As an artist, you need to know about the different types of royalties you can get for your music in order to make the most money and protect your rights. Performance royalty is a type of tax that is very important. This article goes into great depth about what performance royalties are and how they help musicians.
What Are Royalties for Performance?
When someone plays their music in public, performance fees are paid to the songwriters, composers, and publishers. This includes radio shows, TV shows, live events, streaming services, and public places like clubs, restaurants, and stores.
What Kinds of Performances Earn Royalties?
- Live Performances: This is when your music is played live, either by you or another artist, at places like clubs, shows, festivals, and other live music events.
- Radio: When your songs are played on terrestrial (AM/FM) radio, satellite radio, or internet radio programs.
- Television: – When your music is used in movies, TV shows, commercials, or other material that is shown on TV.
- Streaming Services: This is when your music is played on digital services like Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, and more.
- Public Spaces: This is when your music is played in places like shops, gyms, bars, restaurants, and other public places.
Who pays royalties for performances?
Organizations called Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) usually collect and give out performance fees. For singers, composers, and publishers, these groups keep an eye on royalties, collect them, and pay them out. The most important PROs are:
- The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP)
- Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)
SESAC stands for the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers. - GMR stands for “Global Music Rights.”
How to Get Performance Royalties
- Monitoring Usage: – PROs keep an eye on where and when your music is played in a number of different ways. Tracking radio plays, TV shows, and digital streaming are all part of this. So are getting set lists from live events and reports from venues.
- Licensing: – Companies and radio stations that want to use your music can get licensing from PROs. In exchange for a fee, these licenses let other people play your songs in public.
- Getting Fees: The PROs collect licensing fees from companies, broadcasters, and venues and put them all together.
- Giving Out Royalties: The money that was collected is then given to registered songwriters, composers, and producers as royalties, depending on how often and what kind of performances of their music were made.
How to Make Sure You Get Performance Royalties
Sign up with a PRO: Sign up with a PRO and register your songs to make sure that your music is tracked and that you get the royalties you are due.
- Send your set lists to your PRO: Send your set lists to your PRO when you perform live. This lets them keep track of your live shows and makes sure you get paid for them.
- Keep an eye on your royalties: – Check your PRO account often to keep an eye on your royalty earnings and make sure you’re getting paid for all the times your music is played.
- Work with a Distributor: – Work with a music distributor like Armus Digital to help you get your music played and earn royalties. Armus Digital can help you get your music quickly uploaded to more than 150 platforms, earn performance royalties, and make sure your music is properly monetized.
Final Thoughts
Performance royalties are an important way for singers to make money because they get paid every time their music is played in public. To make sure you get the money you deserve, you should know how performance rights work and register and keep track of your music. Working with a full-featured music distribution tool like Armus Digital can help you keep track of your royalties and get the most people to hear and buy your music.