Incarcerated Creators Program
Creativity Doesn't Stop at the Gate.
High Profile Music believes that incarceration should never silence a songwriter. The HPM Incarcerated Creators Program provides a structured, dignified pathway for incarcerated writers to have their songs heard, registered, and placed — through a network of approved representatives.
Our Commitment
Why This Program Exists
Incarcerated songwriters face a unique and unjust barrier: the music industry's standard submission and communication channels are simply inaccessible from inside a correctional facility. Songs go unregistered. Royalties go uncollected. Talent goes unheard.
HPM created the Incarcerated Creators Program to close that gap. We work with approved representatives — family members, attorneys, advocates, and trusted community organizations — to receive, review, and pitch songs on behalf of incarcerated writers.
Every song submitted through this program is treated with the same professional care as any other HPM catalog submission. Writers retain their rights. Representatives are vetted. And every placement generates royalties that belong to the writer.
100%
Writer retains publishing rights
Vetted
All representatives screened by HPM
Direct
Royalties paid to writer or designee
"A song written in a cell deserves the same shot as a song written in a studio."
— HPM Founding Principle
The Process
How the Program Works
Representative Applies
A family member, attorney, advocate, or community organization applies to become an approved HPM representative on behalf of the incarcerated writer. HPM reviews and vets all representative applications.
Writer Submits Songs
Once a representative is approved, the incarcerated writer sends handwritten or typed lyrics, chord charts, and any available recordings through approved mail or secure digital channels to their representative.
Representative Submits to HPM
The approved representative submits the writer's material to HPM through our secure online portal, along with a signed authorization form from the writer confirming the representative's authority.
HPM Reviews & Registers
HPM's A&R team reviews the submission. Accepted songs are registered with the appropriate PROs, added to the HPM catalog, and actively pitched to artists, labels, and music supervisors.
Placements & Royalties
When a song is placed or licensed, royalties are collected by HPM and distributed to the writer through their designated representative or directly to the writer's facility account where permitted.
Accessibility
Secure Submission Methods
We've designed our submission process to work within the real constraints of correctional facilities.
Physical Mail
Handwritten or typed lyrics, chord charts, and song descriptions can be mailed by the writer to their approved representative, who then submits digitally to HPM. All physical materials are handled with care and returned upon request.
Secure Digital Portal
Approved representatives have access to HPM's secure submission portal. All uploads are encrypted, access-logged, and tied to the representative's verified account.
Audio Recordings
Where facility rules permit, audio recordings (phone recordings, facility recording sessions, or home demos recorded before incarceration) can be submitted alongside lyric sheets to give HPM's team the fullest picture of the song.
Representatives
Who Can Be a Representative?
HPM approves representatives on a case-by-case basis. We prioritize relationships that are clearly in the writer's best interest.
Family Members
Spouses, parents, siblings, or adult children of the incarcerated writer.
Attorneys
Licensed attorneys representing the writer in any legal capacity.
Advocates & Case Workers
Nonprofit advocates, reentry organizations, or case workers with a documented relationship to the writer.
Community Organizations
Approved music education nonprofits, prison arts programs, or community organizations with established HPM partnerships.
Required Documentation
- Government-issued photo ID
- Signed authorization letter from the incarcerated writer
- Documentation of relationship to the writer
- Agreement to HPM's Representative Code of Conduct
- Background screening (for non-attorney representatives)
All representative applications are reviewed by HPM's program team. Approval is not guaranteed and is subject to HPM's Representative Code of Conduct. HPM reserves the right to revoke representative status at any time if the writer's interests are not being served.
Writer protections are non-negotiable. Representatives may never transfer, sell, or assign a writer's rights without explicit written consent from the writer. HPM monitors all representative activity.
Get Started
Apply to Become an Approved Representative
If you are a family member, attorney, advocate, or organization seeking to represent an incarcerated songwriter, complete this form to begin the vetting process. HPM reviews all applications within 5–7 business days.
HPM reviews all applications within 5–7 business days.
You will receive an email confirmation immediately upon submission.
If approved, you will receive access credentials for the secure submission portal.
Questions? Contact HPM directly at the address on our Contact page.
For Songwriters
Not Incarcerated? Explore Standard Membership.
HPM's songwriter membership is open to all creators. Browse plans starting at $19/month.