Every indie artist knows that what happens after you release your music is what really determines how far you’ll go and how much you’ll earn. Learning how to promote your work and collect your royalties is key to your success. There are practical steps you can take to get your music promoted and distributed through blogs, radio, YouTube, and streaming platforms. After all the time and energy you put into creating, registering, and distributing your music, the real rewards come when you connect with the right audience, build relationships within the music community, and get paid for every stream, download, and performance.

Mastering promotion and royalty collection isn’t just about getting paid—it’s about building a long-lasting, successful career for indie artists. So, let’s dive into the steps you can take to kickstart these stages and set yourself up for true impact!

Introduction to Royalties in Music Promotion

Royalties are a fundamental part of the music industry and play a crucial role in music promotion for independent artists. When your music is streamed, downloaded, performed live, or played on the radio, royalties are the payments you earn as the creator and rights holder. Understanding royalties and how to collect them is essential to ensuring that your music promotion efforts translate into real income.

There are several types of royalties relevant to music promotion:

• Streaming Royalties: Earned whenever your music is played on music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms. These royalties are typically paid through your music distributor.
• Performance Royalties: Generated from public performances of your music, including radio airplay, live concerts, and venues. These are collected through Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) such as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC.
• Mechanical Royalties: Paid when your music is reproduced or distributed, including physical sales, downloads, and streaming. Mechanical royalties are often collected by organizations like The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC).
• Master Royalties: If you own the master recordings, you earn royalties whenever your recordings are used, including satellite radio and digital performances, collected through services like SoundExchange.
• Publishing Royalties: These come from the use of your compositions in various media, including sync placements in films, TV, or commercials, and are managed through publishing administrators or your PRO.

For aspiring artists, integrating royalty collection into your music promotion strategy ensures you are compensated fairly as your music gains exposure. By registering your works with the appropriate organizations and monitoring your earnings, you can maximize the financial benefits of your promotional efforts and build a sustainable music career.

Why Does Music Promotion Lead To Collecting?

The real value of music promotion isn’t just about chasing more streams—it’s about building a fan funnel that supports your growth as an artist and opens multiple revenue streams. When you promote your music effectively, you create a journey where new listeners don’t just hear your music once, they come back, follow you, and eventually support you through merch, concert tickets, exclusive offers, and more. This lifetime value of fans is how artists are truly earning today, beyond streaming revenue alone.

Many artists get stuck focusing on the return on investment (ROI) per stream, expecting that marketing efforts will pay off directly through streaming royalties. Unfortunately, it’s rare to recoup a promotion budget solely from streams. Instead, successful music promotion uses tools like playlist placements and targeted ads to drive awareness at the top of the funnel. Then, by engaging fans consistently through your content, email newsletters, and new releases (the middle of the funnel), you nurture those relationships until fans are ready to support you financially (the bottom of the funnel).

This funnel approach ensures that your promotion efforts translate into a sustainable music career with diversified income sources. By focusing on fan engagement and retention alongside streaming growth, you maximize your earnings and build a loyal community that supports your music for years to come. If you're interested in learning more about this funnel approach, check out our other blog here.

Why Collecting Matters in the Music Industry

Collecting royalties isn’t just about receiving payments, it’s about ensuring your music career remains sustainable. Missing out on royalties can mean leaving money on the table, so it’s essential to stay organized and informed about your rights. Properly tracking and collecting royalties can also give you a clearer picture of how your music is performing, helping you make smarter marketing decisions for your future releases.

Let’s dive into the steps you need to take to start collecting for your work:

How To Collect:

1. Track Your Streaming RoyaltiesYour music is being streamed on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and TIDAL, which means you’re earning royalties every time someone listens to your song. To collect these earnings, your distributor will handle the payouts, but it’s essential to check in regularly to ensure everything is accounted for.

• Log in to your distribution platform (DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, etc.)
• Monitor your earnings and track how much you’re making per stream
• Verify that your ISRC codes and metadata are correct to avoid missing any payments

2. Collect Performance RoyaltiesThese royalties are earned when your music is played on the radio, TV, in venues, or streamed in public spaces. To collect performance royalties, you’ll need to stay registered with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC. It’s important to track every instance your music played on the radio, as radio airplay can generate significant royalties and you want to ensure you receive all payments due.

• Log into your PRO account and check your performance earnings
• Make sure your songs are correctly registered and linked to your PRO account
• If your music is getting airplay or used in public spaces, track your earnings and submit any usage data if needed

3. Collect Mechanical RoyaltiesMechanical royalties are earned every time your music is downloaded or streamed. These are handled by agencies like The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) for U.S. streams and downloads, so you don’t need to worry about collecting them directly, as long as your music is properly registered.

• Sign up with The Mechanical Licensing Collective at www.themlc.com (if you haven’t already)
• Ensure your song is registered and that all relevant metadata is submitted
• Review your earnings reports regularly to make sure you’re receiving your share of mechanical royalties

4. Collect Master Royalties (Sound Recording Royalties)If you own the master rights to your recordings, you’re entitled to master royalties every time your music is played on platforms like Pandora or satellite radio. These royalties are collected through services like SoundExchange.

• Create an account with SoundExchange at www.soundexchange.com
• Register your master recordings to track your royalties
• Monitor your account for any payments or usage reports

5. Track and Collect Publishing Royalties (Optional)If you’ve set up publishing administration, either independently or through a publishing administrator like Songtrust, you’ll be entitled to publishing royalties. These royalties are earned whenever your music is performed publicly, covered by other artists, or used in films or TV shows.

• If you’re using a service like Songtrust, log in to track your publishing earnings
• Monitor any royalties from sync placements, performances, and streaming platforms
• Make sure your songs are registered with the correct performing and mechanical royalty organizations

6. Check Your Earnings Across All PlatformsWith multiple sources of income coming from streaming, performances, downloads, and syncs, it’s important to regularly check all platforms to ensure that you’re getting paid what you’re owed.

• Set up direct deposit or payout options for all of your accounts
• Check reports monthly to track your growth and ensure all payments are received
• If you notice discrepancies, contact your distributor, PRO, or licensing agency to resolve any issues

Understanding how to track and collect your payments is a vital step in sustaining your music career as an independent artist. With this knowledge, you can confidently invest in growing your audience and increasing your income. Start collecting every cent you deserve for your work!

‍

Reaching a Wider Audience

Expanding your reach is one of the main goals of any music promotion campaign. With so many music promotion services available, artists now have access to powerful tools that can help them connect with new listeners across the globe. Services like Songtools which offers easy playlisting and targeted social media advertising ensures that your music finds the right audience.

With additional features like the "Artist Growth Radar," Songtools also provides insights on listener and follower trends, showcasing the overall growth an artist has seen to understand what's working and how they can double down on this. By combining these resources with your own creativity and drive, you can maximize your exposure and grow your fanbase faster than ever before.

‍

Key Highlights and Takeaway

• Understanding Royalties is Crucial: Knowing the different types of royalties—streaming, performance, mechanical, master, and publishing—is essential for independent artists to ensure they get paid fairly for their music.
• Register and Monitor: Register with Performing Rights Organizations (PROs), licensing agencies like The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC), and services like SoundExchange. Regularly check your earnings and verify your metadata to avoid missing payments.
• Maximize Your Music Promotion Impact: Collecting royalties goes hand in hand with effective music promotion. Use streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, optimize your profiles, and leverage playlist placements to increase your visibility.
• Leverage Both Free and Paid Tools: Utilize free tools such as personalized landing pages, SEO-optimized blogs, and asset storage to engage fans. When ready, invest in paid services like playlist pitching and targeted social media ad campaigns to grow your audience and streams.
• Build a Sustainable Music Career: Combining royalty collection with strategic promotion efforts helps independent artists sustain and grow their careers, turning exposure into real income.
• Stay Informed and Proactive: The music industry is constantly evolving, so staying updated on promotion strategies and royalty collection processes empowers artists to maximize their earnings and reach.

By mastering both the financial and promotional sides of the music business, independent artists can ensure they collect every cent they deserve while expanding their fanbase and achieving long-term success.

‍

FAQ's

What do royalties have to do with music promotion?
Royalties are payments that artists earn when their music is streamed, downloaded, performed live, or played on radio and other platforms. They are a key part of music promotion because they translate your exposure into income.

What types of royalties should independent artists know about?
Independent artists should be aware of streaming royalties, performance royalties, mechanical royalties, master royalties, and publishing royalties. Each type corresponds to different uses of your music and is collected through specific organizations.

How do I collect streaming royalties from music promotion?
Streaming royalties are earned whenever your music is played on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming services. Your music distributor typically handles these payments, but it’s important to monitor your earnings and ensure your metadata and ISRC codes are accurate.

What are performance royalties and how can I collect them?
Performance royalties come from public performances of your music, such as radio airplay, live shows, and venues. To collect them, you must register with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC and regularly check your account for earnings.

How do mechanical royalties work in music promotion?
Mechanical royalties are paid when your music is downloaded or streamed. Agencies like The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) manage these royalties, so registering your songs properly ensures you receive your share.

What are master royalties and how do I collect them?
If you own the master recordings, master royalties are earned when your music is played on satellite radio or digital platforms like Pandora. These are collected through services such as SoundExchange.

Can I collect publishing royalties as part of my music promotion strategy?
Yes, publishing royalties are earned from the use of your compositions in media like films, TV, or covers by other artists. Managing publishing royalties often involves working with publishing administrators or PROs.

How can tracking royalties improve my music promotion efforts?
Tracking your royalties helps you understand how your music is performing across platforms, ensuring you receive all payments due. It also informs smarter marketing and promotion strategies for future releases.

What practical steps can I take to start collecting royalties effectively?
Key steps include registering with PROs and licensing agencies, verifying your metadata and ISRC codes, regularly monitoring your earnings reports, and setting up direct deposit or payout options.

‍

By understanding and actively managing royalties as part of your music promotion, you can ensure you collect every cent you deserve while growing your music career.

Streaming services have completely transformed how artists promote their music and connect with fans. Platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music are now essential tools for any artist looking to build a sustainable music career. These streaming services offer a variety of features—such as artist profiles, analytics, and playlist placements—that can help you boost your visibility and track your progress.

To make the most of these opportunities, it’s important to regularly release new music, optimize your streaming profiles, and use streaming-specific promotion strategies. Music promotion services can help you navigate the ins and outs of these platforms, from getting your tracks onto popular playlists to analyzing your listener data for future releases. By working with the right partners and staying active on streaming services, you can ensure your music reaches more listeners and continues to grow in the ever-evolving music industry.

‍

Tools and Music Promotion Services To Amplify Your Promotion

Understanding how to collect your royalties is essential, but equally important is making sure your music reaches the right audience. This is where Songtools comes in and helps simplify the promotional process for all types of artists. Our tools are designed to make marketing effortless, helping you expand your reach and, in turn, increase your royalties so you have more to collect over time. 

You can always start with our three powerful, free tools to amplify your presence and create engaging content that truly connects with your audience:

• SongPage: Impress your fans with a personalized and adaptive landing page that requires zero coding or design work. 
• SongBlog: Publish an SEO-optimized blog for your song and engage with your fans. 
• SongFolder: Store important assets in the cloud and access millions of images and videos to promote your music. 

Once you are ready to expand your reach even further and drive real growth in listeners, streams, and followers, our two exclusive paid tools provide unparalleled opportunities: 

• PlaylisterClub: Connects your music with over 20,000 playlist curators, increasing your chances of landing on playlists to significantly boost your streams and listeners.
• Songfly: Automates digital ads and runs highly targeted campaigns on social media, helping you grow a dedicated fanbase that will support your future releases.

Promoting your music and collecting your earnings go hand in hand, and our tools are here to make both processes easier. Beyond promotion, we’re committed to providing valuable resources to help you navigate every stage of your music release journey. One of our most handy resources is our Music Release Guide: Getting Your First Thousand Listeners, which covers all the necessary steps to properly release your music and get paid. With the right tools and knowledge, you can focus on what matters most: creating more music and celebrating every milestone along the way!

‍

‍

Photo by Igal Ness on Unsplash