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Understanding Royalty Statements


3 min read


What is a royalty statement?

Royalty statements are documents that give creators and other rights holders information about usage, earnings, and payments.

Related to a particular An original musical composition with or without lyrics. or Typically, the recorded performance of a musical work protected as a phonogram under copyright law., these statements are typically issued by A ​​​​​​company that invests in, manufactures, distributes, promotes, and ​​monetizes sound recordings on behalf of the ​​artist., A company that represents songwriters, supporting their career development, monetizing musical works, and protecting copyrights. ​​​, Collective Management Organization: An organization that acts collectively on behalf of the rights holders it represents and collects and pays remuneration to rights holders. and A company or service that delivers music to digital streaming platforms and physical retail stores..

The information included in a Money paid for the right to use a musical work, performance, or sound recording, typically, but not always, in the form of recurring payments. statement will change depending on the use, the type of royalty being reported, the specific agreement between the parties, and which organization it comes from.

It can take a few months or longer for different The person or entity that obtains a license to use copyrighted material, such as a musical work or sound recording. to report In the context of music, it is used to describe the use of a musical work or sound recording, for example, the type and number of streams or radio plays. and earnings, and for CMOs, distributors, music publishers, and record labels to pay Anyone who contributes to creating or performing a ​​musical work, a live performance, or a sound recording.. This means that you will usually get your royalty statements and payments a few months or more after the actual usage of a The term "song" does not have a legal definition. It is frequently used to mean "musical work” – the composition and lyrics (if any) created by songwriters and composers. However, it could also refer to a “sound recording” (a specific recording of a musical work), or a “performance” (a live performance of a musical work)..

A royalty statement can contain a lot of information and can sometimes be difficult to understand, so contact your music publisher, record label, distributor, CMO, or music industry lawyer if you have any questions.

Image credit: Martin Fabricius Rasmussen