Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to MicDrop. We're building a platform that helps indie musicians discover and collaborate with creatively compatible artists. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and share your information.

By using MicDrop, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you don't agree, please don't use our platform.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

Account Information:

• Email address
• Password (encrypted and hashed)
• Artist/stage name
• Profile photo
• Bio (20-300 characters)
• Location (city, state/country)
• Social media links (Instagram, SoundCloud, YouTube - optional)

Collaboration Preferences:

• Roles you're looking for (e.g., vocalists, producers, songwriters)
• Collaboration types (e.g., single track, EP, remote, in-person)
• Availability and work preferences

Creative Profile:

• Responses to profile questionnaire about your creative process, work style, and collaboration goals

1.2 Information from Third-Party Services

If You Connect via Spotify:

• Spotify user ID and profile information
• Your artist tracks and publicly available metadata
• Genre tags and audio features available through Spotify's API
• Public profile statistics (followers, monthly listeners)

We access this data through Spotify's OAuth API. Your use of Spotify through MicDrop is also governed by Spotify's terms and privacy policies, which we do not control. You can revoke access at any time through your Spotify account settings.

1.3 Audio Files You Upload

If You Join via Direct Upload:

• Audio files (MP3, WAV, or other supported formats)
• File metadata (title, artist, duration)

Policies:

• We analyze these files to understand your musical style and create better matches.
• Users must have rights to any music they upload and may not upload content they do not own or control
• Users retain full ownership of any audio they upload.
• By uploading, users grant MicDrop a limited license to analyze the files for matching and platform functionality while their profile is active, without granting MicDrop any rights to distribute, publish, or use the music outside of these purposes

1.4 Automatically Collected Information

Usage Data:

• Pages visited and features used
• Time spent on platform
• Interactions with other users (connections, messages, collaboration requests)
• Match views and responses
• Device information (browser type, device type, operating system)
• IP address and general location data
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

We only collect the information necessary to provide our matching and collaboration services and do not collect data unrelated to these functions.

2. How We Use Your Information

2.1 Core Platform Functions

Matching & Discovery:

• Analyze your profile, music, and preferences to create personalized matches
• Calculate compatibility with other artists
• Generate recommendations based on creative compatibility
• Display your profile to other users

Communication & Collaboration:

• Enable messaging between matched users
• Facilitate collaboration requests and project management
• Send notifications about matches, messages, and platform updates

2.2 Platform Improvement

• Improve our matching algorithm based on user feedback and successful collaborations
• Analyze usage patterns to enhance features
• Conduct A/B testing
• Identify and fix technical issues
• Develop new features

2.3 Communication

• Send account and service updates
• Notify you about matches, messages, and collaboration opportunities
• Share platform news (you can opt out of non-essential communications)
• Respond to support requests

2.4 Safety & Security

• Detect and prevent fraud, spam, and abuse
• Verify accounts and enforce our Terms of Service
• Protect user safety and platform integrity
• Comply with legal requirements

3. How We Share Your Information

3.1 With Other Users (By Design)

Your profile information is visible to other MicDrop users including:

• Profile photo, name, bio, and location
• Social media links you choose to add
• Collaboration preferences
• Creative profile information
• Music samples and profile descriptions
• Match compatibility information when recommended to others

What We Don't Share:

• Your email address (unless you share it in messages)
• Your password
• Raw audio files
• Private messages

3.2 With Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate MicDrop:

• Cloud hosting and infrastructure providers
• Email service providers for transactional emails
• Analytics tools to understand platform usage
• Payment processors (for future paid features)

These providers are contractually required to protect your data and use it only for providing services to us, and they will delete or return personal data once it is no longer needed.

3.3 For Legal Reasons

We may disclose your information if required by law or if we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of MicDrop, our users, or the public
• Prevent fraud or security threats

3.4 Business Transfers

If MicDrop is acquired by or merged with another company, your information may be transferred to the new owner. We'll notify you before this happens.

3.5 With Your Consent

We may share your information in other ways with your explicit consent.

4. Technology and Automated Processing

4.1 How Matching Works

MicDrop uses automated systems and algorithms to:

• Analyze your music and profile information
• Calculate compatibility scores with other users
• Generate personalized recommendations
• Create profile enhancements

By using MicDrop, you consent to automated processing of your profile and audio data for generating compatibility scores and recommendations. You may request account deletion if you object to this automated profiling.

4.2 Data Processing

We process your profile data, music information, and preferences to provide our core matching service. This processing helps us connect you with compatible collaborators.

4.3 Third-Party Processing

We may use third-party services to:

• Analyze audio characteristics
• Process and optimize profile content
• Generate platform features

These services operate under strict confidentiality agreements and do not retain your personal information beyond what's necessary to provide their services, and must delete or return personal data once it is no longer needed.

5. Your Rights and Choices

5.1 Access and Update

You can access and update your profile information at any time through your account settings.

5.2 Delete Your Account

You can request account deletion by contacting us at team@micdrop.music. We will:

• Delete your profile and personal information within 30 days
• Remove you from all match recommendations
• Anonymize or delete your messages and collaboration history

Note: We may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes (e.g., fraud prevention, anonymized analytics).

5.3 California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you're a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act:

• Right to know what personal information we collect
• Right to delete your personal information
• Right to opt out of "sales" of personal information (we don't sell your data)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at team@micdrop.music.

5.4 European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you're in the European Economic Area, UK, or Switzerland, you have rights under GDPR:

• Right to access your data
• Right to rectification
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing
• Right to withdraw consent

To exercise these rights, contact us at team@micdrop.music.

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

Technical Safeguards:

• Encryption in transit (HTTPS/TLS)
• Encryption at rest for sensitive data
• Secure password hashing
• Regular security audits
• Access controls and authentication

Organizational Safeguards:

• Limited employee access to personal data
• Confidentiality agreements with service providers
• Incident response procedures

However: No system is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You're responsible for keeping your password confidential. In the event of a data breach affecting personal information, we will notify affected users promptly in accordance with applicable laws.

7. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. After account deletion, we:

• Delete personal information within 30 days
• May retain anonymized data for analytics
• Keep certain records as required by law
• Uploaded audio and Spotify derived data are deleted within 30 days
• May retain anonymized audio data for matching and platform improvements

8. Children's Privacy

MicDrop is not intended for users under 13 years old (or 16 in EEA, UK, and Switzerland). We do not knowingly collect information from children. If we discover we've collected data from a child, we'll delete it immediately.

If you believe we've collected data from a child, contact us at team@micdrop.music.

9. International Data Transfers

MicDrop is based in the United States. If you're outside the United States, your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate.

By using MicDrop, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries that may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.

For European users, we ensure adequate protections through Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and other approved transfer mechanisms.

10. Third-Party Links and Services

MicDrop may contain links to third-party websites or services (e.g., Spotify, Instagram, SoundCloud). We're not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to read their privacy policies.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we'll notify you by:

• Email to your registered address
• Prominent notice on our platform
• In-app notification

Your continued use of MicDrop after changes take effect means you accept the updated policy.

12. Beta-Specific Provisions

During Beta:

• Features are experimental and may change or be discontinued
• Data collected may be used to improve the platform
• Users should avoid uploading confidential or unreleased music unless they accept these risks
• We're actively testing features and gathering feedback
• We may conduct surveys or interviews with beta users
• Beta features may change or be discontinued
• Beta data will carry over to the full launch unless you delete your account

By using the Service, you consent to automated processing of your profile and music data to generate match recommendations and profile enhancements.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices:

Email: team@micdrop.music

14. Your Consent

By creating a MicDrop account and using our services, you acknowledge that you've read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to our data practices as described.