What the affiliate program is
The AetherWave Affiliate Program lets any approved creator earn lifetime commission on every subscription payment made by users who sign up through their affiliate link. There is no cap on earnings.
The program is application-based but the bar is light. The only ongoing requirement is that you use your affiliate link in good faith - meaning you share AetherWave authentically with your audience instead of using deceptive tactics.
Who it's for
Creators of any size. Musicians, content creators, AI tool reviewers, communities, newsletter writers - anyone whose audience overlaps with people who would use AetherWave to make AI music, art, video, or band identities.
You do NOT need to be a large creator to apply. The application asks you to confirm you'll use the link in good faith and that's the bar.
Commission
Affiliates earn a flat 10% lifetime commission on every paying subscription that comes through their link. There is no cap and no expiration.
Lifetime means: every subscription payment your referred user makes (monthly, annually, ongoing) earns you the 10%. Same for credit bundle purchases. The commission keeps flowing as long as the referred user keeps paying.
A higher rate (20% lifetime) is available, but it is part of the Producer Influencer tier rather than the affiliate program. See the Influencer Program article for that path.
Automatic upgrade to Artist Influencer
The affiliate program has a built-in growth path. If you drive 25 paying signups in any rolling 90-day window, you are automatically upgraded to Artist Influencer at no cost.
A "paying signup" means a user who signed up with your link AND now has an active paid subscription (not just the free plan).
When you cross the threshold:
- Your AetherWave plan flips to Artist (free, on us) with 2,500 credits per month
- You get a blue verified checkmark on your profile
- You receive an upgrade welcome email with your refreshed perks
- Your 10% lifetime commission stays in place on every existing and future referral
- An in-app notification confirms the upgrade
The upgrade is checked daily by an automated job. Once you cross the threshold, the change usually lands within 24 hours.
You do NOT need to apply or do anything to claim the upgrade - it happens automatically based on the count of paying referrals on your account. If you believe you've crossed the threshold but don't see the upgrade after 48 hours, contact support.
What your referred users get
Anyone who signs up through your affiliate link gets a free account, no credit card required, plus free credits through community quests to start creating. (The 20% first-payment discount is part of the curated influencer program, not the standard affiliate link.)
How to apply
Visit the affiliate program landing page: https://aetherwavestudio.com/static/affiliate-program.html
The application asks for:
- Your name and email
- Where you plan to share AetherWave (channel link, website, newsletter, etc.)
- Brief acknowledgment of the good-faith use requirement
Approval is typically fast - most applications are reviewed within a few business days.
What you do NOT get as a base affiliate
Until you cross the 25-paying-signup threshold (or are admitted directly to the Influencer Program by application), the base affiliate tier is commission only. It does not include:
- A free monthly plan
- Free monthly credits
- A verified badge on your profile
- Priority or dedicated support
- A custom discount code for your followers (beyond the standard 20% off first payment)
Those benefits come automatically once you hit the upgrade threshold described above, OR through the Influencer Program, which is a separate, more selective application. See Influencer Program for the application route.
How payouts work
Earnings accumulate in real time in your affiliate dashboard at https://aetherwavestudio.com/static/affiliate-dashboard.html. Two payout options:
Stripe Express (automatic, launching mid-June 2026): Once live, set up a Stripe Connected Account from your affiliate dashboard. After Stripe verifies your ID and bank or card, every commission you earn pays out automatically whenever your pending balance crosses $10. Funds land in 2-5 business days. No more emailing us your bank details.
Manual (available today): Email [email protected] when your balance crosses $10 with your preferred method (PayPal, Wise, or bank transfer). We send within 5 business days.
Both options use a $10 minimum threshold. Manual stays available even after Stripe Express goes live, so you can use whichever you prefer.
Common questions
Can I apply to both the Affiliate and Influencer programs? Yes. They are separate applications. Many creators start with Affiliate (open to apply, easy bar) and apply for Influencer after they have some referral activity to point to.
What does "good faith use" mean? Sharing AetherWave honestly with your audience. Not stuffing the link in unrelated content, not using bot networks, not running deceptive ads. We reserve the right to revoke an affiliate code if usage looks like it's harming users or the brand.
Do I need to be on a paid plan myself to be an affiliate? No. You can be on the free tier and still earn commission on others' subscriptions. The affiliate program is independent of your own plan.
Is the commission really for the lifetime of the referred user? Yes. As long as the referred user keeps a paid subscription or makes credit bundle purchases, you keep earning at your tier rate.
What exactly counts as a "paying signup" for the upgrade threshold? A user who signed up through your affiliate link AND has an active paid subscription on their account (not on the free plan). The signup must have happened inside the rolling 90-day window the system checks. Self-signups using your own link do not count.
What happens if I'm already on a paid plan when the upgrade fires? You're moved to the comped Artist plan with 2,500 credits, but your existing Stripe subscription is NOT automatically cancelled. Contact support after the upgrade lands so we can refund or cancel your active billing - we do not want to charge you for a plan we just gave you for free.
Can I be downgraded after the auto-upgrade? The upgrade is permanent unless there's a violation of the good-faith use requirement. Inactivity can pause the free monthly credits and badge, but your 10% lifetime commission rate stays as long as your referred users keep paying.
Why was the upgrade calibrated at 25 paying signups in 90 days? At a typical Starter or Studio plan price, 25 active paying referrals translates into well over $100 of monthly recurring revenue from your funnel. That's the point at which giving you a free Artist plan and 2,500 credits a month is sustainable for AetherWave and a meaningful reward for you.