What royalties does a songwriter earn?
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Songwriters earn revenue primarily through the 'Composition' copyright, which is distinct from the 'Sound Recording' copyright. These earnings are split into performance royalties, mechanical royalties, and sync fees.
- 1.Register with a Performance Rights Organization (PRO) like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC to collect Performance Royalties earned when your music is streamed, broadcast on radio, or played in public venues.
- 2.Sign up with a Mechanical Royalty collector (such as The MLC in the US or a Publishing Administrator) to receive Mechanical Royalties generated every time a song is reproduced digitally (streaming) or physically.
- 3.Negotiate Sync Licensing fees and royalties when your song is placed in visual media like films, TV shows, commercials, or video games.
- 4.Collect Micro-Sync royalties from social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram through a publisher or specialized administrator.
- ×DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby do not automatically collect your mechanical or performance royalties; they only collect the 'Master' recording revenue.
- ×If you have a co-writer, ensure you have a signed Split Sheet to prevent legal disputes over ownership percentages later.
Always register your songs with both a PRO and a Mechanical Licensing Collective (like The MLC in the US) to ensure you aren't leaving 'black box' money on the table that distributors don't collect.
Based on AI training data — may not reflect current information.
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