Quick Scoop

Music royalties are payments made to songwriters, composers, artists, labels, or publishers when music is used, played, streamed, sold, or licensed.

What they cover

Royalties can come from several uses, including:

  • Streaming on platforms like Spotify or Apple Music.
  • Radio airplay and public performance.
  • Downloads and physical sales.
  • Sync licensing, when music is placed in films, TV, ads, or games.

Two main sides

There are usually two different rights involved:

  • The songwriting/composition side, which belongs to the writer and publisher.
  • The master recording side, which belongs to whoever owns the recorded version, often the artist or label.

Simple example

If a song is streamed, one payment may go to the songwriter/publisher for the composition, and another may go to the owner of the master recording.

Why they matter

Royalties are how people who create music get paid over time when their work is used by others.

Meta description: Music royalties are payments earned when songs are used, streamed, sold, or licensed, with different payouts for songwriting and master recording rights.