FERM Factor Live
Free live music reviews for independent artists
FERM Factor is a live show on YouTube. FERM, an audio engineer, plays songs submitted by independent artists and gives honest feedback in real time while chat reacts. Submitting is free while the stream is live.
Streams every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 PM Eastern Time (ET).
What happens on the stream
When FERM goes live, the queue opens on realferm.com. Artists submit a song with a link or an audio file, and FERM plays the queue one track at a time, talking through what works and what could be better while viewers listen and chat along. Tracks played on stream can make the weekly Fan Faves vote and the Hall of FERM charts.
Schedule
Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 PM Eastern Time (ET), live on YouTube at @fermfactor. Subscribe and turn on notifications to get an alert when the stream starts.
How to get your song reviewed
- Submit your track. The queue opens when FERM goes live. Paste a link or upload a file on realferm.com. It's free.
- Hang out on the stream. Watch on YouTube and check in on the queue every so often. Inactive entries eventually go on hold so active listeners play first. Check back in and your entry returns to its original spot.
- Hear it reviewed live. FERM plays your track on stream and gives feedback in real time.
- See it analyzed. Your track runs through machine-learning models for genre and mood tags, plus spectral analysis and more.
Staying active in the queue
- The queue opens during live streams. Check the countdown on the home page to see when the next stream starts.
- One song at a time. You can have one submission in the queue at a time. Once your track is played, you can submit another.
- Track your position. The live queue shows your place in line and your status in real time.
- Check in regularly. Come back to the site to check your position every so often. Generally, once an hour is enough.
- Inactivity means a hold. If you don't check your position for a while, your entry may be placed On Hold so active listeners play first.
- Easy to resume. Checking back in releases a hold automatically, as long as you're signed in or on the same device you submitted from. If you're having trouble, type in the YouTube live chat and you can be released manually.
- Free plays are for active listeners. Free plays are guaranteed for active viewers and listeners only.
Questions
Is it free?
Yes. Submitting is free while the stream is live. An optional Fast Pass moves a track up the queue.
Can I submit when the stream is offline?
The review queue only opens during the stream. Between streams, you can enter the Face-Off, a crowd-voted music competition that takes submissions any time.
Can I email my song instead?
No. Every submission goes through the queue during the live stream, so everyone gets the same fair shot. Email is only for sorting out a problem with a submission you've already made, such as a file that won't upload. The submission form tells you when that applies.
Do I need an account?
No, you can submit as a guest. A free account saves drafts for the next stream, keeps your submission history, and can email you when the queue opens or when your track is played.
Where can I watch past reviews?
On YouTube: past streams are on the channel's Live tab.
Catch the next stream on YouTube.