Music Royalties Explained

Music royalties are the cornerstone of compensation for artists, songwriters, composers, and other rights holders in the music industry.

In basic terms, ‘royalties’ are payments made to someone who owns the rights to something, such as a piece of music, a book, or a patented invention. These payments are typically made by individuals or companies who want to use or distribute that particular work.

Royalties serve as a form of compensation for the rights holder, allowing them to earn money based on the usage, distribution or sale of their creation across various mediums.

There are primarily two types of royalties: performance royalties and mechanical royalties. Let’s gain a better understanding of how they function.

Performance Royalties

Performance royalties are generated when music is publicly performed or broadcasted. This includes scenarios such as:

Radio airplay: Whenever a song is played on terrestrial, satellite, or online radio stations, performance royalties are generated.
Live performances: Concerts, festivals, and other live events where music is performed publicly also generate performance royalties.
Television and film: Music featured in television shows, movies, commercials, and other audiovisual productions triggers performance royalties for the rights holders.
Streaming services: Online streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube also contribute to performance royalties when songs are streamed by users.

Performance royalties are collected and distributed by Performance Rights Organisations (PROs) such as ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), and SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers).

These organisations negotiate licensing agreements with venues, broadcasters, and digital platforms, collect royalties on behalf of rights holders, and distribute them accordingly.

Mechanical Royalties

Mechanical royalties, on the other hand, stem from the reproduction and distribution of musical works. This includes:

Physical sales: When music is sold in physical formats such as CDs, vinyl records, and cassettes, mechanical royalties are generated for the rights holders.
Digital downloads: Purchases of digital copies of songs from online stores like iTunes and Amazon also contribute to mechanical royalties.
Streaming and on-demand services: Subscription-based streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal pay mechanical royalties for the right to reproduce and distribute music to their subscribers.

Mechanical royalties are typically collected and administered by music publishers or mechanical rights organisations. In the United States, the Harry Fox Agency (HFA) is one of the primary entities responsible for administering mechanical licenses and collecting royalties on behalf of publishers and songwriters.

In conclusion, performance royalties and mechanical royalties play vital roles in ensuring that creators are compensated for their contributions to the music industry. Understanding these two types of royalties is essential for navigating the complex landscape of music licensing and ensuring that creators receive fair compensation for their artistry.