Track submissions are not infinite homework. After you accept a submission, a seven-day clock starts for you to complete the review. If the clock runs out, the submission expires and the artist is refunded automatically. That SLA is what makes the marketplace fair — and what makes inbox discipline a core curator skill.
This article is the operational companion to the artist-facing timeline in what happens after submitting.
States you actually manage
Simplified mental model:
- Pending — paid, waiting for your accept/decline decision.
- Accepted / in progress — you owe a review inside the window.
- Completed — artist got feedback; earnings flow per platform rules.
- Expired — you did not deliver in time; artist refunded; your reputation takes a hit.
Treat accepted as a binding calendar event, not “when I get inspired.”
Accept policy: say no early
Decline fast when:
- Genre mismatch is real, not “I could maybe fake it.”
- The track violates your stated boundaries.
- Your week is already over capacity and another accept would force bad work.
A declined path early is cheaper for everyone than an expired path after you sat on it.
Batch your listening
Most curators get faster (and write better) when they batch audio into dedicated blocks:
- Two 45-minute sessions per day beats twelve random five-minute fragments.
- Keep a template for written feedback so you do not reinvent structure every time — artists still get unique content, but you stop staring at a blank page.
Write reviews that close the loop
A complete review should answer:
- Verdict — fit, potential, or mismatch (kindly but clearly).
- Why — two or three concrete reasons tied to timestamps or sections.
- Next step — one actionable suggestion (arrangement cut, vocal comp, reference track).
That structure respects artist money and reduces “I do not know what to do with this paragraph” replies.
Turnaround vs. 7-day window
Your profile turnaround (24 hours / 2–3 days / 1 week) is a promise to artists about typical speed. The 7-day window is a hard platform backstop after acceptance.
If your lifestyle cannot support your advertised turnaround, change the profile setting before you accept more inventory.
Capacity planning
Rules of thumb:
- Count accepted submissions like tickets to a show you already sold — they are non-optional work.
- If you also run Live Sessions, block no-accept nights around big party dates.
- If you sell heavy services, assume service hours reduce review capacity the same week.
When life happens
If you know you will be offline:
- Stop accepting new submissions before you disappear.
- Finish or decline pending items you cannot cover.
Letting items expire trains artists to avoid you — recovery is slower than a temporary price drop.
Reputation and levels
Completion and quality feed into how the platform surfaces you over time. Details vary by product iteration; see curator levels explained for the progression model.
One habit that fixes 80% of inbox pain
End each day with zero “accepted but not started” surprises. Either you listened, or you did not accept in the first place.
The 7-day window is not bureaucracy — it is the reason artists pay instead of chasing DMs. Treat it as your brand.