Back to Docs
Collaboration System

Open Verse Challenges

Launch collab challenges in minutes, capture fan data, pick winners, and push them into the NewFans App for discovery and growth.

How It Works

Host Creates

Upload challenge video to YouTube, create challenge with YouTube URL, upload beat, set prize, and configure rules

Fans Enter

Download kit, record verse, upload to YouTube, and submit entry with contact info

Winners Announced

Host picks winners, issues licenses, and pushes to NewFans App for discovery

Host Setup Flow

7 steps to launch your Open Verse Challenge

1

Upload Challenge Video to YouTube

Create and upload your challenge video to YouTube first

  • Create your challenge video using your preferred editing tools
  • Upload the video to your YouTube channel
  • Set video visibility (public or unlisted)
  • Copy the YouTube video URL
  • Keep the URL ready for the next step
2

Create Challenge

Set up your Open Verse Challenge with the YouTube URL

  • Choose 'New Challenge' from dashboard
  • Enter title, genres, and tags
  • Paste your YouTube video URL
  • Set rules and eligibility requirements
  • Upload optional cover image for promo generation
3

Upload Audio Kit

Provide the beat and stems for entrants to use

  • Upload beat (WAV or MP3) - Required
  • Upload stems ZIP (Admin only) - Optional
  • Add guide vocal MP3 - Optional
  • Enter BPM, key, and time signature
  • Confirm you own rights to share files
5

Mixtape Permission

Optional: Grant license for winners or all entrants

  • Choose: Only winner, All entrants, or Off
  • Terms: Non-commercial free distribution
  • Must credit host and link back
  • No DSP uploads allowed
  • OK on YouTube, TikTok, IG, SoundCloud (non-monetized)
  • Expires in 12 months, revocable with 14-day notice
6

Entry Access & Safety

Control who can submit entries

  • Anyone: Public challenge, anyone can enter
  • Followers: Email must exist as Subscriber with consent
  • Invite: Email must be in allowlist
  • Manual approval toggle for hidden challenges
7

Set Deadline

Configure challenge timeline

  • Set end_at with timezone
  • Optional grace period: 0-60 minutes
  • Status: draft, live, closed
  • Deadline displayed on challenge page
8

Publish & Share

Launch your challenge and share it

  • Receive public challenge URL
  • Get QR code for sharing
  • Optional: Generate promo video (counts against render cap)
  • Share on social media
  • Track entries in real-time

Entrant Flow

How fans discover, enter, and track their submissions

1

Discover Challenge

Find challenges from promo videos or direct links

  • Click challenge link or scan QR code
  • View challenge details and rules
  • Check prize and deadline
  • Review eligibility requirements
2

Download Kit

Get the audio files you need

  • Download beat (WAV or MP3)
  • Download stems ZIP (if provided)
  • Download guide vocal (if provided)
  • Files delivered via signed URLs
  • Note BPM, key, and time signature
3

Create Entry

Record your verse and upload to YouTube

  • Record your verse using the beat
  • Create your video
  • Upload to YouTube (public or unlisted)
  • Ensure video is not age-gated or region-restricted
  • Copy YouTube URL
4

Submit Entry

Submit your YouTube link and details

  • Paste YouTube URL (validated for visibility)
  • Enter your handle (optional)
  • Add Instagram handle (if host has contact capture)
  • Add email (if host has contact capture)
  • Agree to rights acknowledgement
  • Grant repost permission
  • Opt-in to contact permission
5

Track Status

Monitor your entry and wait for results

  • View your submission in dashboard
  • Check challenge deadline
  • Wait for host to review entries
  • Get notified if you win
  • Download License Pass if applicable

Prize Credits

Winners earn prize credits to host their own challenges

How Prize Credits Work

Prize credits are earned by winning challenges and can be used to host your own Open Verse challenge without upgrading your plan.

  • Hosts issue credits: Launch plan hosts can award 20 credits/month to winners, Creator plan hosts can award 60 credits/month
  • Winners earn credits: Win challenges to earn credits and host your own
  • Use to host: Use earned credits to create challenges without a paid plan

Credit Spend Order

  1. 1. Monthly credits (soonest expiry)
  2. 2. Admin promo credits
  3. 3. Paid credits
  4. 4. Block when exhausted

Host-Based Winnings

Offer valuable prizes beyond prize credits

Hosts can offer non-monetary prizes that provide real value to winners. These prizes build relationships, create collaboration opportunities, and incentivize participation without requiring credits.

Common Host-Based Prizes:

Feature on Their Next Track

Winner gets featured as a verse or hook on the host's upcoming song release

Repost/Shoutout to Audience

Host promotes winner's content to their entire fanbase on social media

Placement in Music Video

Winner appears in the host's official music video

Studio Session Collaboration

One-on-one studio time with the host to create music together

Spot on Their Tour

Opening act or feature performance at one of the host's live shows

Exclusive Beat Pack

Access to the host's unreleased production library

💡 Pro Tip: Host-based winnings don't require prize credits and often provide more value than monetary prizes. They build genuine relationships and create long-term collaboration opportunities.

Winner Selection & App Push

Review entries, pick winners, and push to NewFans App

Review Entries

View all submissions in your dashboard

  • See thumbnail, link, and consent flags
  • Check QC results (visibility, age gate, region)
  • Filter by status and quality
  • Play entries directly from dashboard

Select Winners

Choose your winners and create winner log

  • Select one or multiple winners
  • Create winner_log with timestamp
  • Record winner handle and proof URL
  • Store license ID if mixtape permission enabled

Issue License Pass

Automatic license generation for winners

  • System generates License Pass PDF
  • Includes terms, expiry, and revocation info
  • Stored and re-downloadable
  • Can be marked revoked later
  • Winner receives email notification

Push to App

Feature winners in NewFans App

  • Toggle which winners push to App
  • Items carry challenge, host, and genre tags
  • Include YouTube link and metrics hooks
  • Broken link detector evicts dead items
  • Winners appear in App discovery feed

Plan Caps & Limits

Challenge limits by subscription tier

Launch

$29/month
New challenges per month15
Live challenges at once1
Prize credits per month1
Contact captureNo
App pushNo

Creator

$79.99/month
New challenges per month30
Live challenges at once3
Prize credits per month3
Contact captureYes (IG + email)
App pushNo

Entry Limits & Safety

Per-User Limits

  • 1 entry per user per challenge
  • Sitewide win cap: 5 wins per month per user
  • YouTube URL validated for visibility
  • Age gate and region restriction checks

Access Controls

  • Anyone: Public challenge, anyone can enter
  • Followers: Email must exist as Subscriber
  • Invite: Email must be in allowlist
  • Manual approval: Hidden until first entry approved

Ready to Launch Your First Challenge?

Your first challenge is free (host-supplied prize only). Start building your fanbase through collaboration today.