Frequently Asked Questions

About Bela

What is Bela?
A community-funded music library. Members contribute by purchasing albums directly from artists - 100% of every sale goes to the artist. As a member, you can borrow from the shared library that grows with every purchase. Think of it as a library card for independently-made music.
How is Bela different from Bandcamp?
Bandcamp is a great store. The difference is what happens after you buy. On Bandcamp, your purchase benefits you and the artist. On Bela, your purchase benefits you, the artist, and every other member - because it joins a shared library the whole community can borrow from. Plus, Bela takes 0% from artist sales (Bandcamp takes 15%).
How is Bela different from Spotify?
Spotify is a rental. You pay monthly, own nothing, and artists earn fractions of pennies. Bela is a library, not a rental. Your $5/month membership funds the platform. Artists get 100% of every sale. And every album purchased by any member joins a shared library the whole community can borrow from.
Why would I buy on Bela instead of Bandcamp?
On Bandcamp, your purchase benefits you and the artist. On Bela, your purchase benefits you, the artist, and the entire community - because it joins a shared library every member can borrow from. Artists get 100% on Bela (vs 85% on Bandcamp). And your shelf tells a story that a Bandcamp folder never will.
Why would I pay $5/month when I can stream for free on Bandcamp?
Your membership funds a platform where artists get 100% of every sale - not 85%. It also gives you access to a shared library of everything the community has purchased, not just what you can afford to buy yourself. Think of it as a library card: your $5/month keeps the doors open for everyone.
Why is it called Bela?
Named after Béla Bartók (pronounced BAY-lah BAR-tohk), a Hungarian composer who traveled rural villages recording folk music from communities. He believed music belonged to the people who made it and shared it. So do we.

Buying & Owning

What do I get when I buy music on Bela?
A permanent license to stream on Bela, download DRM-free files in multiple formats, and lend to friends. The music is yours regardless of whether you stay on the platform.
Can I download my music?
Yes, anytime. DRM-free. Multiple formats. Your files, your devices, forever.
What if Bela shuts down?
Your downloaded files still work. They're standard audio files playable on any device or app. We'd give advance notice so everyone can download everything they've purchased.
Can I play my music on other apps?
Your downloaded files play anywhere. Upload them to your own music server (like Navidrome or Plex) and use any player you want.
Can I upload music I already own?
No. Bela is a marketplace - music is uploaded by artists, not listeners. This is what makes lending work: every copy has verified provenance. Your existing collection is yours forever on your devices.

Lending & Borrowing

How does lending work?
You can lend an album to a friend directly (you choose the duration: 3, 5, or 7 days) or add it to the shared library where anyone can borrow it for 5 days. One copy, one listener at a time - just like a physical CD.
What does the $5/month membership get me?
A library card. Borrow unlimited albums from the shared library, contribute your purchases to the community, and access social features. Your membership funds the platform - not artist cuts. Think of it exactly like a public library: your membership keeps the doors open, and every purchase adds a book to the shelf. You don't need a membership to browse, stream full tracks, or purchase - anyone can do that.
Is lending legal?
Yes. Every artist on Bela explicitly authorized lending as part of joining the platform. This isn't a gray area. The artist said yes.
What if all copies are borrowed?
You'll see when the next copy returns. Or buy your own and never wait.
Can I lend borrowed music?
No. Only music you've purchased can be lent. Borrowers can stream, not lend or download.
Can I get my album back before the loan ends?
No. Lending is a commitment - the loan runs to completion. You chose the duration, and the borrower is counting on it. Your downloaded files are always available for personal listening.

For Artists

How much do artists earn?
100% of every sale. Bela takes zero. The only deduction is PayPal's standard payment processing fee (~$0.73 on an $8 album). We fund the platform through community memberships, not by skimming from your revenue.
Is there a signup fee?
No. No subscription, no annual fee, no per-release fee. Free to join, free to upload, free forever.
Do I need a label?
No. If you own or control the rights to your music, you can sell on Bela.
Can I sell on Bandcamp AND Bela?
Yes. Bela never requires exclusivity. Sell on as many platforms as you want.
Can I remove my music?
Yes, anytime. Active loans run to completion (a few days), then your music is removed.

Privacy & Trust

What data does Bela collect?
Anonymous site analytics (open-source, no cookies). For users: purchase and lending records needed to operate the platform. Stream logs are anonymized after 90 days. We never sell data.
Do you use algorithms to recommend music?
Every recommendation comes with a visible reason. "People who own this also own..." or "Drew recommends this because..." We don't use opaque algorithms. Your friends have better taste.
Can artists see who listened to their music?
No. Artists see aggregate numbers (total streams, total lends, conversion rates). Never individual listener data.
Is the source code available?
Yes. BSL license - anyone can read and audit the code.