A song you wrote in your bedroom is streaming in 50 countries right now. Each country has its own collection society, its own tax rules, and its own mechanical royalty system. If you only registered with your home PRO, you are collecting a fraction of what you earned. The rest is sitting in foreign societies waiting for someone to claim it.
Your music is streaming in Brazil, playing on radio in Germany, and used in a cafe in Japan right now. Each of those plays generates royalties. But if your metadata is wrong, your registrations are incomplete, or you are not registered with the right societies, that money sits in foreign banks and never reaches you.
How to clear samples. Avoid legal strikes and royalty loss by mastering the step-by-step process of securing sample permissions.
A complete guide to music publishing deals, royalty splits, songwriter rights, and how publishing income works for artists and creators.
Everything independent artists need to know about mechanical royalties in 2026. Learn what they are, how rates work, the role of the MLC and Harry Fox Agency, and step-by-step instructions to collect every penny.
Understand how music publishing works, the difference between mechanical and performance royalties, types of publishing deals, and how to collect every penny you are owed as a songwriter. Includes real numbers and actionable registration steps.
Learn what SoundExchange collects, who qualifies, and how to register to start collecting your digital performance royalties from internet radio, satellite radio, and non-interactive streaming services.
Calculate royalties for multiple tracks across different territories.
Calculate your earnings across Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and 7+ more platforms.
Find out how many streams you need to hit your income goals.
The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) is a nonprofit organization designated by the US Copyright Office under the Music Modernization Act of 2018 to administer blanket mechanical licenses for interactive streaming and download services in the United States. Founded in 2021, The MLC has over 85,000 Members and has processed over $4 billion in total royalties as of March 2026. Membership is free, and The MLC distributes 100% of collected royalties without deducting commission.
SOZA (Slovak Performing and Mechanical Rights Society) is Slovakia's collective management organization for music authors, founded in 1922 and based in Bratislava. It licenses public performance, broadcasting, reproduction, and mechanical rights for musical works, operating under authorization from Slovakia's Ministry of Culture. SOZA is a member of CISAC, BIEM, and GESAC, and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2022.
Proton SoundSystem is a US-based music distributor founded by Jason Wohlstadter of Proton Radio. Designed for electronic music labels, with 1200+ independent labels on the platform. No upfront or recurring fees. 30% commission on sales, 70% to label. Distributes to Beatport, Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, MixCloud, YouTube, Tidal, Deezer, TraxSource, Juno, Tencent/Alibaba/NetEase (China), and more. Best Beatport deal in the industry with +10% mechanical royalties and +5% as exclusive label. Smart contracts, compilation tool, DJ Mixes on Spotify and Apple Music, promo pool platform. Label-focused, not artist-focused. Best for electronic music labels.
