Sound Exchange

Non-US artists: how to get royalties from SX

With the MIDEM global conference going on, and recent coverage of our agreement with MySpace, we’ve been getting questions about what artists and copyright holders who are outside the US should do to claim SoundExchange royalties. Here’s what you need to know.

SX featured on MusicianCoaching.com

SoundExchange’s Director of Artist and Label Relations was interviewed on MusicianCoaching.com today, as part of our continuing campaign to get out the word about digital performance right to artists and copyright holders.  Check out the full piece : What SoundExchange Is and Why You Should Care.

Testimonial Tuesday: Dance/R&B hit Sharon Brown

Sharon Brown, the voice behind the 1982 club smash “I Specialize in Love” dropped us a note via Facebook recently.  Ms. Brown delivered cross-over R&B/dance hits in the early 1980s, but because she wasn’t the songwriter, never saw proceeds from the skyrocketing sales and nightclub plays which pushed her up the Billboard club charts. When she won the 1983 Rhythm & Blues Award for Best Single, she reportedly had to hitchhike across Las Vegas to receive the award, unable even to afford cab fare. She wrote to SoundExchange:

“I was never paid one red cent or any other color of money for my performance on this track. THEN CAME SOUNDEXCHANGE, many years later. Now get royalty payments and statements. THANK YOU Sound-Exchange, I feel like an artist now, and a businesswoman too. Common has the right idea: I will be dropping in on you as well. I’ll check in and say thank you. Happy Holidays to all the staff and reps at SoundExchange.”

Thanks, Sharon, and we’re glad you’re finally getting compensated for your hard work. Now we know what color tperformance royalty money is – it’s SoundExchange orange!

Want to be featured on our blog? Send your SoundExchange success stories to landerson AT soundexchange.com

Testimonial Tuesday: Dance/R&B hit Sharon Brown

Sharon Brown, the voice behind the 1982 club smash “I Specialize in Love” dropped us a note via Facebook recently.  Ms. Brown delivered cross-over R&B/dance hits in the early 1980s, but because she wasn’t the songwriter, never saw proceeds from the skyrocketing sales and nightclub plays which pushed her up the Billboard club charts. When she won the 1983 Rhythm & Blues Award for Best Single, she reportedly had to hitchhike across Las Vegas to receive the award, unable even to afford cab fare. She wrote to SoundExchange:

“I was never paid one red cent or any other color of money for my performance on this track. THEN CAME SOUNDEXCHANGE, many years later. Now get royalty payments and statements. THANK YOU Sound-Exchange, I feel like an artist now, and a businesswoman too. Common has the right idea: I will be dropping in on you as well. I’ll check in and say thank you. Happy Holidays to all the staff and reps at SoundExchange.”

Thanks, Sharon, and we’re glad you’re finally getting compensated for your hard work. Now we know what color tperformance royalty money is – it’s SoundExchange orange!

Want to be featured on our blog? Send your SoundExchange success stories to landerson AT soundexchange.com

RESCHEDULED: SoundExchange and A2IM to present webinar for copyright holders

First in a series to help correct data problems and get more copyright holders paid

RESCHEDULED: SoundExchange & The American Association of Independent Music (A²IM) will come together to present “Q1Y10 Webinar for Labels and Sound Recording Copyright Owners,” a webinar addressing the issues which effect how independent labels are paid by SoundExchange.