Today, I'll show you how to ensure you get 100% of the earnings from your music.
As an independent artist, you must understand the many revenue streams your music might produce. From performance royalties to sync licensing, each stream adds to your income. What are the benefits of mastering this knowledge? You will not leave money on the table and will fully utilize your artistic endeavors.
Unfortunately, many artists, maybe including you, are losing significant income due to a lack of awareness and management of various revenue streams.
Understanding The Maze of Music Royalties
Many musicians underestimate the complexity of music royalties, resulting in severe financial losses. Here's why.
Reason #1: Lack of Knowledge of Different Royalty Types Artists frequently don't grasp the various forms of royalties, such as mechanical, performance, and sync royalties, resulting in lost revenue.
Reason #2: Not registering songs properly Failure to register music in all essential databases or countries results in a loss of royalties.
Reason #3: Disregarding Neighboring Rights and Sound Exchange Many artists are ignorant of neighboring rights and SoundExchange, which collect royalties for recorded performances.
Reason #4: Not Using A Publishing Administrator Without a publishing administrator like Songtrust, you're unlikely to collect all of your mechanical royalties.
Reason #5: Not Being a Member of SAG-AFTRA or Similar Bodies Joining organizations such as SAG-AFTRA might help you earn more royalties, particularly for performances in audiovisual works.
Read Ari’s full article here.
But don't worry, I'll explain how to overcome these obstacles!
Step 1: Educate Yourself on Various Royalty Types
Understanding the various sorts of royalties is key. Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) such as ASCAP or BMI collect performance royalties when your work is played publicly. Mechanical royalties are made when your music is reproduced, disseminated, or streamed and collected by a publishing administrator such as Songtrust. Sync royalties are earned when your music is used in films, television, or advertisements, and they are normally negotiated on an individual basis.
Quick examples: Imagine your song gets broadcast on a French radio station; that is a performance royalty. Mechanical royalties are generated when the same song is streamed on Spotify. If it's utilized in a Netflix series, you'll get sync royalties.
Step 2: Register Your Music Everywhere.
To ensure adequate pay for your song, register it with several institutions in different nations. To earn performance royalties in each nation, register with a Performance Rights Organization (PRO). Also, cooperate with a publishing administrator to collect mechanical royalties. Consider joining SoundExchange to collect digital performance royalties from sound recordings. Each of these organizations addresses distinct parts of royalties, and it is critical to be registered with all relevant entities to maximize your revenues.
Many musicians make the mistake of simply registering with a PRO in one nation, which prevents them from collecting royalties in other territories where their music is performed and streamed. Make sure you're registered with all of the appropriate organizations so you can collect every penny you earn.
Step 3: Join Relevant Organizations to Collect Neighboring Rights
Finally, consider joining organizations like SAG-AFTRA, which can assist in collecting royalties for performances in audiovisual productions. Furthermore, recognize and collect adjacent rights that are owed for the performance of your recorded music (not the creation), particularly on platforms such as satellite radio and internet streaming.
Light at the end of the tunnel: By carefully handling these stages, you can ensure that no money goes unclaimed. These actions, while first scary, will result in a more substantial income from your music career, offering financial stability and recognition for your efforts.
To summarize, while collecting all of your music royalties can be difficult, it is extremely necessary for increasing your revenue as an independent musician. You can ensure the financial rewards of your creative activities by learning about the many sorts of royalties, ensuring that your music is properly registered, and employing the services of organizations such as PROs, publishing administrators, and SoundExchange. Remember that your music is more than just an artistic expression; it is a valuable asset that demands fair pay.
Wax Motif - In My Hands (with Camden Cox) - DNMO Remix
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Just a quick reminder that my playlist 'The Crown Jewels' has been updated with some fresh tunes! Make sure to give it a listen and follow, as I update it every week. If you have music you'd like to share or think should be added, just hit me up on Twitter and slide into my DMs with your tracks!
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