Is this a radio station?

Real FERM Radio is a live stream broadcasted to online platforms, not a terrestrial radio station. Its home is on YouTube, but it is multi-streamed to Twitch and potentially more platforms in the future. We use the term “radio” in the same way content creators use “TV” in their channel names. It is a descriptor to indicate the intended experience for the viewer/listener.

What kind of music do you play?

All genres and stages of production are accepted. In fact, the more genre variety the better! As long as it is a musical work in some form (within reason), it will be played when your name is chosen. If it is more than 4 minutes long and/or if the piece is particularly rough, we may not play it in entirety to be timely and considerate to everyone else. Ideally, send in your best work, and keep in mind the average song duration of ~3-3:30 minutes.

Do I have to watch the stream to be played?

Not at all! We hope to attract a broad audience of music connoisseurs and enthusiasts who are there for discovery, critique and general entertainment. While it is encouraged for artists to watch the stream, it is not required to be played. When the wheel picks your name, your submission will be played and you will receive an email with a time-stamped link by the next day so you can easily find and watch back the reaction/feedback. Keep in mind, if you do choose to join the stream live, you earn loyalty points by participating in the chat.

What are loyalty points?

We use the loyalty points system provided through Streamlabs. Once you chat in the live stream you begin earning loyalty points (“Fermions” as we’ve titled them). You earn them over time the more you participate. You can also gamble them with chat commands like “!gamble 10” where 10 is the amount you are wagering. Once you have 1000, you can use them for a free priority play ($5 value) with the chat command “!redeem fastpass”.

What if I never get picked?

After every stream, the names that are left on the wheel unselected are increased in weight by 3 times. So the longer your submission has been on the wheel, the larger the slice grows for an increased chance of getting picked. This way, the submissions are effectively cycled out over time, guaranteeing an eventual free play. Sometimes the Wheel gets finicky, and by the end of any given stream with a large slice still left on the wheel, it will be manually picked/played.

Do paid submissions always come first?

We do our best to keep the Wheel a foundational part of the streams. In the event of a large influx of paid submissions, they will be split up by free Wheel picks depending on priority volume. For example: if two separate artists tip at the same time, we will play the first one, spin the wheel for a free one in between, then play the second one. If the volume is larger, we may play two paid ones in a row, spin the wheel for a free one, then play another two paid. It can vary depending on the situation and tip amount. Ultimately, we try our best to provide value to paying paying artists while also keeping the Wheel active as much as possible.

Can I send in multiple submissions?

Your name can only occupy one slice of the Wheel at a time. If you send in a second submission before your name is picked, we will assume you are changing your track and will update the submission attached to your name to reflect your most recent entry. Once you know you have been played and picked off the wheel (by watching or by email notification), you can submit again for your name to be added to the next stream’s wheel.

Can i send the same song twice?

Absolutely! Especially if it is a song you believe in and is of high quality. There will always be someone new that hasn’t heard it the second time, third time, etc. Just like traditional radio stations!

Can i send in other people’s music?

Only if it is an underground/independent artist looking for more exposure, preferably someone you know. Do NOT send in an already established artist’s music, it will be discarded. Not only for the risk of copyright blocks, but also for taking up a slot that is otherwise devoted to small, grinding artists who are trying to get heard.

WHat if i’m not picked and i am waiting until the end?

The last couple of plays are generally reserved for those who have given their time and input throughout the duration of the stream and have not been picked by the Wheel. This is not guaranteed necessarily, as time is still a factor. In this event, these plays are given based on the chronological order of submissions.

How do paid memberships work?

YouTube memberships and Patreon subscriptions are tiered to provide discounted priorities. They also all come with a default double weighting for all free submissions on the Wheel for the duration of your membership. You can find all the details here if you are interested: (Patreon) (YT Member)

How do i get on the top 3?

For each week of streams, the Real FERM Recap reel on Instagram (@realfermaudio) is posted to reveal the FERM Faves: the ten favorite submissions personally/subjectively chosen by FERM. Out of these, the three most favored are the names that are featured on the home page and the stream overlay. You can also view the full list of names each week on the “Hall of FERM” page. In the future when the audience grows to allow it, there will be a more democratic version: the Fan Faves, which will be voted on by members of the community.