Hey there! We’re Softside, a platform that connects music artists & creative fans via officially licensed, fan-designed merchandise partnerships.
We are transforming how artists handle merch by including their most talented and passionate fans in the designing process.
Softside was built with the underlying belief that "We're All Artists." Our approach to strengthening the fan experience all begins with how we view them in the first place: not as one-way consumers, but rather, as wildly talented creators with brilliant works and perspectives to offer.
We want to pay closer attention, break down a few walls, and take fan art to another level.
Everyday we come across stunning merch & artwork sold online by fans inspired by their favorite music artists.
While many artists appreciate the support, these unofficial merch pieces are considered "bootleg," as they are not listed with proper approvals, licensing, and payouts in place.
As a result, fan merch is typically ignored (or worse, taken down).
Softside recognizes the beautiful talent and unwavering enthusiasm of these fans. So, we're building a collaborative ecosystem that simplifies the IP licensing process, creates a structured revenue sharing system, and, ultimately, uplifts fans' creative work while directly involving the music artists.
Rather than turn a blind eye to the "bootleg" merch market, we choose to amplify the spirit behind it — and do it correctly.
Artwork by Addie Low
