Monetize › Rights & royalties admin
SoundExchange
A nonprofit neighboring-rights organization designated to collect US statutory digital-performance royalties for sound recordings. It pays featured performers and master-rights owners when recordings are played through eligible noninteractive services such as SiriusXM, Pandora radio and iHeartRadio. It does not collect composition royalties.
- Best for
- Every US artist with recordings on internet radio. Recording artists, independent labels and artists who own their masters and receive airplay through US satellite radio, internet radio, cable-music channels or other noninteractive digital services.
- Skip if
- You should not skip this service; it has no cost and routes unclaimed money.
- First move
- Register free today as both featured artist and rights owner. Register separately as a featured artist and sound-recording copyright owner if you perform on and own your masters. Search for existing recordings, claim the correct versions, provide ISRCs, complete tax and payment information and opt into international collection if appropriate.
- Watch out
- Spotify and Apple Music stream counts generally do not generate SoundExchange royalties, a distinction that frequently confuses artists. Confirm artist names, ISRCs and master ownership carefully because duplicate or conflicting claims can freeze payments. Producers and engineers need an accepted Letter of Direction rather than simply claiming part of the recording.
- Reach
- Industry-wide
- When
- Useful from day one.
- Based in
- United States