Is this real or not?

[Bimbanana]

Ok guys, this is a serious question:

I just got a message asking me if they can adapt my Building World Peace story, saying they're from Pocket FM.

Now here's the thing:
The message came from someone who just paid membership on my Patreon. Not just on ordinary message.

What is Pocket FM? is it Audiobook thingy?

and they offer me this for adaptation:

"What we would like to offer: 10% Revenue share (open to negotiation). Full IP stays yours."

Is this good or not? (If this turns out to be real)

 

[Eldoria]

Summon @CharlesEBrown

 

[Worthy39]

You can reach out to the company who owns Pocket FM directly, they have an easy to find email address. At least, as far as determining if it's real.

 

[Bimbanana]

Umm... the email on its message had name with @pocketfm.com in it.

Oh my, so it is real...

 

[Worthy39]

Umm... the email on its message had name and @pocketfm.com in it.

Oh my, so it is real...

I think you'd make an estimated one dollar per reader, but I'd have to double check that by downloading the app myself.

So, I checked again. They do a system where you don't unlock the entire book, you unlock "episodes" which I assume are chapters, it's about two dollars for 24 coins, and 6-11 coins for an episode. If you're getting ten percent per episode, you're making less than ten cents per person who listens to a chapter.

 

[Ararara]

I think you'd make an estimated one dollar per reader, but I'd have to double check that by downloading the app myself.

So, I checked again. They do a system where you don't unlock the entire book, you unlock "episodes" which I assume are chapters, it's about two dollars for 24 coins, and 6-11 coins for an episode. If you're getting ten percent per episode, you're making less than ten cents per person who listens to a chapter.

Less, I think. I doubt the way they calculate it is so straightforward. And many chapters are free up to limits, or can use watching ads to unlock, etc. It's an app mainly popular in India.

A quick google search shows the site is a bit shady (readers complaining about agressive monetization etc.)

Could be real, but I think 10% is too low to agree so fast. It's your story after all, and it's not a high chance they'd use real voice actors for it. Your existing readers can already listen to it for free with the text-to-speech in the RR app.

Would maybe be good to get proof they're legit, get on a videocall.

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

We summon @CharlesEBrown

 

[TheKillingAlice]

Ok guys, this is a serious question:

I just got a message asking me if they can adapt my Building World Peace story, saying they're from Pocket FM.

Now here's the thing:
The message came from someone who just paid membership on my Patreon. Not just on ordinary message.

What is Pocket FM? is it Audiobook thingy?

and they offer me this for adaptation:

"What we would like to offer: 10% Revenue share (open to negotiation). Full IP stays yours."

Is this good or not? (If this turns out to be real)

@CharlesEBrown once explained to me about how he has stories up on their site. They basically do audio books.
So it might just be real. Congratz? I mean, don't know if you want something like that or not.

 

[AliceMoonvale]

If it's real, 10% is nowhere near worth it and that site is shady af. Never wanted to use it.

 

[Ge.Dune]

Ok guys, this is a serious question:

I just got a message asking me if they can adapt my Building World Peace story, saying they're from Pocket FM.

Now here's the thing:
The message came from someone who just paid membership on my Patreon. Not just on ordinary message.

What is Pocket FM? is it Audiobook thingy?

and they offer me this for adaptation:

"What we would like to offer: 10% Revenue share (open to negotiation). Full IP stays yours."

Is this good or not? (If this turns out to be real)

A 10% revenue share is lower than the standard terms the platform typically offers to creators. Revenue Share: The standard “profit share” for exclusively published books on Pocket FM is typically 20% of lifetime revenue from coins spent and advertising. The 10% offered to you is most likely a starting point for negotiations that you should discuss. The clause stating “Full IP stays yours” (all intellectual property rights remain yours) is a huge advantage. Many standard platform contracts often require the transfer of exclusive rights or significant control over IP. The company is legitimate and profitable. However, authors often complain about poor support, “invisible” revenue statistics, and the use of AI for voiceovers, which can detract from the quality of your story. The fact that they reached out via Patreon might be a tactic to get your attention and demonstrate their seriousness, but be careful: always verify that the person has a corporate email address (@pocketfm.com) before signing any documents. Specify the audio format, negotiate. If they wrote it themselves, it means they really need the story (they need content to fill airtime). Waiting 1–2 days will only boost your standing. If they refuse to switch to an official email address or start pressuring you (“this offer is only valid for 24 hours”), then they’re either fraudulent intermediaries or have very poor management. An author never pays the publisher. If they ask for a “processing fee” or “tax,” they are 100% scammers. And pay close attention: if it’s an exclusive audio license, you’ll be tied down. Insist on a limited term with the option to terminate the agreement if revenue falls below a certain amount. In general, it’s best not to agree to an exclusive deal.

 

[Bimbanana]

I think you'd make an estimated one dollar per reader, but I'd have to double check that by downloading the app myself.

So, I checked again. They do a system where you don't unlock the entire book, you unlock "episodes" which I assume are chapters, it's about two dollars for 24 coins, and 6-11 coins for an episode. If you're getting ten percent per episode, you're making less than ten cents per person who listens to a chapter.

Thank you for checking it

Aah, so its like tapaz. Hmm, that's not much apparently.

Less, I think. I doubt the way they calculate it is so straightforward. And many chapters are free up to limits, or can use watching ads to unlock, etc. It's an app mainly popular in India.

A quick google search shows the site is a bit shady (readers complaining about agressive monetization etc.)

Could be real, but I think 10% is too low to agree so fast. It's your story after all, and it's not a high chance they'd use real voice actors for it. Your existing readers can already listen to it for free with the text-to-speech in the RR app.

Would maybe be good to get proof they're legit, get on a videocall.

I see... Well, at least this one not as shady as the audiobook website that actively accessing my RR every chapters (Which google instantly give me warning when i try to open it lol)

Yeah i guess 10% is a bit too low. And well, they would be in problem if they use real voice actors since i had dozens of protagonist hahaha.

They basically do audio books.
So it might just be real. Congratz? I mean, don't know if you want something like that or not.

Thanks? I dunno, i need to check the detail first, not that i dont needed money tho.

If it's real, 10% is nowhere near worth it and that site is shady af. Never wanted to use it.

But i'm that broke alice

A 10% revenue share is lower than the standard terms the platform typically offers to creators. Revenue Share: The standard “profit share” for exclusively published books on Pocket FM is typically 20% of lifetime revenue from coins spent and advertising. The 10% offered to you is most likely a starting point for negotiations that you should discuss. The clause stating “Full IP stays yours” (all intellectual property rights remain yours) is a huge advantage. Many standard platform contracts often require the transfer of exclusive rights or significant control over IP. The company is legitimate and profitable. However, authors often complain about poor support, “invisible” revenue statistics, and the use of AI for voiceovers, which can detract from the quality of your story. The fact that they reached out via Patreon might be a tactic to get your attention and demonstrate their seriousness, but be careful: always verify that the person has a corporate email address (@pocketfm.com) before signing any documents. Specify the audio format, negotiate. If they wrote it themselves, it means they really need the story (they need content to fill airtime). Waiting 1–2 days will only boost your standing. If they refuse to switch to an official email address or start pressuring you (“this offer is only valid for 24 hours”), then they’re either fraudulent intermediaries or have very poor management. An author never pays the publisher. If they ask for a “processing fee” or “tax,” they are 100% scammers. And pay close attention: if it’s an exclusive audio license, you’ll be tied down. Insist on a limited term with the option to terminate the agreement if revenue falls below a certain amount. In general, it’s best not to agree to an exclusive deal.

Ok so 20% is the benchmark eh....
Yes, the IP ownership that actually make their offer interesting, compared to the webnovel.
Oh? Many complaints about the statistics report eh? Noted.
Got it, i try my best to not looked desperate when dealing with them and thanks for remind me not into exclusive deal

 

[TheKillingAlice]

Thanks? I dunno, i need to check the detail first, not that i dont needed money tho.

Who doesn't?
But yeah, probably better to check first.

 

[Worthy39]

Thank you for checking it

Aah, so its like tapaz. Hmm, that's not much apparently.


I see... Well, at least this one not as shady as the audiobook website that actively accessing my RR every chapters (Which google instantly give me warning when i try to open it lol)

Yeah i guess 10% is a bit too low. And well, they would be in problem if they use real voice actors since i had dozens of protagonist hahaha.



Thanks? I dunno, i need to check the detail first, not that i dont needed money tho.


But i'm that broke alice


Ok so 20% is the benchmark eh....
Yes, the IP ownership that actually make their offer interesting, compared to the webnovel.
Oh? Many complaints about the statistics report eh? Noted.
Got it, i try my best to not looked desperate when dealing with them and thanks for remind me not into exclusive deal

I think the 10% is a non-exclusive contract, they want you to try and negotiate to twenty, and they'll probably agree if you agree to an exclusive contract.

 

[Bimbanana]

I think the 10% is a non-exclusive contract, they want you to try and negotiate to twenty, and they'll probably agree if you agree to an exclusive contract.

Ah yes, i remember that kind of bargaining strategy

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Ok guys, this is a serious question:

I just got a message asking me if they can adapt my Building World Peace story, saying they're from Pocket FM.

Now here's the thing:
The message came from someone who just paid membership on my Patreon. Not just on ordinary message.

What is Pocket FM? is it Audiobook thingy?

and they offer me this for adaptation:

"What we would like to offer: 10% Revenue share (open to negotiation). Full IP stays yours."

Is this good or not? (If this turns out to be real)

95% a scam - they only usually approach authors who either:

1) Enter a contest on their site and hit certain benchmarks in word count and listener retention or
2) Have a well-established book out there (My Vampire System, Solo Leveling).

There is a small chance that this is legit, that someone on their staff just loves your story enough to ignore the regular procedure, but I would bet against it. Sounds more like the "offers for work" I got from people representing the top publishing house in South Korea or Kindle Direct Publishing - looked legit at first but proved to be completely bogus very quickly.
Edit
Ah, missed the terms they offered. That sounds like what they offered the guy behind My Vampire System (and he wound up negotiating a much better deal, but is also unable or unwilling to go into specifics), not what they offer under the regular contract - under the regular contract, they have exclusive audio release rights, and you have to negotiate for permission to release in other formats (I don't have the clout to negotiate for anything so had to remove my two stories from this site).

The typical payout is based on "incentives" until the story is complete, and then lifetime revenue share (with 20% being the default offered) - and the incentives are based on benchmarks slightly less onerous than WebNovel.

 

[Bimbanana]

95% a scam - they only usually approach authors who either:

1) Enter a contest on their site and hit certain benchmarks in word count and listener retention or
2) Have a well-established book out there (My Vampire System, Solo Leveling).

There is a small chance that this is legit, that someone on their staff just loves your story enough to ignore the regular procedure, but I would bet against it. Sounds more like the "offers for work" I got from people representing the top publishing house in South Korea or Kindle Direct Publishing - looked legit at first but proved to be completely bogus very quickly.
Edit
Ah, missed the terms they offered. That sounds like what they offered the guy behind My Vampire System (and he wound up negotiating a much better deal, but is also unable or unwilling to go into specifics), not what they offer under the regular contract - under the regular contract, they have exclusive audio release rights, and you have to negotiate for permission to release in other formats (I don't have the clout to negotiate for anything so had to remove my two stories from this site).

So, here's the full message:

Spoiler: spoiler

Spoiler: spoiler

Yes, it sounds too good to be true.
But the thing that makes me uncertain is because they paid 8 bucks just to send me this message on patreon.
Basically, i kinda wish this is true, so i just replied them to arrange a meeting call.
While still researching what i need to ask and what i need to negotiate while praying hard they not asking me for money for anything

 

[CharlesEBrown]

So, here's the full message:

Hi Bimbanana,

I recently came across Building World Peace with My Bloodthirsty Demon Army and was really impressed by how bold and entertaining the concept is. The idea of an orc protagonist using modern knowledge, internet culture, and political strategy to reshape a fantasy world creates a very fresh and chaotic narrative.

I'm reaching out from Pocket FM (world's largest serialized audio platform) with a licensing opportunity. We adapt stories into dual and full-cast, scripted episodic audio series (not audiobooks). Think dramatized episodes with cinematic sound design, ~10 min each, released serially.

What we would like to offer: 10% Revenue share (open to negotiation). Full IP stays yours.

You can also hear our production quality here: https://pocketfm.com/show/ba2d9038fc3853c464c8be7a34a0576f26145106

We would love to talk to you—would you be open to a short call?

On behalf of ........... Director - Licensing, Pocket FM [............@pocketfm.com]


The thing that makes me uncertain if its a scam or not, because they paid 8 bucks to send me this message on patreon.
Basically, i kinda wish this is true, so i just replied them to arrange a meeting call.
And still researching what i need to ask and what i need to negotiate while praying hard they not asking me for money for anything

How many chapters long is your story? Is it near completion?
On their standard website, they only have AI readers for "regular" authors. This does sound like what they approach established authors with (the only full cast or even multi-voice audio I've heard from them is Solo Leveling, though at least one other recent addition - possibly Shadow Slave - claims this too, but the first chapter only had one voice as far as I listened). One author did comment on getting a "rebuild" option when they hit a certain number of listeners, that might have included multiple voices.

My GUESS is that, if this guy is legit, he's slightly dishonest and actually an agent who will represent you to Pocket FM and take a cut.

The company itself is based out of India - and that might make getting payment difficult if you have an ornery bank (I've been trying to get it to go through Fidelity, as they're supposedly one of the best if you don't need immediate access to the funds, but even that has been a freaking minefield, and my regular bank needs me to come in and fill out a form in person, pay a small annual fee and 3% of every transaction - if they waived any one of those three things - let me apply on line, dropped the annual fee, or dropped the percentage - they'd already be getting those funds...).

 

[Bimbanana]

How many chapters long is your story? Is it near completion?

now its 147 chapters, and no, its still like 200 or 300 more chapters to finish

The company itself is based out of India - and that might make getting payment difficult if you have an ornery bank (I've been trying to get it to go through Fidelity, as they're supposedly one of the best if you don't need immediate access to the funds, but even that has been a freaking minefield, and my regular bank needs me to come in and fill out a form in person, pay a small annual fee and 3% of every transaction - if they waived any one of those three things - let me apply on line, dropped the annual fee, or dropped the percentage - they'd already be getting those funds...).

What about Paypal?

 

[CharlesEBrown]

now its 147 chapters, and no, its still like 200 or 300 more chapters to finish


What about Paypal?

Sadly, not an option (though, given the headaches my wife's doll club recently had with them, I can understand it not being an option)

 

[Bimbanana]

Sadly, not an option (though, given the headaches my wife's doll club recently had with them, I can understand it not being an option)

Well, i hope my bank would do just fine.

My GUESS is that, if this guy is legit, he's slightly dishonest and actually an agent who will represent you to Pocket FM and take a cut.

Ah i see... that also can be a thing huh...

Thank you so much for your knowledge Mr. Charles.

I guess i should try dig deeper when i'm on call with them and navigate carefully.