ZIN and SYNC Members: Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sommos™?

Sommos™ is an all-in-one platform for instructors to manage and easily monetize their fitness business. Instructors can consolidate all their class types and offerings into one place, and access tools to host, manage, and collect payment for their in-person, virtual, and On Demand classes. Instructors can easily manage their clients, see their transaction history, and communicate with their community. Plus, automated messaging and tools, as well as features such as Offers, Class Packs, and Memberships, help instructors turn potential students into avid recurring clients while also saving time in managing their business.

What makes Sommos™ different from ZIN Studio™/SYNC Studio™, and current class management tools?

Sommos allows you to:

• Consolidate all your class modalities (Zumba, STRONG Nation, and any other such as Yoga, Spinning, etc) in one place
• Take payment for all class types: in-person, virtual, Video On Demand (VOD)
• Continue to feature Zumba/STRONG Nation classes to students on all class searches - Sommos, Zumba and STRONG Nation platforms - while consolidating class management in 1 place
• Access additional tools such as Memberships, Community management, automation + more

What does Sommos™ Beta mean?

The Sommos™ Beta testing phase means the platform is fully functional, with additional features and enhancements being worked on that will release soon. We will be continuing to release new features in the upcoming weeks. During this Beta phase, we are actively listening to instructor and client feedback, and users of the platform will have an active opportunity to help shape Sommos™ and its features.

Where is Sommos™ currently available? Are there plans to expand?

Sommos™ is currently available to all instructors who live in the U.S.  There are plans for potential expansion to other countries in the future, based on rollout feasibility and adoption.

As an instructor in the US, if you have clients internationally, these clients can still access and take your classes on Sommos™.

Is there a cost, fee, or commitment for instructors to use Sommos™?

No, for instructors there are no fees, memberships, or committments to set up and manage their business on Sommos™.

To help maintain and improve the platform, there is an administrative fee that is charged to the student on each transaction. If they wish, instructors can choose to cover this fee or split it 50/50 with their students - otherwise the platform is free for the instructor.

To learn more about Sommos fees, click here

Do Sommos™ and ZIN/SYNC Studio work together?

Sommos™ and ZIN/SYNC Studio are separate platforms, and you still have full access to ZIN/SYNC Studio when you use Sommos™.

When you create an account on Sommos™, as a ZIN and SYNC Member you'll have the ability to import your Zumba® and STRONG Nation® in-person and livestream classes onto Sommos™. This will allow you to centralize the back-end management of your classes in one place, while still having your classes show up for students on all class search listings - including Sommos™, zumba.com, strongnation.com, zumba.dance and strongnation.fit.

Regardless of which platform your clients access the class through, the experience is seamless- they'll be taken to Sommos™ to finalize registration, with no account creation needed on Sommos™.

Is Sommos™ replacing any of my ZIN/SYNC tools?

No, Sommos™ is an additional platform and not replacing any of your ZIN/SYNC benefits. You will continue to have access to ZIN/SYNC Studio and to post classes directly on zumba.com and STRONGNation.com.

What can and can't I do on Sommos™ based on my ZIN/SYNC licensing agreement?

ZIN/SYNC License Agreement guidelines must be followed when using the Sommos™ platform. For example, it is each instructors responsibility to ensure that he/she has the appropriate music licensing rights in place for the classes they post on the Sommos™ platform.

Zumba and STRONG Video on Demand classes can only be hosted on ZIN Studio, SYNC Studio and Sommos following the right guidelines

What music guidelines apply on Sommos™?

Instructors are responsible for obtaining the necessary licenses for the music they use in their classes. Depending on the class type, those rules are different:

For video on Demand classes, generally speaking, instructors need to obtain master, synchronization, and public performance licenses, or use license-free music. For Zumba classes, you may use songs outside of the Zumba Pre-Record approved list as long as you obtain the right licenses.

For livestream and in-person classes, generally speaking, instructors need to obtain the appropriate public performance license(s) from the Performance Rights Organization(s) (“PROs”) in the country in which they are teaching. In the United States, the PROs are ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. Instructors may or may not need licenses from all three societies based on their use and selection of music.

If you have questions about music licensing rights, please contact [e-mail].

Is there a Sommos™ app?

At this time, the Sommos™ platform is currently available via the web, but there are plans for a potential app rollout in the future.

What are the rules for posting Video On Demand classes on Sommos.fit?

To post a Video on Demand class on sommos.fit, you must have all of the necessary music licensing rights in place for the music included in your Video on Demand class and the Video on Demand class must be uploaded onto YouTube as an "Unlisted" video. This means that while YouTube is hosting your Video on Demand class, your class will not appear in the "Videos" tab on your YouTube channel homepage and it will not show up in YouTube's search results. If we receive a report from a rights owner that a Video on Demand class you posted violates these rules, we will remove the link to your Video on Demand class from the Sommos™ platform. Repeated violations of these rules could result in the suspension or termination of your account.

What payment provider does Sommos™ use? Can I still use Paypal when I import my classes to Sommos™?

Sommos™ uses Stripe, a leading third-party payment provider. With Stripe, you can accept over 135 different payment types from all over the world. Sommos.fit does not connect directly to Paypal; however, many of the same payment types accepted by Paypal are also accepted by Stripe.

Can I host free classes on Sommos™?

Sommos.fit is for paid classes; however, you have the ability to grant a First Class free, First Week free, and up to 10 free classes for any students that have pre-paid packages. More features are being developed to help you promote classes at gyms or other locations where you don't take payment directly - stay tuned! 

I have students with pre-paid packages. How do I honor their classes?

Sommos.fit allows you to grant up to 10 classes for any students that have pre-paid packages

What happens when I sync and import my classes from Zumba.com/Strongnation.fit to Sommos™? How should students access, and where do I manage my classes?

When you sync and import your classes from zumba.com/STRONGNation.fit :

• You’ll now manage the classes you imported directly on sommos.fit 
• Virtual classes will automatically be made live on sommos.fit; in-person classes may go into Inactive state if there is no class price listed. Add a class price and save the class to make it Active.
• Your classes will still be posted and featured to new + existing students on all class search platforms- including Zumba, STRONG Nation and Sommos.
• New Zumba and STRONG Nation classes posted on sommos.fit will automatically also be posted and featured on Zumba and STRONG Nation platforms.
• Regardless of the platform a client accesses your class, the experience is seamless and they’ll be taken to Sommos to finalize registration & payment.
• If you transferred your student contacts, they’ll receive an email with your Class Schedule on Sommos.

What happens to my students who have already registered to a class on zumba.dance or STRONGNation.fit?

Only classes that don't yet have registrations are transferrable to sommos.fit via the ZIN/SYNC Transfer Experience. If you have classes with existing registrations, you should finish hosting that class on zumba.dance/STRONGNation.fit, and move any future classes to Sommos™.

I have classes posted on zumba.com/STRONGNation.com where the gym collects payment directly. Should I transfer these classes to Sommos™?

Only classes where you collect payment directly should be transferred to Sommos. More features are being developed to help you promote classes at gyms or other locations where you don't take payment directly - stay tuned!

If I transfer/sync my classes to Sommos™ , and I decide I no longer want to use Sommos™, can I revert the transfer?

Yes, you will have the ability to un-sync your account and transfer back your Zumba® and/or STRONG Nation® classes if you wish.

How will my students be able to access my Zoom classes?

For classes hosted via Zoom, clients will receive access via their sommos.fit dashboard and through automated class reminders sent by sommos.fit

How do I contact Sommos support? 

Email us at [e-mail] 

Please note the Sommos team is will be at the Zumba Instructor Convention Aug-1014 and response time may be delayed.  Contact us at the email above with any questions, and a Sommos team member will reach out to you by next week. 

For additional questions on the platform and functionality, or for student questions, visit the General FAQs.