On average, it takes 2 to 3 months to receive your first streaming payout from a distributor, but 6 to 12 months to receive your first publishing and international royalties. The music industry operates on a “lag.” A song streamed in January might not put money in your pocket until April (for streaming) or July (for publishing).
If you just released a song, don’t refresh your bank account tomorrow. Music royalties move through a complex series of “accounting cycles.”
Here is a realistic timeline of when you can expect your “paychecks” to arrive in 2025.
1. The Streaming Payout (Master Share)
Timeline: 2 to 3 Months
This is the money collected by your distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, etc.).
- The Process: Spotify and Apple Music tally their monthly revenue and streams. They report these numbers to your distributor about 60 days after the month ends.
- Example: If your song blows up in January, Spotify sends the report and money to your distributor in March. You can then withdraw it to your bank.
2. The Publishing Payout (Mechanicals & Performance)
Timeline: 6 to 9 Months (Domestic) | 12+ Months (International)
Because publishing involves more “middlemen” (PROs and Mechanical Societies), the wait is longer.
- Performance Royalties (ASCAP/BMI): These societies typically pay quarterly. They need time to receive “logs” from radio stations and streaming services, match them to your songs, and calculate the splits.
- Mechanical Royalties (The MLC): The MLC generally pays monthly, but with a 75-day lag.
- Example: January streams are processed in February/March and paid out in April.
3. The 2025 “Lag” Schedule: A Practical Example
If you release a song on January 1st, 2025, here is when the different types of money usually land:
| Date | What You Receive | Who Pays You? |
| March 2025 | Jan Streaming Royalties (Master) | Your Distributor |
| April 2025 | Jan Mechanical Royalties (US) | The MLC / Audiobulb |
| July 2025 | Jan Performance Royalties (US) | ASCAP / BMI |
| Jan 2026 | Jan International Royalties | Audiobulb (via Sub-Publishers) |
Why is there such a big delay?
It feels like the digital age should be faster, but three things slow down your money:
- Revenue Processing: Platforms like Spotify have to calculate “Pools” (total revenue vs. total streams) before they know what your specific 0.01% share is.
- Audit Cycles: Societies like ASCAP verify data to ensure there aren’t fraudulent streams before they release millions of dollars.
- International “Shaking Hands”: If a fan in London streams your song, the UK society (PRS) has to collect the money, take their fee, and then send it to the US society (BMI), which then sends it to you. This “hand-off” can take over a year.
How to Speed Up Your Payments
While you can’t change how fast Spotify works, you can prevent unnecessary delays:
- Register Early: Register your song with your PRO and Publisher before the release date. If you register 3 months late, your money will be delayed by an extra 3 months.
- Use ISRC Codes: Ensure your Publishing Administrator has your ISRC (the digital fingerprint for your recording). Without this, they can’t “match” your streams to your songwriting account.
- Hit the Minimums: Most societies won’t send a check until you’ve earned at least $20 – $100. If you’ve only earned $5, it stays in your account until you cross the threshold.
FAQ: The Waiting Game
Why did I get paid by my distributor but not my publisher?
Distributors are tech companies; they automate their payouts. Publishers are financial managers; they have to wait for global societies to finish their audits. It is perfectly normal for your publishing check to arrive 4–6 months after your distribution check.
Will I get paid monthly once the “lag” is over?
Yes. Once you cross the initial 6-month waiting period, if you are getting consistent streams, you will begin to see monthly or quarterly payments. You are essentially “filling the pipeline.”
Can I get my money faster?
Some distributors offer “Fast Payouts” or royalty advances for a fee. However, for publishing, the timelines are strictly set by the legal societies. The best way to get paid “faster” is to ensure your metadata is 100% correct from Day 1.
Summary
The first year of a song’s life is a test of patience. You are building a “backlog” of royalties that will eventually become a steady stream of income.
Your Next Step: If your song has been out for more than 9 months and you haven’t seen any publishing money, you likely have a registration error. Contact Audiobulb, and we can look into your “Historical Royalties” to see if there is unclaimed money waiting for you.