The Hidden Royalties: Why Your PRO Isn’t Enough to Get Paid

Jeanetta Brantley
Aug 15, 2023
2 min read

You’ve signed up with ASCAP, BMI, or SOCAN, so you’re covered for royalties, right? Not exactly. While these Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) do an excellent job of collecting performance royalties, they don’t cover everything you’re owed. Let’s break down what you’re missing.

What Your PRO Actually Collects:

PROs are in charge of collecting performance royalties. These are the payments you get when your music is played on the radio, at a concert, on TV, or streamed. Think of these as royalties for the public performance of your work.

Royalties They Don't Collect:

Here's where many artists miss out. PROs don't collect:

Mechanical Royalties: These are earned when your song is reproduced or distributed, such as streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, or printed on a CD/Vinyl.
Sync Royalties: These are paid when your song is synchronized with visual media, like film, TV, commercials, or video games.
Master Royalties: These are paid to whoever owns the sound recording (often the label or artist) when the recording itself is used, streamed or sold.

Who Collects the Other Royalties?

Mechanical Royalties: In the U.S., agencies like Harry Fox Agency (HFA) and Music Reports handle these.
Sync Royalties: You'll need a good licensing agent to negotiate these deals in a traditional setting. With Audio Done Right, we register the songs with our collection agencies and thru our legal team to ensure that every artist is paid. It is up to the artist to ensure that their legalities are taken care of.
Master Royalties: These are typically handled by your distributor (like DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, etc.).

What Does This Mean For You?

Relying solely on a PRO means you’re leaving a lot of money on the table. Diversify your royalty collection by ensuring you’ve signed up with the right agencies and distributors to capture everything you're owed.

Bottom Line:

Don't let a limited understanding of royalties limit your income. With multiple types of royalties out there, it’s crucial to register with the right organizations and platforms to get paid for all your hard work!