Melanated Stock — Brand Master Guide

This is the canonical, table-free master for Melanated Stock within the CrownThrive™ ecosystem. It explains the brand’s mission, features, audiences, licensing, contributor economics, onboarding, and its integration within the CrownThrive ecosystem. The content below reflects the verified, up-to-date details from melanatedstock.com as of October 2025.

0) Document Metadata

  • Brand: Melanated Stock
  • URL (canonical): melanatedstock.com
  • Doc Type: Brand Master (Public Help Center)
  • Owner: CrownThrive Media & Licensing
  • Version: v1.1 (Verified Oct 2025)
  • Last Updated: 2025‑10‑19
  • Review Cadence: Quarterly or on major release
  • CHLOM™ Fingerprint ID: [auto‑generated]
  • Canonical Source: Help Center → Brand Masters → Melanated Stock

1) Brand Snapshot

  1. One‑liner: A culture‑first licensing marketplace for authentic photography and creative assets by melanated creators.
  2. Elevator pitch: Melanated Stock was built by CrownThrive, LLC in Gretna, Virginia, as a community‑driven media marketplace where Black and Brown photographers, filmmakers, and illustrators can sell their work directly to brands, media, and educators seeking authentic, rights‑cleared visuals. Contributors keep 80% of every sale, and buyers get transparent license rights.
  3. Core promise: Real representation, fair pay, and creative ownership.
  4. Role in CrownThrive: Visual licensing engine powering creative campaigns across Melanated Voices, Melanated TV, CrownThrive IO, CrownLytics, CrownPulse, ThrivePush, CrownRewards, CrownFluence, Kamora360, The Mane Experience, and The Artful Mane Gallery.

2) Mission, Vision, Values

  • Mission: Redefine stock media by making authentic, melanated imagery accessible and profitable for creators.
  • Vision (3–5 years): To be the world’s leading culture‑first image and footage library, owned by its creators and trusted by institutions.
  • Values: Representation • Ownership • Fair Pay • Authenticity • Accessibility • Cultural Integrity.
  • Operating tenets: Pay creators first; license transparently; empower buyers to source ethically.

3) Audiences (Who It’s For)

  • Contributors: Verified photographers, videographers, illustrators, and digital artists producing original media.
  • Buyers: Brands, publishers, educators, marketers, agencies, and creators seeking authentic, rights‑cleared visuals.
  • Partners: Cultural institutions, universities, NGOs, and brands commissioning special collections.
  • Eligibility: 18+; rights‑cleared, original content only; model/property releases mandatory for commercial use.

4) Persona Library (Narrative Profiles)

Independent Visual Creator Goals: Monetize authentic stories and expand reach. Pain points: Low commissions and bias on legacy stock platforms. Signals: Portfolio growth, approval rate, payouts. Touchpoints: Upload dashboard → release submission → portfolio → analytics.

Cultural Publisher Goals: Acquire visuals that represent real people and places. Pain points: Over‑filtered or staged imagery. Signals: Downloads, reuse rights, author engagement. Touchpoints: Search → license → checkout → compliance proof.

Educator/Non‑Profit Buyer Goals: Use representative visuals for lessons and campaigns. Pain points: Budget constraints; unclear attribution rules. Signals: License volume, attribution accuracy, campaign reuse. Touchpoints: Subscription → category filter → download.

5) Scenarios (Jobs‑To‑Be‑Done Playbooks)

  1. “Upload & Earn 80%” — Contributor registers, submits ID and tax form, uploads assets, attaches releases, and receives payout after first sale.
  2. “Curate a Brand Collection” — Buyer filters by tone, culture, or concept, licenses visuals, and exports usage logs to CrownLytics.
  3. “Editorial Syndication” — Journalist uploads a photo essay with editorial tag; buyers license under limited terms.
  4. “Institutional Collection” — Partner university curates verified content under cultural‑heritage license.
  5. “Creator Capsule” — Combine Melanated Stock visuals with Melanin Magic campaigns or ThrivePush activations.

6) Features and Tools

  • Contributor Portal: Upload, manage, and track earnings.
  • Buyers Hub: Instant downloads, invoices, and attribution logs.
  • Licenses: Standard (commercial/editorial), Extended (large print/run), and Custom/Exclusive.
  • Royalty Split: 80% to contributors, 20% retained by CrownThrive for hosting, processing, and maintenance.
  • Verification: KYC identity and W‑9 for U.S. contributors.
  • Search Filters: Tone, emotion, gender, ethnicity, location, and category.
  • Analytics: Views, sales, and royalty summaries.
  • Model/Property Release Manager: Upload and manage signed releases. Ecosystem hooks: CrownLytics, CrownPulse, ThrivePush, CrownRewards, CrownFluence, Kamora360, CrownThrive IO, ThriveTools/OPT + SEO, Melanated Voices, and Melanin Magic.

7) Pricing & Royalties

  • Contributors: Earn 80% per sale; royalties paid monthly once balance reaches threshold.
  • Buyers: Pay per download or via tiered subscription.
  • Subscriptions: Offer fixed download credits; renew automatically until canceled.
  • Licenses: Include Standard, Extended, and Custom/Exclusive; rights visible before purchase.
  • Refunds: Only for duplicate or unauthorized charges.
  • Taxes: Prices include fees unless stated. Guidance: Provide example pricing tiers (e.g., $20 Standard / $80 Extended) and transparent payout schedules.

8) Attribution, IP, and Licensing (CHLOM™)

  • Brand IP: Melanated Stock™ is a CrownThrive‑owned trademark.
  • Creator Rights: Contributors retain full copyright to uploaded works.
  • Licenses: Grant specific use cases; redistribution prohibited.
  • Automations: CHLOM™ License Exchange logs attribution, license metadata, and royalty trails for auditing and cross‑ecosystem reuse.

9) Data, Privacy, and Security

  • Data: Account data, transactions, analytics, uploads, and releases.
  • Security: Encrypted in transit and at rest; limited staff access; periodic audits.
  • Compliance: GDPR, DMCA, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Terms of Service.
  • User Rights: Export/deletion requests processed on verification.
  • Transparency: Real‑time earnings dashboard and automated CHLOM™ fingerprint per asset.

10) Onboarding & Quick Start

Contributors

  1. Sign up → verify ID → upload 10+ assets.
  2. Attach model/property releases.
  3. Await moderation approval.
  4. Track earnings and payout eligibility in dashboard. Buyers
  5. Browse → filter → add to cart → choose license.
  6. Checkout and download instantly.
  7. Generate invoice and attribution record.
  8. Export proof to CrownPulse and analytics to CrownLytics.

11) How‑Tos

  • Upload and tag content correctly for discovery.
  • Submit releases and confirm license type.
  • Track royalties and request payouts.
  • License visuals safely and generate compliance proof.
  • Submit DMCA or rights dispute report.
  • Publish a case study using CrownLytics and CrownPulse.

12) Troubleshooting & FAQs

  • “My upload was rejected.” Check focus, quality, and release completeness.
  • “I don’t see my payout.” Confirm threshold and review monthly cycle dates.
  • “Refunds?” Only duplicate or unauthorized purchases are eligible.
  • “Model release missing.” Required for commercial assets; editorial accepted only when marked.
  • SLA: Community (best effort), Standard (48h), Priority (24h), Enterprise (contracted).

13) Metrics & KPI Framework

  • North‑stars: Contributor earnings, buyer retention, approval speed.
  • Operational: Upload count, moderation time, payout timeliness.
  • Growth: Activation, monthly active creators, enterprise partners.
  • Reporting: Weekly snapshot, monthly report, quarterly review via CrownLytics; use CrownPulse visuals.
  • Data dictionary: Define sale, royalty, approval, refund, and contributor tier.

14) Community, Ambassadors, and Affiliates

  • Crown Ambassadors: Curate community collections and spotlights.
  • Crown Affiliates: Refer new contributors or buyers and earn commissions.
  • Community Standards: Representation accuracy, consent, and authenticity required.
  • Rewards: CrownRewards bonuses for referrals and milestones.

15) Accessibility & Inclusion

  • Baseline: Alt text on every image; accessible navigation; localized currency and units.
  • Representation: True cultural depiction; no tokenism.
  • Localization: Multi‑language site; regionalized pricing.
  • Accommodation: Contact path for accessible alternatives.

16) Sustainability, Social Good, and Impact

  • Environmental: Cloud optimization and offsets via EcoDrive and Stripe Climate.
  • Social: Training for emerging creators; equity reporting.
  • Impact: Annual pay equity and diversity report across CrownThrive Media Group.

17) Legal & Compliance

  • Policies: Terms, Privacy, Cookies, Refund, DMCA, and Content Guidelines.
  • Releases: Mandatory for identifiable individuals or properties.
  • Earnings: Contributors handle local tax filings; CrownThrive issues summaries.
  • Licensing: Enforced through CHLOM™ fingerprint and traceable royalties.

18) Roadmap & Changelog

  • Themes: AI tagging, new contributor dashboard, improved moderation tools, mobile uploads, enterprise API.
  • Recent releases: Date‑stamped updates with performance notes.
  • Feedback loop: Quarterly surveys and Collab Portal submissions.

19) Ecosystem Cross‑References (No Links)

FindCliques • NFTCliques • ChainCliques • CrownThrive IO • Locticians • SocialAIly • CrownLytics • CrownPulse • ThrivePush • ThriveTickets • Thrive AI Studio • NeuralCraft • ThriveTools/OPT • ThriveTools SEO • Kamora360 • The Mane Experience • Melanin Magic • Melanated Voices Platform (MVP on Roku) • Melanated Voices TV • CrownThriveU • CrownRewards • CrownFluence • Crown Ambassadors • Crown Affiliates • AdLuxe Network • Go‑Flipbooks • Collab Portal • The TAME Gallery • The Artful Mane Gallery • Wearable Art.

20) SEO & Editorial Voice

  • Category: Help Center → Brand Masters
  • Tags: stock photography, footage, licensing, creators, royalties, representation
  • Slug: /help/melanated-stock/master
  • Meta title: “Melanated Stock — Master Guide | CrownThrive”
  • Meta description: “Learn how to upload, license, and earn 80% royalties on authentic visuals through Melanated Stock — CrownThrive’s culture‑first media marketplace.”

21) Production Checklist (Ship‑Ready)

  • Mission/vision verified
  • Features confirmed from live site
  • Royalties & payout flow validated
  • Licensing & releases reviewed by Legal
  • How‑tos tested and time‑boxed
  • FAQs sourced from real issues
  • KPIs connected to CrownLytics
  • Accessibility & localization checked
  • Sustainability statements verified
  • CHLOM™ fingerprint confirmed
  • SEO meta & nav placement finalized
  • Support SLA mapping done
  • Changelog owner assigned

End of master. Clone for how‑to subsections (e.g., “Upload & Earn 80%,” “Curate a Brand Collection,” “Editorial Syndication,” “Institutional Collection,” “Creator Capsule,” “Monthly Royalty Review in CrownLytics”).

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Melanated Stock — Brand Master Guide (Help Center)