Music Royalties by Organization
Every PRO, CMO, and distributor collects different royalties — and has different ways to lose your money. Learn what each one does, what it doesn't, and how to make sure you're collecting everything you're owed.
Performing Rights Organizations
ASCAP
Performance royalties go uncollected when your PRO registration doesn't match your distributor metadata.
BMI
Unregistered works and metadata mismatches mean BMI can't match plays to your catalog.
The MLC
Over $400M in US mechanical royalties sits unclaimed at The MLC. After 3 years, it redistributes to major publishers.
SoundExchange
Artists who aren't registered with SoundExchange collect $0 from internet radio and satellite plays.
International CMOs
Distributors
DistroKid
DistroKid collects master recording revenue only. It does not register with PROs, collect performance royalties, or handle neighboring rights.
TuneCore
TuneCore Publishing covers basic PRO registration but does not handle international CMO filings, ISWC generation, or metadata mismatch repair.