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I am a songwriter or a publisher. Should I register with SoundExchange?

SoundExchange does not currently collect or distribute royalties for songwriters or publishers. If you are also a Featured Artist on sound recordings or the owner of sound recordings, then you should register with SoundExchange.

SoundExchange does offer music publishers services through our subsidiary SX Works and offers music licensing and royalty collection services in Canada through CMRRA.

I manage a recording artist – can their royalties be paid to me directly?

It is our strict policy that we cannot pay third parties. A third party is considered anyone that is not the featured performer (artist) or the owner of the Sound Recording Copyright.

We have a standard practice to ONLY pay performer money to the following:

The actual featured performers on the track;
Companies wholly owned by the performers (i.e., “holding” or “furnishing” companies);
Legitimate heirs, trusts, and estates of deceased featured performers; or
Performer collecting societies with whom we have an agreement.
Producers/mixers/engineers that have a properly executed Letter of Direction signed by the featured artist.

I registered, but I haven’t received any money yet. What happened?

SoundExchange offers a monthly royalty payment program for 1) those that are signed up to receive electronic payments, 2) and have royalties due of at least $100.
Artists and labels that do not meet the minimum monthly threshold will continue to be paid on our regular, quarterly schedule (March, June, September, and December) under the organization’s existing guidelines. In order to receive a quarterly payment, you must have accrued at least $10 ($100 for a paper check) in royalties before a scheduled distribution. If you are under the threshold, SoundExchange will hold your royalties until you accrue enough royalties.

I wrote the material, sang it, and produced it. How do I know if I own the sound recording copyright?

Usually the owner of the sound recording copyright is a label. If you own the full sound recording, then you are the sound recording copyright owner.

I’m already a member of ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or Songtrust. Do I need SoundExchange?

The royalties that SoundExchange collects and distributes are for the featured artist and the sound recording copyright owner. ASCAP, BMI and SESAC collect and distribute royalties for the songwriter, composer and publisher. Both satellite radio providers and webcasters pay SoundExchange when they stream music due to their utilization of the statutory license.

If I join SoundExchange can I still negotiate a license with a webcaster if I want to?

Absolutely. The statutory license was created as a benefit for service providers to ease the process of operation and allow open access to musicians’ full catalog of creative work. That said, it is completely within your rights to negotiate directly with webcasters should you decide that is best.

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The SoundExchange app gives creators the power to manage the business of their music wherever they are. Through the app, artists can search and claim their recordings, track their catalog, and review their digital royalty payments.

Artists an search and claim recordings, track their catalog, and review their royalty payments.

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