

  • Commencement Date: The date the Community Music Agreement is signed by the Program Participant.
  1. Initial Release Term: 3 years after the date of release of last Master(s) by Community Music.
  2. Territory: World.
  3. Release Materials: The Upcoming Release(s) and any additional Masters and Additional Materials the Program Participant may choose to deliver to Community Music.
  4. Release Rights:
    • Digital Transmission;
    • public performance of the Masters; and
    • non-exclusive Synchronisation Rights.
  5. Services:
    • Global digital distribution, profile setup & functional support across DSPs;
    • Access to Community Centre including resources, best practices guides and analytics in relation to Masters; and
    • DSP strategy support and pitching.
  6. Costs: Any costs incurred by Community Music in accordance with this Agreement will be deducted from the Royalty. NOTE: Costs include AUD$149 flat fee per music video delivered for release on DSPs (excluding YouTube; no charge for delivery to YouTube).
  7. Royalty: 85% of Release Income.
  8. Accounting Period: Quarterly within 45 days. Costs deducted from Artist Royalty.