Pillar · Royalties
Music Royalties Made Simple
Royalties flow through different organizations depending on which right is being used. This pillar maps recording and publishing income, PROs, SoundExchange, The MLC and the metadata that connects the money to you.
Money follows rights and metadata. When either is missing, money disconnects from the artist.
Rules and practices in this area change often. Articles here are reviewed on a shorter schedule and show their last review date.
Read
How Music Royalties Actually Work
Royalties follow rights and metadata. A plain-language map of recording and publishing income, who collects each one, and where artists lose money they already earned.
ReadMetadata: Why It Decides Whether You Get Paid
Metadata is the information that connects a stream or a broadcast to the people owed money. Here is what to get right before release.
ReadTools for this pillar
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The MRG Artist Brief
A short series on ownership, getting paid, building an audience you own and releasing with a plan — then practical notes when there is something worth saying. Joining also unlocks every gated worksheet.
The Book
Before They Sign You
What Every Independent Artist Should Understand Before Handing Their Career to Someone Else.
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