Musical artists make money in a variety of ways, but one of the most important sources of income is through royalties. Royalties are payments that artists receive for the use of their music, whether that’s through radio play, live performances, or streaming platforms. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the different types of royalties that musical artists can be paid.

Mechanical Royalties

Mechanical royalties are paid to artists and songwriters for the reproduction of their music on physical media such as CDs or vinyl records. The amount of the royalty is typically a percentage of the sale price of the physical media, and is typically paid to the songwriter and publisher of the music.

Performance Royalties

Performance royalties are paid to artists and songwriters for the public performance of their music. This includes radio play, live performances, and other public uses of the music. In the United States, performance royalties are typically collected by Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.

Sync Royalties

Sync royalties are paid to artists and songwriters for the use of their music in TV shows, movies, and commercials. This type of royalty is typically negotiated on a case-by-case basis, and the amount of the royalty can vary depending on a number of factors such as the length of the use, the prominence of the use, and the type of media.

Streaming Royalties

Streaming royalties are paid to artists and songwriters for the use of their music on streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. The amount of the royalty is typically based on the number of plays or streams of the music, and can vary depending on the platform and the country.

Print Royalties

Print royalties are paid to artists and songwriters for the use of their music in printed materials such as sheet music or songbooks. The amount of the royalty is typically a percentage of the sale price of the printed materials.

Royalties are a critical source of income for musical artists, and understanding the different types of royalties that are available is an important part of building a sustainable career in the music industry. Whether you’re a songwriter, performer, or both, it’s important to work with reputable organizations and industry professionals to ensure that you are being fairly compensated for the use of your music.