Can I Get Royalties if I Distribute Through DistroKid but Don’t Have a Publisher?
Yes, you will receive a paycheck from DistroKid, but it is not your full royalty. DistroKid only collects the Master/Sound Recording royalties. Without a publisher, you are missing out on Mechanical Royalties and the Publisher’s Share of Performance Royalties, which can account for 15% to 25% of your total earned income. DistroKid is an incredible […]
How Long Does It Take to Get Paid Royalties After a Song Release?
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 […]
How Are Royalties Calculated on Spotify and YouTube?
Spotify and YouTube do not pay a “fixed rate” per stream. Instead, they use a pro-rata system based on total revenue and market share. On average, a Spotify stream is worth roughly $0.003 to $0.005, but that money is split into two halves: the Master share (for the recording) and the Publishing share (for the […]
How Are Royalties Split Between Songwriters and Publishers?
In the eyes of the law, every song is divided into two equal halves: the Writer’s Share (50%) and the Publisher’s Share (50%). Even if you are an independent artist who writes 100% of your own music, your royalties are still split into these two buckets. To get paid “in full,” you must be set […]
Who Pays Mechanical Royalties, and How Do I Collect Them?
Mechanical royalties are paid by Streaming Services (Spotify, Apple Music) and Physical Manufacturers (Vinyl/CD plants). In the US, this money is sent to The MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective).1 To collect it, you cannot rely on ASCAP or DistroKid; you must either register with The MLC directly or use a Publishing Administrator like Audiobulb. In the […]
The 4 Main Types of Music Royalties Explained (And Who Pays Them)
Every time a song is played, it generates multiple “paychecks” or royalties. These are categorized into four main types: Performance, Mechanical, Sync, and Print. Most independent artists focus only on streaming, but to build a sustainable career, you must understand how to collect from all four streams. Music royalties can feel like a maze of […]
The Ultimate Music Royalty Checklist: Are You Collecting All Your Money?
To collect 100% of the money your music earns, you need four specific registrations. Most independent artists only have one (Distribution). If you do not have a Distributor, a PRO, a Publishing Administrator, and a SoundExchange account, you are likely losing 30–50% of your potential revenue. The most dangerous feeling in the music business is […]
Decoding Music Credits: What “Administered By” & PRO Acronyms Mean
Music credits are the roadmap for royalties. If you see “Administered By“, it means the songwriter owns the copyright, but a company handles the paperwork. If you see Multiple Publishers, it means the song had multiple co-writers. If you see ASCAP/BMI, those are the societies tracking the money. Understanding these terms is the difference between […]
Publishing vs. Sync Licensing: What’s the Difference?
“Publishing” is the umbrella term for managing your song’s copyright and collecting royalties from all sources (streaming, radio, live). “Sync Licensing” is a specific type of publishing income. It happens when your music is “synchronized” with visual media (TV, ads, movies, games). While standard publishing pays pennies over a long period, Sync Licensing often pays […]
What Is a Sub-Publisher? (How to Collect International Royalties)
A Sub-Publisher is a local partner in a foreign country that represents your music catalog in that specific territory. Their job is to register your songs with local societies (like GEMA in Germany or SACEM in France), collect royalties in the local currency, and transfer the money back to your main publisher. Without them, your […]