What the influencer program is
The AetherWave Influencer Program is a curated, application-based partner tier for creators who actively promote AetherWave to an established audience. It includes everything the Affiliate Program offers plus monthly free credits, a verified profile badge, a discount code your followers can use, and elevated support.
Approval into the Influencer Program is selective - each tier includes a real cost to AetherWave (free monthly plans worth $4.99 to $44.99) and is reserved for creators committing to ongoing coverage. Applicants who don't qualify for an Influencer tier are welcome in the Affiliate Program, which is open to anyone.
Who it's for
Creators with an established audience who plan to consistently produce AetherWave content. Typical fits include:
- YouTubers covering AI music tools, AI creativity, or music production
- Musicians with active social presence covering their own AI workflow
- Newsletter writers in the AI/creative-tools space
- Community organizers running creator groups, AI music Discords, etc.
Audience size matters less than engagement. A small but highly engaged niche audience is a stronger fit than a large but disengaged one.
What you get
Three tiers. Entry Level Influencer is the starting point for motivated creators with small but real audiences. Artist Influencer is for established creators with engaged audiences. Producer Influencer is reserved for top performers and is by invitation or upgrade from Artist.
| Benefit | Entry Level | Artist Influencer | Producer Influencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Starter plan | Artist plan | Producer plan |
| Free monthly credits | 800 | 3,500 | 6,500 |
| Lifetime commission | 10% | 10% | 20% |
| Follower discount code | 10% off first payment | 20% off first payment | 25% off first payment |
| Verified badge on profile | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Support tier | Standard support | Priority support | Dedicated support channel |
| Access | By approval | By approval | By invitation or upgrade |
The free plan and credits stay active as long as you remain an active influencer. "Active" means you continue producing AetherWave coverage - typically at least one piece of content per month referencing the platform.
Two ways in
There are two paths into the Artist Influencer tier:
1. Direct application. Apply at the influencer program landing page below. Andrew personally reviews each application.
2. Automatic upgrade from Affiliate. Any active affiliate who drives 25 paying signups in any rolling 90-day window is automatically upgraded to Artist Influencer. No application, no manual review - the upgrade fires from a daily background job once the count crosses the threshold. See the Affiliate Program article for the full details on this path.
The two routes land in the same Artist Influencer tier. Both qualify for the same plan, credits, badge, commission rate, and follower discount.
Producer Influencer (the higher 20% commission tier) is reserved for direct review and is not available via the automatic upgrade. To be considered for Producer, apply through the landing page.
How to apply
Visit the influencer program landing page: https://aetherwavestudio.com/static/influencer-program.html
The application asks for:
- Your channel link, website, or social profile (the primary place you'd share AetherWave)
- Audience size and engagement metrics if you have them handy
- A brief description of the AetherWave content you plan to produce
Andrew personally reviews influencer applications. Turnaround is usually a few business days.
How influencer differs from affiliate
If you only want to earn commission, the Affiliate Program is the right fit - it's open-application with a light bar, and you get the same 10%/20% lifetime commission tiers. See Affiliate Program.
The Influencer Program adds the perks above. Because those perks have real cost, the application is more selective.
You can apply to both. Many creators start with Affiliate while building referral activity, then apply for Influencer once they have a track record.
Active-status expectation
To keep your free monthly credits and verified badge, the expectation is at least one piece of AetherWave coverage per month. This is intentionally light - we want you producing content at your natural cadence, not feeling pressured.
If you go inactive (no AetherWave coverage for an extended stretch), the free plan and credits may be paused. The lifetime commission rate stays as long as your referred users keep paying.
How payouts work
Influencer commissions accrue in real time alongside the free plan and credit benefits. Two payout options:
Stripe Express (automatic, launching mid-June 2026): Set up a Stripe Connected Account from your affiliate dashboard once. After Stripe verifies your ID and bank or card, every commission you earn pays out automatically once your pending balance crosses $10. Funds land in 2-5 business days.
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 use a $10 minimum threshold. Manual stays available even after Stripe Express goes live.
Common questions
Can I apply to be an Influencer if I'm a small creator? Yes. Audience size is one factor among several. Engagement, niche fit (AI music, AI creativity), and content quality matter more than raw subscriber counts.
What if I'm not approved? Can I still earn commission? Yes. If the Influencer application isn't a fit yet, the Affiliate Program is open to apply to and pays the same lifetime commission tiers (just without the free plan and perks). Most creators end up taking that path first.
Can I lose my Influencer status? The free plan and badge can be paused if you go inactive (no AetherWave coverage for an extended stretch) or if there's a violation of the good-faith use requirement. Re-activation usually just takes one new piece of content.
How do I get upgraded from Artist Influencer to Producer Influencer? Top-performing Artist Influencers are upgraded based on referral volume, content quality, and ongoing engagement. There's no application - it's reviewed periodically. The auto-upgrade from Affiliate covers the jump to Artist Influencer only; the Producer tier is direct review.
I'm an affiliate and I'm sure I crossed the 25 paying-signup threshold. Why am I not upgraded yet? The check runs once a day, so allow up to 24 hours after the 25th paying referral activates their subscription. Also note that "paying" means an active paid subscription (not the free plan), and the signup must have happened within the last 90 days. If you've waited 48 hours and the count from your dashboard is well over 25, contact support and we'll reconcile manually.
How does my follower discount actually reach them - link or code? Both work. The discount applies automatically when a follower signs up through your referral link and subscribes (no code to type), or they can enter your discount code at checkout. Either way it is 10% (Entry Level), 20% (Artist), or 25% (Producer) off their first payment. There is no free trial - the discount applies to an immediate first charge.
Can I be both an Influencer and an Affiliate? The Influencer Program supersedes the Affiliate Program - if you're an Influencer, you're also functionally an Affiliate (with the same commission tiers) plus the additional perks. You don't need to maintain both separately.