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There is no single service that collects every kind of music royalty. Choose based on which rights you own, which royalty stream you need, and where the use occurred. For a U.S.-based independent artist, that usually means checking three separate routes: a performing rights organization (PRO) for composition performance royalties, The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) or an authorized administrator for eligible U.S. digital audio mechanical royalties, and SoundExchange for eligible non-interactive digital performances of sound recordings. A publishing administrator is an optional layer of help—not a substitute for every registration.
Which music royalties are you trying to collect?
A song and its recording involve different rights. A composition is the underlying music and lyrics; a sound recording is a particular recorded performance. A service that handles one does not automatically collect the other. SoundExchange explicitly distinguishes its sound-recording collections from PRO collections, and CD Baby likewise describes separate routes for performance royalties: SoundExchange’s explanation and CD Baby’s collection guidance.
| Route | What it covers | Who should check it | Geography and important boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRO, such as ASCAP or BMI in the U.S. | Public-performance royalties for the composition | Songwriters and, where eligible, publishers | Start with the relevant local PRO. Foreign collection depends on the organization and applicable reciprocal arrangements; do not assume one registration covers every use worldwide. See CD Baby’s guidance and the BMI Royalty Policy Manual. |
| The MLC or an authorized publisher, administrator, or CMO | Eligible U.S. digital audio mechanical royalties for compositions | Rightsholders entitled to collect the relevant composition share | This is a specific U.S. mechanical royalty route, not a replacement for PRO membership or SoundExchange registration. See The MLC’s Connect to Collect FAQ. |
| SoundExchange | Eligible digital performance royalties for sound recordings from non-interactive services | Featured recording artists and sound recording owners | Includes eligible non-interactive uses such as satellite radio and webcasting; it is separate from composition performance collection. See SoundExchange’s artist, label, and producer guidance. |
| Publishing administrator | Varies by contract; may register works and collect a client’s shares across multiple territories or sources | Writers who want help handling registration and collection | Coverage, fees, authority, and exclusions are provider-specific. Confirm which works and shares are already administered before adding one. See Songtrust’s FAQ for one provider’s terms and overlap warning. |
The MLC reported more than $4.2 billion in total royalties distributed in a September 30, 2026 membership-meeting announcement linked from its homepage. That is an organization-wide scale figure, not an estimate of what an individual artist will earn.
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Make a rights and territory inventory
For each release, record who controls the composition and the master recording, each songwriter and publisher share, co-writer splits, recording identifiers such as ISRCs, relevant metadata, current PRO affiliations, and any publishing, administration, or distributor agreements. Separate songs and shares you administer yourself from those assigned to a publisher or another administrator. Do not assume that a distributor sends composition data to every collection body.
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Identify overlap before adding an administrator
Check whether an existing publisher, administrator, distributor add-on, or co-writer arrangement already covers a song or share. The MLC says publishing administrators generally register works and collect a client’s share under their agreement. Use The MLC FAQ and its Public Work Search to check whether the relevant work and share have been claimed. Do not register an already-administered share a second time. Songtrust also warns that a client using CD Baby Pro/Boost publishing services or another administrator for the same songs cannot also use Songtrust for those songs; check the current provider FAQ for its terms.
How do you cover composition performance royalties?
Join an appropriate local PRO as a songwriter so eligible public performances of your compositions can be tracked and paid under that organization’s rules. In the U.S., ASCAP and BMI are examples; CD Baby describes them as offering similar services and advises artists to research which best fits their needs in its performance-royalty guidance.
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A songwriter who self-administers may also need a publisher affiliation to collect a publisher share, depending on the PRO’s rules and eligibility requirements. A PRO handles composition performance royalties; it does not replace The MLC’s U.S. mechanical route or SoundExchange’s sound-recording route. If your music is used outside your home country, check which local organization and reciprocal arrangements apply rather than assuming domestic membership captures every foreign use. BMI, for example, states that it applies a 3.6% administrative fee to international royalties and that the fee is subject to change; that figure applies to BMI’s stated policy, not to other PROs or administrators. Consult the BMI Royalty Policy Manual for its current terms.
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Should you join The MLC or use an administrator for U.S. mechanicals?
The MLC handles a defined stream: eligible U.S. digital audio mechanical royalties. Its guidance says an entitled rightsholder must either become a member or authorize a publisher, administrator, or collective management organization (CMO) to collect on their behalf. Membership is free, and self-administered songwriters can register their own shares. The MLC explains these options in its Connect to Collect FAQ.
- If you control and self-administer a share: Join The MLC and register that share and its works, following its registration guidance.
- If a publisher or administrator controls collection for a share: Check the Public Work Search and confirm that the service has registered and claimed the correct work and share. Resolve missing or incorrect claims with the responsible party rather than duplicating the registration.
- If you are unsure who administers a share: Review your agreements and ask the publisher, administrator, or co-writers to confirm who is responsible for registering and collecting it.
The MLC membership does not replace PRO affiliation or SoundExchange registration. Those routes address different royalty types.
When should an artist register with SoundExchange?
Featured recording artists and sound recording owners should check whether they are registered to receive eligible digital performance royalties from non-interactive services, including satellite radio and webcasters. These are sound-recording royalties, not the composition performance royalties collected through a PRO. SoundExchange describes the relevant roles and service types in its artist, label, and producer guidance.
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If you have not registered, or are not sure the catalog is complete, search SoundExchange’s unclaimed royalty lists. Check each performer and rights owner tied to a recording: another member of a group being registered does not establish that every performer on that recording is registered.
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Self-administration avoids a third-party administration fee but leaves you responsible for accurate work data, registrations, claims, and follow-up. A publishing administrator may be worth comparing if you have a broad catalog, international activity, complex co-writer splits, limited time, or a specific need for registration and collection support across societies. A worldwide-scope claim alone is not enough to judge value: the agreement defines which territories, royalty types, works, and shares are actually covered.
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Compare these contract details
- Coverage: Which territories, societies, royalty categories, and platforms are included? Does the service register with The MLC, foreign mechanical societies, PROs, YouTube Content ID, or other sources? What is excluded?
- Cost and payout: Check setup fees, commissions, recurring charges, minimum payout, deductions, and payment schedule.
- Timing: Ask what must happen before registration is complete and what conditions affect the first payment. A timeline may depend on royalties accruing and becoming ready for collection.
- Authority and control: Identify which rights or administration authority you grant, for which works and shares, for how long, and how you can terminate the agreement. Check whether you retain copyright.
- Operations and support: Find out who corrects splits, metadata, claims, and mismatches; what reporting is provided; and how you can verify that registrations were made.
- Conflicts: Compare the proposed coverage with existing publishers, administrators, distributor services, and co-writer arrangements before signing.
As a provider-specific example, Songtrust’s FAQ states a one-time $100 setup fee. It says full global registration and a first payment take an average of 9–12 months once a customer has accrued royalties ready for collection, and that royalties are distributed quarterly when the $25 minimum is met and valid tax information is on file. These are Songtrust’s published terms, not industry-wide timings or guaranteed results; recheck its current FAQ before signing up.
A practical order for getting your registrations in place
- Map each song and recording. Confirm composition and master ownership, splits, identifiers, current agreements, and the territories already assigned.
- Choose the composition performance route. Join the appropriate local PRO as a songwriter, and check whether your situation requires a publisher affiliation to collect a publisher share.
- Assign U.S. mechanical collection for each share. Self-administered eligible shares can be registered with The MLC; shares handled by a publisher, administrator, or CMO should be confirmed with that party and checked for accurate claims.
- Check the sound-recording route. Featured artists and sound recording owners should verify SoundExchange registration for eligible non-interactive digital performances and search for unclaimed royalties if needed.
- Only then assess paid administration. Compare its specific coverage and contract obligations against the shares and collection tasks not already handled.
- Keep a record of the result. Save confirmations, the works and shares registered, the responsible collecting party, any unresolved mismatches, and agreement end dates so you can detect gaps without creating duplicate claims.
This is a U.S.-anchored guide: other countries have their own PROs, CMOs, and collection rules. Reciprocal agreements may help with some foreign performance royalties, but coverage varies by territory and royalty type. Confirm local eligibility and the current terms of any service you plan to use.
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