How do I set up and collect all royalties I'm owed (PRO/publisher/admin, sound recording vs. publishing, non-interactive, Content ID)?
TL;DR - Register once, collect forever
Case Study - “Glass Harbor” (DIY alt-pop duo)
Publishing (ASCAP + MLC + Songtrust admin)
One-time setup: $100
18-month income: $4,900
Notes: writer share, global mechanicals, YouTube lyric videos
Sound Recording (DistroKid + SoundExchange, neighboring-rights agency)
One-time setup: $40
18-month income: $8,300
Notes: Spotify and Apple, Pandora and SiriusXM non-interactive, foreign airplay
UGC or Content ID (YouTube CMS via distributor, Facebook or Instagram Music, TikTok Commercial Library)
One-time setup: $0
18-month income: $1,150
Notes: 17k user videos, 3 sync micro-licenses
Total royalties: $14,350 without label advances or paid ads.
1 - Map the money: two buckets, six streams
Publishing, for songwriters
Performance, radio, live, interactive streaming
Who pays: PRO such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, PRS
Setup: join as writer and register works
Mechanical, downloads, streams, CDs
Who pays: MLC in the US, Harry Fox, DSPs
Setup: publisher or admin registers
Sync, film, ads, games
Who pays: licensee to you
Setup: handle per deal or via admin
Sound recording, for masters
Interactive streams and downloads
Who pays: DSP via distributor
Setup: upload with ISRC
Non-interactive digital performance
Who pays: SoundExchange in the US, PPL ex US
Setup: register each master
Neighboring rights, terrestrial abroad, TV, public venues
Who pays: PPL, CMRRA-NR, neighboring-rights agent
Setup: register performer and master owner
Note: UGC platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Meta sit between buckets and pay both publisher and master sides via Content ID or distributor deals.
2 - Publishing: lock in your writer money
Pick a PRO and join as a writer, ASCAP or BMI in the US, one at a time
Register every composition, title, writers, splits, ISWC
Collect global mechanicals
Option A DIY: open a free account at the MLC in the US and register works
Option B Admin: hire Songtrust, Sentric, or TuneCore Publishing, typical 15% cut, they chase foreign mechanicals and micro-sync
Micro-sync and lyric videos: your admin can whitelist YouTube lyric uploads for the publishing share
Tip: if you co-write, exchange split sheets before release day; PROs pay exactly what you register
3 - Sound recording: secure the master bag
Distributor, DistroKid, CD Baby, TuneCore, AWAL, delivers to Spotify or Apple
SoundExchange in the US collects non-interactive streaming such as Pandora Radio, SiriusXM, iHeart simulcasts
Create both a Featured Artist account and a Rights Owner account
Neighboring rights outside the US: join PPL in the UK or hire an agency such as Kobalt NR
You will need ISRC, release date, performer roles
Performance videos and TV abroad generate master royalties; PPL handles when registered
4 - UGC and Content ID
YouTube
Monetise via Content ID matches on every upload
Setup: opt in via distributor or admin such as CD Baby Pro, Symphonic
Facebook or Instagram
Monetise via Rights Manager and Music Library
Setup: most distributors auto deliver; claim from dashboard
TikTok
Monetise via Commercial Music Library and revenue share pool
Setup: distributor opt in; ensure tracks are flagged as monetisable
Short-form apps such as Triller or CapCut
Monetise via library payouts
Setup: distributor handles
Pro move: upload instrumental and 30 second sync cut versions so libraries can license without vocal clearance.
5 - Promo codes and pixels: attribute sales back to royalty statements
Storefront, Shopify or Bandcamp: promo code per channel, for example HOODIE_TT, HOODIE_IG
Smart links, Linkfire: attach UTM and Meta or TikTok pixel; match traffic to streaming spikes
Spreadsheet columns: Date, Channel, Streams, Saves, Merch Sales, Publishing, Master, CPM on YouTube, to see which promo generates high margin royalties
6 - Quarterly audit checklist
Compare PRO, MLC, and distributor statements; flag songs missing from any report
Cross-check SoundExchange vs Spotify; if Pandora plays are about 10% of Spotify US streams but royalties are $0, something is unregistered
Content ID disputes; clear manual claims and whitelist collaborator channels
Neighboring-rights lag; expect 6 to 12 month delay, track expected vs actual
7 - Common pitfalls
Uploading to DSPs before joining a PRO; back royalties may go unclaimed
Confusing ISRC, master ID, with ISWC, song ID
Sampling without clearance; PROs and SoundExchange will freeze payouts
Multiple distributors on the same ISRC; duplicate deliveries, takedowns, lost streams
Forgetting to register co-writers; money sits in black box pools
Key takeaways
Open all three pipes, Publishing, Sound Recording, UGC, before release day
Register once, earn forever; each song’s metadata must be identical across every database
Use an admin service if you do not want to chase global mechanicals and small syncs yourself
SoundExchange and neighboring rights are separate from Spotify checks; do not leave them on the table
Audit quarterly, track in one sheet, and follow up on missing lines; your future self will thank you when catalog income compounds