Satellite Radio Royalties: What Artists Earn From SiriusXM (2026)

Key Numbers at a Glance

• SiriusXM subscribers: approximately 33 million as of end of 2025, with a combined monthly audience of approximately 170 million listeners across SiriusXM, Pandora, and off-platform services
• SoundExchange 2025 distributions: $991.5 million paid to artists and rights holders, bringing lifetime distributions to over $13 billion since 2003
• SiriusXM satellite royalty rate: 15.5% of gross revenues for the 2018-2027 rate period, set by the Copyright Royalty Board
• Per-stream equivalent: approximately $0.0025 to $0.005 per stream equivalent, significantly higher than Spotify's $0.002761 per stream
• Royalty split: 50% to copyright owner, 45% to featured artist, 5% to non-featured artists fund
• SiriusXM 2026 revenue forecast: approximately $8.5 billion

A single play on a SiriusXM channel reaches approximately 33 million subscribers. But the paycheck depends on two things: whether your rights are registered, and whether the service is paying what it legally owes.

On both counts, independent artists are regularly losing money they have earned. An independent artist who has had significant satellite radio airplay without registering with SoundExchange has effectively donated those royalties to a pool that gets distributed to other artists. Unclaimed royalties at SoundExchange have historically reached tens of millions of dollars annually.

This guide explains how satellite radio royalties work, who gets paid, how the rates are set, and how you collect what you have earned.

What You Will Learn

• The legal framework behind satellite radio royalties
• Who gets paid and in what proportions
• How the Copyright Royalty Board sets rates
• How much SiriusXM actually pays per play
• The difference between SiriusXM satellite and SiriusXM streaming
• The SoundExchange lawsuit and what it means for artists
• How independent artists can access and collect satellite radio royalties

What Satellite Radio Royalties Are

When your song plays on SiriusXM or another satellite radio service, two separate royalty streams are potentially generated:

1. Sound recording royalty (digital performance royalty) This is paid to the owner of the master recording and to the featured artist. In the United States, terrestrial radio (AM/FM) does not pay this royalty, but satellite and internet radio are legally required to. SoundExchange is the designated collection society for this royalty in the US.

2. Public performance royalty (composition royalty) This is paid to the songwriter and publisher through a PRO like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC. It applies to satellite radio the same way it applies to any public performance of a song. Browse our PRO directory to register if you have not already.

For most independent artists, the most overlooked piece is the sound recording royalty collected by SoundExchange. This is money owed directly to you as a performer, separate from any songwriting credit, and it requires its own registration.

The Legal Framework

Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings Act (1995)

Before 1995, there was no US law requiring digital audio services to pay royalties for sound recordings. The DPRSRA created that right specifically for digital transmissions, covering satellite radio, internet radio, and cable music services.

The DMCA (1998)

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act expanded and clarified the compulsory license system for digital audio, establishing the current framework under which SoundExchange operates. The DMCA requires services like SiriusXM to pay royalties into the SoundExchange collection system for all sound recordings they transmit, regardless of whether the rights holder has contacted them.

Why Satellite Radio Is Treated Differently Than AM/FM

Congress has repeatedly declined to extend the sound recording performance right to terrestrial radio. The music industry has lobbied for the American Music Fairness Act on and off since 2019, but as of mid-2026, terrestrial AM/FM radio in the US still does not pay performers for sound recording plays. Satellite and internet radio do. This creates a situation where a song played on iHeartRadio's AM station generates no digital performance royalty, but the same song played on SiriusXM's The Spectrum generates a payment to the performer.

Who Gets Paid and How

SoundExchange distributes satellite and digital radio royalties according to a defined split:

For an independent artist who owns their own master recording, the copyright owner share and the featured artist share both go to you, giving you access to 95% of the sound recording royalty. The remaining 5% goes to the AFM and SAG-AFTRA funds for session musicians.

If you are signed to a label and the label owns your masters, the label receives the 50% copyright owner share. You receive the 45% featured artist share directly from SoundExchange, separate from any label accounting. This direct payment is one of the most significant features of the SoundExchange system: the artist's share goes to the artist regardless of recoupment status or label agreement.

How Rates Are Set: The Copyright Royalty Board

The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) is a panel of three judges within the Library of Congress that sets the rates and terms for compulsory licenses in the US. CRB rate proceedings happen roughly every five years. The decisions are binding on services like SiriusXM.

Satellite Radio vs. Webcasting Rates

SiriusXM uses a different rate structure than internet radio:

• Satellite radio: Rates are set as a percentage of SiriusXM's gross revenues (15.5% for 2018-2027), not a per-play rate
• Internet webcasting: Rates are set on a per-performance basis (per track per listener per play), at $0.0032 per performance for subscription services and $0.0025 for non-subscription services in 2025

The distinction matters because SiriusXM has significant incentive to classify as much of its listening as possible as "satellite" (percentage-based, lower effective per-play rate) rather than "internet" (per-performance, potentially higher effective rate as their streaming audience grows).

SiriusXM Satellite vs. SiriusXM Streaming (Pandora)

SiriusXM acquired Pandora in 2019, and the two services operate under different royalty frameworks. SiriusXM's satellite service pays royalties as a percentage of gross revenues through the SDARS (Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service) statutory license. Pandora and SiriusXM's streaming services pay on a per-performance basis through the webcasting statutory license or through direct licensing agreements.

This matters for artists because the same song played on SiriusXM's satellite channel and on Pandora's streaming service generates different royalty amounts, collected through different rate calculations, but both flow through SoundExchange. As of Q1 2026, Pandora and off-platform services had approximately 40 million monthly active users and 5.6 million self-pay subscribers, down from prior years.

The SoundExchange vs. SiriusXM Lawsuit

This classification dispute was at the center of one of the most significant royalty lawsuits in music industry history. SoundExchange filed a lawsuit against SiriusXM alleging that the service had been systematically underpaying by shifting listening from its satellite service to its streaming and internet radio service while applying the lower satellite rate.

SoundExchange alleged the underpayment exceeded $400 million. The case was resolved in 2018 with an agreement that saw SiriusXM pay $150 million to SoundExchange. While that specific dispute is settled, the broader tension between satellite and streaming rate classifications remains relevant as SiriusXM continues to grow its streaming audience.

What this means for you practically: the total royalty pool that SoundExchange distributes may change as listening habits shift between satellite and streaming. Having your catalog registered with SoundExchange ensures you are in a position to receive distributions from all digital radio services.

Current CRB Rate Proceedings

The CRB is currently conducting the SDARS IV proceeding (Docket 25-CRB-0014) to set satellite radio royalty rates for the 2028-2032 period. SoundExchange, SiriusXM, and Music Choice are participating in the proceeding, which began in 2026. The current 15.5% rate applies through 2027 under the SDARS III determination.

Separately, the NSS V proceeding (Docket 23-CRB-0013) settled rates for new subscription services for 2026-2030, with a 2026 rate of $0.0234 per subscriber per month for stand-alone contracts. These proceedings directly affect how much money flows from SiriusXM to the SoundExchange distribution pool.

How Much Does SiriusXM Actually Pay Per Play?

Because satellite radio royalties are calculated as a percentage of SiriusXM's revenues rather than a flat per-play rate, there is no fixed "per spin" number analogous to a Spotify per-stream rate. However, the effective per-stream equivalent is significantly higher than streaming platforms.

The CRB has set the satellite royalty at 15.5% of SiriusXM's gross revenues for the 2018-2027 rate period. The effective per-play amount depends on:

• SiriusXM's total revenues in the relevant period (approximately $8.5 billion forecast for 2026)
• Total number of plays across all channels
• How many plays your specific recordings received

Based on industry analysis, the effective per-stream equivalent for SiriusXM satellite radio falls in the range of approximately $0.0025 to $0.005 per stream. This is meaningfully higher than Spotify's $0.002761 per stream, though the total number of listeners reached per play is also different. A single play on a popular SiriusXM channel reaches the entire subscriber base tuned to that channel simultaneously, which is why the royalty calculation is revenue-share based rather than per-play based.

After applying the statutory royalty percentage and SoundExchange's administration fee (approximately 5.3% of distributions), the total pool distributed to rights holders and artists is substantial. SoundExchange distributed $991.5 million in 2025 across all digital radio services, with SiriusXM representing the largest single contributor.

Individual per-play payouts from SiriusXM are typically small on a per-spin basis but can accumulate meaningfully if your music receives significant airplay on a popular channel. Artists with recurring airplay on channels like The Highway (country), The Pulse (pop), or 1st Wave (alternative) report quarterly statements that vary from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars depending on rotation frequency.

You can use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to model digital streaming income across platforms, which gives useful context for comparing per-play rates across different digital channels.

How to Collect Satellite Radio Royalties as an Independent Artist

Step 1: Register with SoundExchange

Go to soundexchange.com and register as both a copyright owner and a featured artist. Even if you are not sure whether any of your music is playing on satellite radio, register now. SoundExchange holds royalties for registered artists and can search for plays associated with your recordings once you are in the system.

Registration is free.

Step 2: Register Your Recordings

After creating your account, you need to register the specific sound recordings that have received airplay or might receive it. You will need:

• ISRC codes for each recording (your distributor should provide these; if not, they can be obtained through USISRC.org)
• Track title, artist name, and album/EP name
• Release date
• Label or distributing entity

ISRC codes are the primary identifier SoundExchange uses to match plays to rights holders. Without an ISRC, your recording is much harder to trace.

Step 3: Monitor Your Airplay

For commercial satellite radio, BDS (Broadcast Data Systems) and Luminate track spins. Access to real-time BDS data requires a subscription your distributor may provide. Ask your distributor whether they provide airplay monitoring as part of their service.

At a minimum, check your SoundExchange account statements quarterly. If you start seeing distributions, your recordings are being played somewhere in the digital radio ecosystem.

Step 4: Verify Your Royalties Against Your Airplay

If you have reason to believe you are receiving airplay on SiriusXM or internet radio but your SoundExchange distributions seem lower than expected, contact SoundExchange directly. They can perform a royalty research request. In cases where significant underpayment is suspected, music attorneys who specialize in royalty recovery can audit your SoundExchange account against third-party airplay data.

Getting Your Music onto SiriusXM

Getting onto SiriusXM as a fully independent artist without a distribution or label relationship is not easy. SiriusXM has hundreds of channels but the programming decisions for each channel are made by dedicated programming teams, not a single central submission system.

Channel-specific pitches: Each SiriusXM channel has a programming director. If your music fits a specific channel format (The Spectrum for adult alternative, Faction for hard rock and metal, Hip-Hop Nation for rap and hip hop), you can research who programs that channel and reach out directly. This works better if you have existing press, radio adds, or industry references.

Distribution partner relationships: Some distributors have relationships with SiriusXM that can get your music in front of programming teams. Ask your distributor whether they have any SiriusXM relationships.

Working with a radio promoter: An independent radio promoter with SiriusXM experience is the most reliable path. The cost is significant ($2,000 to $5,000 or more for a real campaign), but for the right artist at the right stage of their career, SiriusXM adds generate real royalties and real press kit content.

International Equivalents

If you receive airplay on digital radio services in Canada, the UK, Europe, or Australia, there are equivalent collection bodies:

• Canada: Re:Sound (for performers and labels, similar to SoundExchange)
• UK: PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited)
• Germany: GVL (Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten)
• France: SCPP and SPPF
• Australia: PPCA (Phonographic Performance Company of Australia)

These are "neighboring rights" royalties, a related but distinct system from the US SoundExchange framework. Our neighboring rights guide explains how to register internationally and why independent artists with any international digital radio play are often missing royalties from these sources.

SoundExchange Royalty Checklist for Artists

• Registered with SoundExchange as copyright owner and featured artist
• All recordings registered with ISRC codes
• Distributor provides ISRC codes for all releases
• Checking SoundExchange account statements quarterly
• Registered with your PRO (ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC) for composition royalties
• Considered international neighboring rights registration if any international digital radio airplay exists
• Investigated distribution partner relationships with SiriusXM if pursuing that channel

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does SoundExchange registration cost anything? A: No. Registration as both a copyright owner and a featured artist is free. SoundExchange deducts an administration fee (approximately 5.3%) from distributions before paying artists, but there is no upfront cost to register. SoundExchange distributed $991.5 million in 2025 and has distributed over $13 billion since its inception in 2003 to more than 800,000 music creators.

Q: What if I recorded with other artists or session musicians? Who gets paid? A: Featured artists on a recording receive the 45% artist share directly from SoundExchange, split among them according to the percentages you register. Non-featured session musicians and backup vocalists receive their share from the 5% non-featured artists fund administered by AFM and SAG-AFTRA. You do not split their 5% from your 45%.

Q: Can my distributor collect SoundExchange royalties on my behalf? A: Some distributors offer to collect SoundExchange royalties as part of their service, often for an additional fee or commission. Whether this makes sense depends on your situation. If you register directly with SoundExchange, you receive 100% of your share minus their administration fee. If your distributor collects on your behalf, they may take an additional commission. Read your distributor's agreement carefully. For more on how royalty collection works across the board, see our all music royalties guide.

Q: How long does it take to receive payment from SoundExchange? A: SoundExchange distributes royalties quarterly. There is typically a six-to-twelve-month lag between when plays occur and when royalties are distributed, because the process of collecting data from services, auditing it, and processing distributions takes time. Do not expect to see payment in the same quarter your music was played.

Q: What if SiriusXM plays my music but I never registered with SoundExchange? A: SoundExchange holds royalties for unregistered artists in a "black box" for a period of time, after which the funds are redistributed to other registered rights holders. The holding period and redistribution rules have varied. Register as soon as possible to maximize your chance of recovering any historical royalties.

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Register with SoundExchange today if you have not. Go to soundexchange.com, create your artist account, and add your ISRC codes for every recording you have distributed. It takes 30 minutes and it is the only way to collect what SiriusXM and other digital radio services owe you. For a broader look at all the royalty streams you should be collecting, read our complete royalties guide.