What Every Independent Artist Should Know About Music Copyright & Royalties

As an independent artist, you work hard to create music, but are you making sure you’re legally protecting your work and getting paid what you deserve? Understanding music copyright and royalties is essential to protecting your rights and maximizing your earnings.

If you’re serious about making a career in music, here’s what you need to know about copyright, royalties, and how to get paid for your music.

1. What Is Music Copyright & Why Does It Matter?

Copyright is the legal protection that gives you the exclusive right to control how your music is used, distributed, and monetized.

🎼 Copyright Covers:

✅ The lyrics you write ✍️

✅ The melody & composition 🎵

✅ The sound recording 🎧

💡 Why It Matters: If someone uses your music without permission, you have the legal right to claim ownership and earn from it.

🔑 Pro Tip: As soon as you create and record a song, it’s automatically copyrighted, but registering it officially makes enforcing your rights easier.

🌍 Where to Register Copyright:

• South Africa: Southern African Music Rights Organization (SAMRO)

• USA: U.S. Copyright Office

• UK: PRS for Music

• International: International Copyright Protection (via WIPO)

• 
  

2. What Are Music Royalties & How Do You Earn Them?

Royalties are the payments artists receive when their music is used, played, or sold.

There are four main types of royalties you need to know about:

A. Performance Royalties (Collected by SAMRO, ASCAP, BMI, PRS)

💰 Earned from:

• Radio play 📻

• TV broadcasts 📺

• Live performances 🎤

• Streaming platforms like Spotify & Apple Music 🎶

📢 How to collect: Register with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) like SAMRO (South Africa), ASCAP/BMI (USA), or PRS (UK).

B. Mechanical Royalties (Collected by CAPASSO, HFA, or The MLC)

💰 Earned from:

• Every time your song is reproduced (CDs, downloads, streams).

📢 How to collect:

• Register with CAPASSO (South Africa) or The MLC (USA).

🔑 Pro Tip: Many artists don’t realize they’re missing out on mechanical royalties from streaming platforms—make sure you register!

C. Sync Licensing Royalties (Collected by publishers & agencies)

💰 Earned from:

• When your song is used in movies, TV shows, ads, and video games.

📢 How to collect:

• Get your music placed in a sync licensing library (e.g., Audio Jungle, Songtradr, or Musicbed).

🔑 Pro Tip: Sync licensing can be a major revenue stream for independent artists!

D. Digital Royalties (YouTube, TikTok, etc.)

💰 Earned from:

• YouTube videos using your music

• TikTok videos using your song

• Facebook & Instagram monetization

📢 How to collect:

• Use a Content ID service (like TuneCore, AdRev, or Audiam) to track & claim earnings from YouTube & social media.

3. How to Ensure You Get Paid All Your Royalties

💸 To earn all your royalties, you need to:

✅ Register your songs with a PRO (SAMRO, ASCAP, BMI, PRS)

✅ Sign up with a mechanical rights organization (CAPASSO, The MLC)

✅ Distribute your music properly (through a service like Ambitiouz Move)

✅ Use YouTube Content ID to collect earnings from video platforms

✅ Submit your music to sync licensing platforms to get placements in TV/Film

🔑 Pro Tip: Many artists leave money on the table by not registering properly—don’t let this be you!

4. Do You Need a Publisher to Collect Royalties?

🔎 What does a music publisher do?A publisher helps manage your copyrights and collect royalties worldwide—but they take a percentage of your earnings.

💡 Do independent artists need a publisher?If you’re an independent artist, you can self-publish and collect most of your royalties without giving up a cut. However, if you’re getting sync placements or international streams, a publisher can help you collect global royalties.

🔑 Pro Tip: If you want to self-publish, register as a "Songwriter" & "Publisher" with your PRO (like SAMRO).

5. Protect Your Music & Avoid Losing Royalties

✅ Register your songs before releasing them.

✅ Make sure your metadata is correct (wrong info = lost royalties).

✅ Use a distributor that tracks your earnings properly.

✅ If you collaborate, use a split sheet to divide royalties fairly.

🚨 Warning: If you don’t register with the right organizations, your royalties could go unclaimed—and after a certain period, that money disappears!

Final Thoughts: Own Your Music, Own Your Money!

Music copyright and royalties can feel complicated, but if you don’t understand them, you risk losing money that belongs to you.

💰 Want to ensure you’re getting paid for your music?At Ambitiouz Move, we help artists distribute their music & track their earnings so they never miss a payment.

📩 Sign up today and start earning what you deserve!