SoundExchange
Digital-performance royalties for the MASTER — separate from your PRO.
What it is
SoundExchange collects statutory digital-performance royalties for the SOUND RECORDING (master) when it's played on U.S. non-interactive digital services — SiriusXM, Pandora's radio mode, and internet/webcast radio.
When you need it
Once your recordings are getting (or could get) non-interactive digital radio plays.
Registration is designed to be free to artists and rights owners. Verify current terms.
Where artists lose money
This money is NOT collected by your distributor OR your PRO. It's a completely separate registration. Artists routinely leave years of SoundExchange royalties sitting unclaimed because nobody told them it exists.
Register both roles
SoundExchange pays out to different roles on a recording. Register as BOTH the recording artist (performer) AND the rights owner (usually you, if you own your masters) so you collect every share you're entitled to.
By statute (Section 114), SoundExchange pays 50% to the sound recording rights owner, 45% directly to the featured artist(s), and 5% to a fund for non-featured performers (administered by the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund). Source: soundexchange.com. Confirm current.
Not the same as interactive streaming
SoundExchange covers NON-interactive services (you can't pick the exact song on demand — like radio). On-demand interactive streaming (choosing a track on Spotify) is paid through your distributor on the master side, not SoundExchange.
Official links
- SoundExchangewww.soundexchange.com