How to Register a Song So You Actually Get Paid
Register the composition with a performance rights organisation and the recording with a distributor, then make sure the metadata matches everywhere. Most missing royalties are a data problem, not a payment problem.
Have this ready
- A written split agreement
- Writer and publisher details for every contributor
- Release metadata including ISRC
Step by step
- 1Split the songwriting shares in writing between everyone who wrote lyrics or music.
- 2Register the composition with the performance rights organisation for your territory, listing all writers and publishers.
- 3Register the recording with your distributor or label, using the same writer names as the composition.
- 4Obtain or confirm the ISRC for the recording and the ISWC for the composition where available.
- 5Register with a mechanical licensing body if your territory requires it for streams and downloads.
- 6Keep one master sheet with titles, shares, ISRCs and registration references.
- 7Check your statements after the first royalty period and fix mismatches immediately.
Want it done with you?
I can walk you through it in a Magic Box, show you the exact clicks, or do it with you and keep the recording. You log in yourself; I never see your password.
Common questions
Do I need a publisher to collect?+
No. You can register as your own publisher with most organisations, though a publisher can handle administration.
What is the difference between the composition and the recording?+
The composition is the song itself and pays writers; the recording is the specific audio and pays the performer or owner of the master.
Why are my royalties lower than the streams suggest?+
Usually unmatched metadata, a missing registration or a split recorded differently across systems. Reconcile the identifiers first.