Are you an artist or sound recording owner (SRO) that’s not yet registered with SoundExchange?
Read on to find out why you should register.
1. Collect all royalties due to you.
SoundExchange is the sole organization that collects digital performance royalties for sound recordings* in the United States. So, one of the main reasons you should register is to collect any and all of these royalties that are due to you. You might already have royalties waiting for you, and even if you don’t, it’s important to get your account set up in advance so that when you do have royalties available, everything is already in place for you to get paid.
SoundExchange pays royalties directly to music creators, offering monthly payments at one of the lowest administrative rates in the music industry and paying out most royalties within 45 days of receipt. Even better, you can opt in to monthly direct deposits to ensure that you get the money you deserve each month directly to your bank account—no more waiting around on paper checks.
Best of all? Registering with SoundExchange is free and easy to do using our online registration.
2. Enjoy the perks of SoundExchange membership, such as international collection.
Registering with SoundExchange allows you to collect your digital performance royalties, but why stop there? Once you’ve completed your registration, you have the option to become a SoundExchange member. Membership has its privileges, and at SoundExchange, it’s free.
One of the many benefits of becoming a member is that SoundExchange offers international royalty collection for members. That means that when your recordings are played around the globe, we can collect those royalties for you. SoundExchange currently has 46 collection agreements in 35 countries around the world. To activate this benefit, all you need to do is complete a membership and international mandate form, both available here.
3. Join a community of advocates committed to music creators.
When you join SoundExchange, you also become part of an advocacy team dedicated to protecting the rights of music creators and driven by one guiding principle: All music creators deserve fair pay, on all platforms, whenever their music is used. SoundExchange and its members play a critical role in amplifying the voices of music creators on Capitol Hill. This includes defending the rights of legacy recording artists, closing loopholes that benefit billion-dollar digital music services, achieving double-digit increases in royalty rates, and leading the charge in Congress to pass the Music Modernization Act. Becoming a member grants you with opportunities like these to get involved and make your voice heard, as well as access to advocacy news and updates that pertain to you and your rights within the music world.
4. Gain transparency and control over your account and your sound recording data with SoundExchange Direct.
Our online account management portal, SoundExchange Direct (SX Direct), allows you to update details such as tax and banking information, grant others (like your manager) access to your account, submit your repertoire, and more. Once you’re registered, you’ll receive a link to create your SX Direct account.
There are several key features within SX Direct that are designed to provide increased control and transparency into all sound recordings associated with your account. “Search & Claim” allows you to search and make new claims in SoundExchange’s complete database of sound recordings. Using “Submit Recordings,” SROs can upload complete recording and release data for every International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) they own. And finally, “Overlaps & Disputes” offers nearly real-time transparency into your active SRO overlaps and disputes and the ability to resolve with the other party via self-service.
5. Take advantage of subject matter experts at your fingertips.
If you’re looking for top-notch experts to handle your digital performance royalties and data, look no further. SoundExchange comprises music aficionados, technology gurus, and data buffs who are committed to moving the music industry forward through innovative solutions and extensive subject matter expertise. In fact, SoundExchange has been designated as the authoritative source of ISRC data in the U.S. by the Recording Industry Association of America.
SoundExchange currently collects and distributes royalties on behalf of more than 200,000 music creators’ accounts, matching more than 96 percent of royalties collected to those accounts. To date, SoundExchange has paid out more than $7 billion in royalties.
So, what are you waiting for? Register with SoundExchange and ensure your account is set up so that you’re ready to receive royalties!
To make your registration process as easy as possible, we’ve put together this helpful guide that walks you through each step of the online registration.
* Other performance rights organizations such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC collect royalties for songwriting, publishing, and composition.