SpotsNow Privacy Policy

Last Updated: November 4, 2025

Drop Station Inc. d/b/a Station and SpotsNow (“Drop Station,” “SpotsNow,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use the SpotsNow platform, websites, and services (collectively, the “Service”). SpotsNow is a discovery and introduction platform that allows Publishers (media owners such as podcasts, video creators, and newsletters) to list available ad inventory (“Spots”) and Brands (advertisers or agencies) to discover, contact, and negotiate directly with those Publishers. This Privacy Policy forms part of and is incorporated into the SpotsNow Terms of Service and, where applicable, the SpotsNow Data Processing Addendum (“DPA”) and Publisher Commission Agreement.

1. Acceptance of this Privacy Policy

By accessing or using the Service, creating a SpotsNow account, or submitting data through the platform, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. If you do not agree, you should not access or use the Service.

2. The Types of Data We Collect

We collect Personal Data (information that identifies you directly or indirectly) and Anonymous or Aggregated Data (information that does not identify you).

2.1 Information You Provide to Us

For Publishers (Shows, Media Owners):

Name, business name, email address, and password when creating an Account.
Public listing data: show title, description, categories, website, audience demographics, ad rates, availability, and performance metrics (downloads, impressions, geography, listener age range).
Optional demographic fields you choose to display publicly (e.g., brand categories accepted, ad types, sponsorship tiers).
Files, messages, and contracts uploaded or exchanged with Brands through the SpotsNow messaging interface.
Verification documents if required (e.g., proof of show ownership or ID for compliance).

For Brands (Advertisers, Agencies):

Name, company, title, email address, password, and contact preferences.
Campaign details, budgets, or requests submitted to Publishers.
Communications, attachments, and contracts exchanged with Publishers through the platform.
Subscription preferences for our “Deals Digest” newsletter or alerts.

For All Users:

Communications with SpotsNow (support requests, feedback, or surveys).
Information you provide in forms, uploads, or during account verification.

2.2 Information Automatically Collected

When you use the Service, we and our partners automatically collect:

Device Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, language settings.
Usage Data: interactions with listings, searches, messages sent, and profile updates.
Log Data: timestamps, referring pages, error logs, and similar diagnostic data.
Cookies and Pixels: used to maintain sessions, measure activity, and improve performance (see Section 4).

2.3 Information From Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

Social media or podcast directories when you claim a show or integrate your account.
Payment or tax processors for compliance (only if you use optional Paid Services).
Public sources and industry data providers (e.g., show charts or ratings) to pre-populate listings.

3. How We Use Personal Data

We use the information we collect to operate, maintain, and improve the SpotsNow platform, specifically to:

Facilitate introductions between Publishers and Brands.
Display public listing data about Publishers to help Brands and Publishers evaluate opportunities.
Deliver messaging and file exchange functionality between parties.
Manage account access, authentication, and security.
Support lead delivery and platform analytics to improve user experience.
Provide customer support, respond to inquiries, and resolve disputes.
Send administrative notices, policy updates, and optional marketing communications.
Prevent fraud, misuse, and unauthorized access.
Comply with legal, tax, and regulatory obligations.
Produce aggregated insights and analytics to improve the Service.

4. Public Listing Data

Certain information you provide as a Publisher (for example, audience demographics, pricing, availability, and show details) may be displayed publicly on your SpotsNow profile.

Public listing data is treated as voluntarily disclosed information and is visible to logged-in Brands and, in some cases, visitors browsing available opportunities.
Some fields may be verified or locked by Drop Station to ensure marketplace accuracy (for example, verified downloads or average CPM).
Publishers can edit most fields in their listings; however, removing required public data may disable visibility or eligibility to receive leads.
SpotsNow may retain aggregated or anonymized listing data for analytics, even if you deactivate your Account.

Example: Just as a property listing shows the number of bedrooms, price, and square footage, a SpotsNow listing may display audience size, rate per spot, and demographic mix. This data helps Brands assess opportunities transparently.

5. Messaging and Contractual Data

When a Brand and Publisher communicate or exchange files through the Service, Drop Station processes that data to facilitate introductions and maintain a secure messaging environment.

Messages, attachments, and files exchanged are stored securely and are accessible only to the relevant parties and authorized SpotsNow personnel who maintain platform integrity.
Drop Station acts as a Data Processor for this messaging data, processing it solely to operate the Service and ensure compliance with platform rules.
We do not access, manage, or verify the financial terms, payment status, campaign flights, make-goods, or other performance obligations of any advertising agreement between users.
These records may be retained for up to three (3) years for compliance, security, and dispute-resolution purposes.

6. Legal Bases for Processing (EEA/UK Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (“EEA”) or the United Kingdom (“UK”), we rely on the following legal bases for processing your personal data:

Contractual Necessity – to perform our obligations under the SpotsNow Terms of Service, including creating listings, facilitating introductions, and providing the Service.
Legitimate Interests – to operate, maintain, verify, and improve the platform; display public listing data; ensure marketplace transparency; and prevent fraud or misuse.
Consent – for optional activities such as receiving the Deals Digest newsletter, marketing emails, or cookie-based analytics.
Legal Obligation – to comply with applicable laws, including tax, anti-fraud, and data-protection requirements.

Where we rely on legitimate interest, we balance that interest against your rights and reasonable expectations and implement safeguards to minimize impact.

7. How We Disclose Personal Data

We disclose data only in the ways described below or with your consent.

7.1 Public Listing Data (Publishers)

Certain Publisher-provided information—such as show title, category, audience demographics, availability, and rates—is intentionally public to help Brands evaluate advertising opportunities.

Only the data you choose to make public (and any verified metrics maintained by Drop Station) will appear on your SpotsNow profile.
Removing or hiding required public fields may limit your eligibility to appear in search results or receive leads.
Aggregated marketplace statistics (e.g., average CPM by category) may continue to be used after a listing is removed, but without identifying you personally.

7.2 Introductions, Messaging and Contract Data

When a Brand contacts a Publisher through the Service, Drop Station processes the associated messages, attachments, and contract files as a neutral intermediary. These data are shared only between the relevant Publisher, Brand, and authorized SpotsNow personnel who maintain platform integrity.

7.3 Service Providers and Vendors

We engage trusted third-party vendors to help operate SpotsNow, including:

Hosting and Infrastructure Providers (e.g., AWS, GCP) for secure data storage;
Analytics Partners for usage measurement in aggregated form;
Email and Notification Services for system messages and updates;
Identity Verification and Fraud Prevention Providers to validate user authenticity.

All vendors are bound by written agreements requiring confidentiality and compliance with applicable privacy laws.

7.4 Business Transfers

If Drop Station undergoes a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to continued protection consistent with this Policy.

7.5 Legal and Compliance Requirements

We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or to protect the rights, property, and safety of Drop Station, our users, or others.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights with respect to your personal data:

Access and Portability – Request a copy of the data we hold about you in a portable format.
Rectification – Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information, including your Publisher profile fields.
Erasure (“Right to Be Forgotten”) – Request deletion of your personal data where permitted by law. Note that we may retain limited data necessary to maintain lawful business records or verify commission obligations.
Restriction or Objection – Request that we limit processing or object to processing based on legitimate interests.
Consent Withdrawal – Withdraw consent for marketing or cookies at any time without affecting prior lawful processing.

To exercise these rights, email privacy@spotsnow.co or use available account controls. We may require proof of identity before responding. If you are in the EEA or UK and believe we have not resolved your request satisfactorily, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. Retention periods depend on the category of information and the purpose of processing:

Account and Profile Data: We keep your account information for the duration of your active account and for up to ninety (90) days after you close it, in case you wish to reactivate your account or for record-keeping purposes.
Public Listing Data: We retain listing information while your profile or listing remains active on SpotsNow. After removal, certain information may remain in anonymized or aggregated form for analytics and market-transparency reporting.
Messages and Files: We retain communications and any attachments exchanged between users for approximately three (3) years from your last interaction with the relevant Brand or Publisher, or longer if required by law, to support dispute resolution and platform integrity.
Marketing Contacts: We keep contact details used for newsletters or promotional messages until you opt out or for up to two (2) years of inactivity, whichever occurs first.
Logs and Security Data: We retain server logs, diagnostic information, and other security-related records for up to twelve (12) months for fraud detection and system-integrity purposes.

After these periods, personal data is securely deleted, anonymized, or aggregated. Some limited information may remain in backup archives for a short time before automatic deletion.

10. Security Measures

We employ administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal data against loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, or alteration, including:

Encryption of data at rest and in transit (TLS 1.2+);
Role-based access controls and least-privilege principles;
Regular security audits, penetration testing, and monitoring;
Secure storage for uploaded contracts and message attachments;
Employee confidentiality obligations and data-protection training.

Despite our efforts, no online service can be completely secure. You acknowledge that transmitting information over the internet involves inherent risk and that Drop Station cannot guarantee absolute security of your data. In the event of a data breach affecting your personal information, we will notify you and applicable regulators in accordance with law.

11. International Data Transfers

Drop Station Inc. is based in the United States, and your personal data may be transferred to and processed in the United States or other countries that may not provide the same level of data protection as your home jurisdiction. Where required by law, we use appropriate safeguards such as the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses or other lawful transfer mechanisms to ensure that your personal data remains protected. By using the Service or providing information to us, you consent to the transfer of your personal data to the United States and other locations where we or our service providers operate, consistent with this Privacy Policy.

12. Children’s Privacy

The Service is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 13.

If we learn that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13 (or under 16 in jurisdictions requiring higher age thresholds), we will take reasonable steps to delete such data promptly.

If you believe a minor has provided information through the Service, please contact us at privacy@spotsnow.co.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update or modify this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.

When we make material changes, we will notify you by updating the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, by providing additional notice such as email or an in-platform banner.

Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any revised Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about our information-handling practices.

14. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy or our data-protection practices, you may contact us using the details below:

Drop Station Inc. d/b/a Station and SpotsNow

Attn: Legal Department

P.O. Box [____] Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 USA

Email: privacy@spotsnow.co

For general support or platform-related questions, please contact support@spotsnow.co.

We will respond to privacy inquiries within a reasonable time and in accordance with applicable law.