Membership Tiers on Sleeve
Membership Tiers on Sleeve
Membership tiers let you offer deeper access to the fans who want to support you directly. They sit alongside your public site, releases, email list, and posts... they don't replace them.
Tiers work best as a softer, more intimate layer of your artist presence... a place for early listens, behind-the-scenes context, and the people who want to be closer to what you're making.
Membership tiers are a paid Sleeve feature. They unlock on Pro and above. See Pricing.
How to think about tiers
A good tier setup is simple, honest, and sustainable.
- Start with free. Your public posts and free follower tier help fans stay in the loop without committing.
- Be clear. Let fans know what they're supporting and what they'll get.
- Keep it simple. A couple of meaningful tiers usually outperform a long, confusing menu.
- Stay sustainable. Only promise what you can realistically deliver. Don't lock yourself into a "weekly demo" you'll resent in six months.
- Think relationship, not transactions. Fans aren't buying content... they're supporting you.
Default tiers on Sleeve
Sleeve gives every artist a set of starting tiers. You can rename them, adjust pricing, or build your own from scratch. Here's what each one is:
1. Public (free for everyone)
Anyone can see these posts on your site without signing in or following.
2. Follower (free)
Fans who follow you (free) can:
- Receive your public posts by email
- Comment on posts and interact with Notes
- Stay connected without paying
3. Backstage Pass (suggested: $5/month)
A light, low-friction tier for the core fans who want to support you. Common perks:
- Early access to new music or demos
- Behind-the-scenes posts
- Creative notes, ideas, works-in-progress
4. All Access (suggested: $10+/month)
For fans who want a deeper connection. Common perks include everything from Backstage Pass plus:
- In-depth commentary, Q&As, or livestreams
- Access to member-only releases or limited content
- Direct engagement, polls, messages
These are starting points. Rename them, reprice them, or replace them entirely.
What to offer in your tiers
Ideas that work well across genres and fanbases:
- Early access to music... private links, demos, stems, drafts
- Behind-the-scenes content... writing sessions, voice memos, lyric scans
- Livestreams or Q&As... intimate, low-tech, conversational
- Direct engagement... polls, messages, comments
- Priority access... merch, shows, special drops, member-only releases
The most powerful benefit isn't the content. It's the feeling of being part of your process.
Updating your tiers
- Open your artist dashboard (open the Your Sleeve menu in the top-right, choose Manage).
- Click the Membership tab.
- Edit existing tiers (name, pricing, perks) or add a new one.
- Save.
You can change your structure anytime. Existing members keep their grandfathered pricing until they cancel and re-subscribe. Communicate clearly when you change things... most fans will adapt without issue.
Comping or inviting fans
You can comp or invite specific fans to a paid tier for free. Useful for friends, collaborators, label folk, journalists, or anyone you want to give member-only access without payment.
To send a comp, open the Membership tab, choose the tier, and use the invite option. The fan gets an email with a link to claim the membership.
Tiers are connection, not obligation
The right fans will meet you where you are... a couple of thoughtful monthly posts, early access to new work, a private space to share ideas as they form.
Tiers should make your work feel more sustainable, not more demanding. If a tier you set up starts feeling like a chore, change it. Renaming, repricing, or retiring a tier is normal... it's part of running a real artist business.
If you want help thinking through your tier structure, reply to support@sleeve.fm and we'll work through it with you.