Understanding Contributor Status Badges

Learn what each status badge means on the Contributors page

What Are Status Badges?

Status badges appear next to each contributor's name on the Contributors page. They show you at a glance whether a contributor has signed up for an account, has an email on file, or needs additional information.

These badges help you track which contributors are ready to receive royalty statements and which ones need more setup.

Status Badge Types

Active

Active

The contributor has signed up for their own Familiar account using the email you provided. They can now:

  • • View their royalty information and sales data
  • • Download their royalty statements
  • • Update their payment details
  • • Add and manage their pen names

Note: Once a contributor is Active, you can no longer change their email address. The contributor controls their own email through their account settings.

Email on File

Email on File

You've added an email address for this contributor, but they haven't signed up yet. This status means:

  • • The email is saved and ready to use
  • • No automatic invitations have been sent
  • • You can still change or update the email address
  • • The contributor will receive an invitation when you send them their first royalty statement

Important: Adding an email does NOT automatically send anything to the contributor. They'll only receive communication when you explicitly generate and send a royalty statement.

No Email

No Email

This contributor doesn't have an email address on file. Without an email, you cannot:

  • • Send royalty statements to them
  • • Invite them to view their own data
  • • Notify them about payments

Click "View Details" and then "Edit" to add an email address for this contributor. See our guide on Adding Emails to Contributors for more information.

Common Questions

When should I add an email to a contributor?

Add emails whenever you're ready to start sending royalty statements to contributors. You can add emails at any time without worrying about sending automatic notifications—nothing is sent until you explicitly generate a statement.

Can I change a contributor's email after they've signed up?

No. Once a contributor has an "Active" status (meaning they've signed up), they control their own email address. If they need to change it, they can do so in their account settings. This protects contributor privacy and ensures account security.

How do contributors sign up?

When you generate and send a royalty statement to a contributor with "Email on File" status, they'll receive an email with a link to sign up. They can then create their own Familiar account using that same email address to view their royalty information.

What if a contributor uses a different email to sign up?

Contributors must sign up using the same email address you have on file. This ensures they're linked to the correct contributor record and can see their royalty data. If they try to sign up with a different email, they won't be able to access their royalty information.