How Do I Claim Songs That Were Released Before I Joined a PRO?
Yes, you can claim royalties for songs released before you joined a PRO or a publisher, but you are racing against the clock. Most mechanical royalties (from streaming) are held in a “waiting room” for 2 to 3 years before being redistributed to other artists. At Audiobulb, we specialize in “Catalog Harvesting”—submitting your old songs […]
What Happens If My Metadata Is Wrong on Streaming Platforms?
If your metadata is incorrect, your royalties become “unmatchable.” When Spotify or Apple Music sends streaming data to collection societies, they use your metadata (like ISRC and ISWC codes) to find out who to pay. If there is a typo in your name or a missing code, the money goes into a “Black Box”—a holding […]
What Happens If Two People Claim the Same Song?
If two different parties (writers or publishers) claim more than 100% of a song’s ownership, the collection societies will immediately freeze all royalty payments for that work. The money is held in an “Escrow” account and will not be released until the dispute is resolved. Without a publisher to defend your claim, your royalties can […]
How Do I Split Publishing Percentages Fairly Among Collaborators?
There is no “legal law” for how to split a song, but there are industry standards. Most professional collaborators choose between Equal Splits (everyone in the room gets the same) or Proportional Splits (based on specific contributions). The most important thing is to sign a Split Sheet before the song is released. Audiobulb makes this […]
How Do I Register a Song With My PRO?
While you can log into ASCAP or BMI and register a song yourself, you probably shouldn’t. If you register only as a songwriter, you are only collecting the Writer’s Share (50% of the pie). Without a publisher to claim the Publisher’s Share, that other 50% often sits unclaimed in a “black box” or is eventually […]
Can I Be a Member of Two PROs at Once?
As an individual songwriter, the answer is no. You are generally only allowed to have one active affiliation per territory (e.g., you can’t be in ASCAP and BMI at the same time). However, as a publisher, the answer is yes, and it’s actually required if you want to represent other writers. It’s a common question: […]
How Do I Collect Royalties from India or Africa if I’m Signed with ASCAP/BMI?
While ASCAP and BMI have “Reciprocal Agreements” with societies in India (IPRS) and Africa (like SAMRO in South Africa), these agreements are often limited to Performance Royalties (Radio/TV). They rarely cover Mechanical Royalties (Streaming), which means a large chunk of your income from these regions is likely sitting unclaimed. To collect 100% of your money, […]
How Do I Get My Music Published in Multiple Territories?
You don’t get your music published territory-by-territory yourself. Instead, you sign a single Publishing Administration agreement with a partner like Audiobulb. We then use our network of “Sub-Publishers” to register your songs directly with collection societies in every major music market—from the UK (PRS) to Japan (JASRAC) and beyond. In the digital era, your music […]
Do I Have to Register My Songs Separately in Each Country?
No, you generally cannot and should not try to register your songs separately in every country. As a songwriter, you are assigned one unique IPI Number (your “Global Music ID”). You are meant to join one “Home Society” (like ASCAP or The MLC) and use a Publisher to handle the other 150+ countries. Trying to […]
What’s the Difference Between US and UK/European Publishing Systems?
The US and Europe treat music differently. In the US, music is treated as a Product (Economic Right), whereas in Europe, it is treated as an extension of the Person (Moral Right). Practically, this means the US uses “Statutory Rates” (fixed prices) while Europe uses “Percentage Rates” (negotiated cuts). If you don’t understand the difference, […]