In the world of music, creators—whether they are artists, songwriters, or producers—deserve to be compensated when their work is utilized. Music royalties play a crucial role in ensuring that those who craft melodies, lyrics, and compositions can sustain their artistic pursuits while receiving financial rewards. This system not only supports their livelihoods but also fuels innovation and cultural expression by providing an incentive to continue creating.
At the core of music royalties lies intellectual property law, which safeguards musical compositions as unique forms of creative ownership. As the music industry transitions from physical sales to digital platforms, maintaining a robust royalty system becomes essential in preserving fair compensation for creators. This structure empowers musicians with control over how their work is distributed, utilized, and monetized, securing their rights in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
Understanding Music Royalties
Music royalties represent compensation payments made to artists, songwriters, producers, publishers, and rights holders whenever their creative works are used. These royalties are critical because they ensure creators can financially benefit from their music, thus sustaining their creative efforts and livelihoods. They serve as a key incentive structure in the music industry, encouraging innovation, cultural expression, and diversity in artistic output.
The foundation of music royalties lies in the principle of intellectual property, which recognizes music as a form of protected creative work. Without a reliable royalty system, it would be difficult for creators to earn sustainable income, especially as the consumption of music has shifted from physical sales to digital formats where ownership is often less tangible. This framework allows musicians to maintain control over how their works are used, reused, and monetized.
Music royalties also play a vital role in the broader economic ecosystem. They support not only performers and composers, but also behind-the-scenes professionals such as sound engineers, producers, and publishers. The fair distribution of royalties helps uphold ethical standards and fosters long-term careers in the creative arts.
The intricate structure of royalty collection involves various types of royalties, collection societies, licensing agreements, digital streaming platforms, and legal infrastructures that operate both locally and internationally. Together, these components form a networked system that attempts to ensure fair and timely compensation for artists and rights holders around the world.
Historical Background of Music Royalties
The concept of music royalties dates back to the late 19th century when composers and lyricists began advocating for legal recognition of their rights to receive compensation for the use of their musical works. This era saw the rise of early copyright laws in countries like France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, followed by the establishment of rights organizations such as SACEM (France, 1851) and PRS for Music (UK, 1914). These institutions laid the groundwork for structured royalty collection and distribution systems.
Initially, royalty income was largely derived from the sale of printed sheet music, which was the primary medium through which music reached audiences. Composers were paid based on the number of copies sold, and royalties were typically managed through publishing houses. Public performances—such as operas, recitals, and concerts—also became monetized, and performance royalties emerged as a necessary extension of copyright protection, ensuring artists were paid when their work was performed in public venues.
The invention of the phonograph in the late 19th century, followed by the commercial production of records in the early 20th century, revolutionized the music industry. For the first time, music could be mechanically reproduced and distributed at scale. This development gave birth to mechanical royalties, which compensated composers and songwriters for each copy of their work sold or reproduced on a physical format such as vinyl or cassette.
With the rise of radio broadcasting in the 1920s and 1930s, performance royalties took on even greater significance. Radio stations began paying licensing fees to performance rights organizations (PROs), which then distributed royalties to music creators based on how frequently their works were played. The spread of television in the mid-20th century introduced yet another avenue for monetization through synchronization licenses, which allowed music to be used alongside visual media in shows and advertisements.
The late 20th and early 21st centuries ushered in the digital age, transforming royalty collection and distribution once again. The emergence of CDs and later MP3s prompted updates in mechanical licensing practices, while digital downloads through platforms like iTunes became a major source of income for rights holders. Most recently, the dominance of streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube has fundamentally changed the royalty landscape. These platforms require new models for tracking plays and compensating rights holders, often blending mechanical and performance royalties.
Today’s royalty system is the result of over a century of legal, technological, and cultural developments. From handwritten sheet music to algorithm-driven streaming services, the journey of music royalties reflects the ongoing efforts to fairly compensate those who contribute to the global musical heritage.
Types of Music Royalties
Music royalties fall into several distinct categories, each corresponding to a specific use or exploitation of a musical work. Understanding these categories is essential for artists, songwriters, publishers, and anyone involved in the music business, as each royalty type contributes uniquely to the overall income of a rights holder.
1. Mechanical Royalties
Mechanical royalties are payments made to songwriters, composers, and publishers when their music is mechanically reproduced. This includes both traditional physical formats such as CDs, vinyl records, and cassette tapes, as well as digital formats such as downloads and interactive streaming. For instance, when a song is streamed on a platform like Spotify or downloaded via iTunes, a mechanical royalty is generated for the underlying composition.
Mechanical royalties are typically collected by specialized mechanical rights organizations. In the United States, this role is carried out by the Harry Fox Agency (HFA) and, more recently, the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC), which handles digital mechanical royalties under the Music Modernization Act. In the United Kingdom, the MCPS (Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society) is responsible. These organizations ensure that royalty payments are properly collected and distributed, based on usage reports submitted by music distributors and digital service providers.
2. Performance Royalties
Performance royalties are earned whenever a musical composition is publicly performed or broadcast. This can include a wide array of situations, such as a song being played on terrestrial or internet radio, used in a TV show or commercial, streamed online, or performed live at a concert or public venue. Even music played in cafes, gyms, or retail stores contributes to the generation of performance royalties.
These royalties are collected by Performance Rights Organizations (PROs), which monitor music usage and collect licensing fees from the entities that use the music. In the U.S., the main PROs are ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), and SESAC. Other countries have their own PROs—PRS for Music in the U.K., GEMA in Germany, SOCAN in Canada, and JASRAC in Japan, among others. The collected royalties are distributed to rights holders based on actual usage data and statistical sampling, ensuring that creators are compensated for the public use of their works.
3. Synchronization Royalties
Synchronization royalties, often abbreviated as \”sync\” royalties, are generated when a musical work is paired or synchronized with visual media. This includes usage in movies, television series, commercials, YouTube videos, video games, and corporate presentations. Because sync placements often provide high visibility and can significantly boost a song’s popularity, they are among the most lucrative forms of royalty income.
Unlike mechanical and performance royalties, synchronization royalties are not collected through PROs. Instead, they are typically negotiated directly between the rights holder—usually the music publisher or songwriter—and the party seeking to license the music. The value of a sync license depends on factors like the duration of the use, the prominence of the placement, the size of the audience, and whether the song is featured in a trailer, closing credits, or key scene. Sync royalties are paid as a one-time fee, though they can be supplemented by performance royalties if the visual content airs publicly or is streamed.
4. Print Royalties
Print royalties are earned from the sale or licensing of printed sheet music, guitar tablatures, choral arrangements, and other notated versions of a musical composition. While they represent a smaller portion of total royalty revenue in the digital age, they remain important in educational, classical, and worship music contexts.
These royalties are typically negotiated between the songwriter or publisher and the sheet music distributor or print publisher. The royalty rate is often a percentage of the sale price of the printed material. In academic institutions, churches, schools, and musical conservatories, print royalties continue to provide a stable source of income, especially for composers of classical or liturgical works.
Each of these royalty types serves a distinct function in the lifecycle of a musical work. Together, they form a multifaceted system that rewards creativity and sustains the diverse ecosystem of the global music industry.
Collection Societies and PROs
To manage the complex and often global process of royalty collection and distribution, specialized organizations known as collection societies and Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) have been established in nearly every country. These entities serve as intermediaries between the creators of music—such as songwriters, composers, and publishers—and those who use music publicly, such as radio stations, streaming services, television networks, venues, and even businesses that play background music.
PROs and collection societies track, collect, and distribute royalties on behalf of their members. They issue licenses to music users, gather data on performances and usages, calculate royalty amounts based on detailed formulas, and finally distribute those earnings to the appropriate rights holders. Because tracking every instance of music use is a monumental task, many PROs employ cutting-edge technology, including fingerprinting and audio recognition software, to automate monitoring across digital and traditional platforms.
Some of the most prominent and long-standing PROs include:
- ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) – Established in 1914, ASCAP is one of the oldest and largest PROs in the United States, representing over 900,000 members and tracking billions of performances annually.
- BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) – Founded in 1939, BMI represents over 1.3 million songwriters, composers, and publishers and is known for its expansive catalog that spans every genre of music.
- SESAC – Once a for-profit alternative to ASCAP and BMI, SESAC offers selective membership and is known for its more personalized approach to royalty collection and distribution.
- PRS for Music – The UK’s leading collection society, PRS (Performing Right Society) collects royalties for musical performances, while MCPS (Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society) manages mechanical royalties. Together, they serve tens of thousands of music creators in the United Kingdom.
- SOCAN – Based in Canada, the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada represents more than 180,000 creators and businesses, playing a crucial role in the country’s cultural and economic landscape.
- GEMA – In Germany, GEMA (Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs- und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte) serves over 85,000 members and is one of the most robust rights organizations in Europe.
In addition to national operations, many PROs have reciprocal agreements with their international counterparts, allowing them to collect royalties on behalf of their members abroad. For example, ASCAP can collect royalties for American artists whose music is played in France through SACEM, and vice versa. These global partnerships are vital in today’s interconnected music economy, where a song released in one country may be streamed or broadcast in dozens of others within hours.
Beyond royalty collection, many PROs also advocate for legislative reform, conduct educational outreach, offer grant programs, and provide career resources for their members. In a digital age marked by rapid change and increasing complexity, collection societies and PROs remain indispensable in ensuring that creators receive fair compensation for the public use of their work, both domestically and globally.
The Royalty Distribution Process
The royalty distribution process is a highly structured and data-driven operation designed to ensure that all music creators—whether they are globally recognized superstars or independent songwriters—are compensated fairly and accurately for the use of their work. It requires collaboration between multiple stakeholders, including PROs, collection societies, publishers, digital platforms, and rights holders themselves. Each step in this process is critical to maintaining the integrity and functionality of the global music industry.
1. Monitoring Usage
The first step in the royalty distribution chain is identifying when and where a song is used. Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) and collection societies employ a variety of sophisticated technologies and methodologies to monitor music usage. These include broadcast logs submitted by radio and TV stations, cue sheets from film and television productions, digital fingerprinting technology, watermarking systems, and AI-powered audio recognition tools that can scan billions of music uses across terrestrial, satellite, and internet-based platforms.
Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music generate extensive usage reports containing metadata such as song titles, artist names, and play counts. These are submitted to collection agencies and are critical for determining how royalties are ultimately allocated. In venues or public spaces, monitoring may rely on self-reporting by license holders or auditing by third-party services.
2. Collection of Royalties
Once usage has been verified, collection societies begin the process of collecting royalties from the appropriate sources. This includes obtaining payments from broadcasters, digital streaming services, live venues, restaurants, fitness clubs, and any other entity that uses music publicly or commercially. These users must obtain licenses that authorize them to legally play or distribute music, and the associated fees contribute to the royalty pool collected by PROs and other collection agencies.
In the digital space, streaming services are obligated to pay both mechanical and performance royalties, often broken down into multiple categories such as interactive streams, ad-supported plays, and subscription-based access. The exact fee structure varies based on region, user base size, revenue model, and existing licensing agreements.
3. Calculation and Allocation
After the royalty funds are collected, they must be allocated among rights holders based on a formula that factors in the number of plays, type of usage, market share, and audience reach. This step is complex, especially in the case of global usage where a single song might generate royalties in dozens of countries. PROs use sophisticated data management systems to process massive volumes of information, matching usage reports with their databases of registered works.
Distribution formulas can vary between PROs, but they generally take into account the duration of use, time of broadcast, territory, and platform type. In some cases, royalties are weighted more heavily for prime-time TV slots or high-profile advertisements. PROs also handle the allocation between multiple contributors—such as lyricists, composers, publishers, and performers—based on the percentages registered during the song’s submission.
4. Payment to Rights Holders
Once royalties are calculated and allocated, payments are disbursed to the respective rights holders. Most PROs distribute royalties quarterly or semi-annually, although some digital platforms and distributors may offer monthly payments. The funds are deposited directly into the accounts of songwriters, composers, publishers, and in some cases, producers or featured artists, depending on contractual arrangements.
Many collection societies offer online portals where members can view detailed royalty statements, track the sources of their income, and update their registered works. However, delays in reporting or disputes over ownership data can sometimes cause payment delays or errors. This underscores the importance of proper song registration, metadata accuracy, and vigilant rights management by all parties involved.
Ultimately, the royalty distribution process ensures that artists and creators receive fair compensation for their contributions. Though technologically demanding and administratively complex, the system is essential for upholding the rights of music creators in an increasingly digitized and globalized environment.
Digital Streaming and the Evolution of Royalties
The rise of digital streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, Deezer, and Tidal has profoundly transformed how music royalties are generated, calculated, and distributed. Unlike traditional models based on physical sales or digital downloads, streaming operates on a pay-per-play model where royalties are accumulated through repeated user engagement over time. This shift has led to both new opportunities and major challenges for artists and rights holders.
Streaming royalties are typically divided into two main types: performance royalties and mechanical royalties. Performance royalties are owed to songwriters and publishers when a song is streamed, as it is considered a public performance. Mechanical royalties, on the other hand, are owed for the digital reproduction of the song. Each stream thus generates a fractional royalty payment that is shared among multiple parties, including the artist, songwriter, publisher, record label, and sometimes the distributor.
However, the actual amount paid per stream is notoriously low. On average, Spotify pays between $0.003 to $0.005 per stream, and other platforms offer comparable or slightly higher rates. For an artist to earn $1, they may need between 200 to 300 streams—and much more if they do not own the full rights to their music. This model has sparked ongoing debate and frustration, especially among independent artists who rely on streaming as a primary revenue source.
Compounding the issue is the way revenue is distributed. Most major platforms use a pro-rata model, where all subscription and advertising revenue is pooled and then divided based on total streams. This benefits top-performing artists with millions of streams while often disadvantaging niche or emerging artists whose fans may stream their music frequently but contribute minimally to the overall pool. In contrast, some have proposed a user-centric payment model, where a user’s subscription fee is divided only among the artists they listen to—a model believed to be fairer to smaller acts.
Streaming has also introduced a new dynamic for song exposure and discovery. Algorithmic playlists, editorial curation, and user-generated content (like TikTok videos) can all propel songs to viral success, often leading to large volumes of streams and subsequent royalty earnings. However, this new exposure landscape also means that traditional promotional strategies may no longer suffice, pushing artists to engage in digital marketing and social media branding to maintain visibility.
Despite the financial criticisms, streaming platforms offer global reach, instant distribution, and real-time performance data. Artists can release music independently without the need for a major label, and platforms like Spotify for Artists or Apple Music for Artists provide valuable insights into audience demographics, engagement metrics, and regional popularity.
In response to growing concerns about equity and transparency, music industry stakeholders are increasingly advocating for reform. Proposed changes include legislating minimum per-stream rates, improving metadata accuracy to ensure proper tracking, and encouraging platforms to adopt more transparent royalty reporting systems. Legislative initiatives like the Music Modernization Act in the U.S. have already laid groundwork by streamlining royalty administration and creating new frameworks for digital services to license and pay mechanical royalties.
As digital streaming continues to dominate music consumption globally, the conversation surrounding fair compensation remains central to the evolution of the industry. Finding a balance between innovation, accessibility, and equitable income distribution will be crucial for ensuring a sustainable future for music creators in the streaming era.
Challenges and Controversies in Royalty Collection
Despite significant technological progress and legal reforms, the music royalty ecosystem continues to face a host of challenges that can hinder fair and timely compensation for creators. These issues affect all levels of the music industry—from independent artists and songwriters to major labels and publishers—and often spark heated debates over equity, accountability, and structural reform.
Accuracy of Data
One of the most persistent issues in royalty collection is the inaccuracy of usage data. In many cases, songs are played but not properly tracked or matched with the correct metadata. Errors in song titles, artist names, or ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) and ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code) identifiers can result in royalties being delayed, misrouted, or even lost entirely. This problem disproportionately affects independent and lesser-known artists, whose songs may be underrepresented or incorrectly cataloged in automated tracking systems.
Moreover, metadata discrepancies between streaming platforms and PRO databases can create inconsistencies in royalty allocation. When compositions are not properly registered or when ownership shares are not clearly documented, royalty distribution is delayed or frozen until disputes are resolved. These administrative bottlenecks underscore the need for better metadata standards and cross-platform data harmonization.
International Coordination
Royalty collection becomes even more complicated when music crosses national borders. With the global nature of streaming and content sharing, a single song can generate royalties in dozens of countries. However, not all PROs and collection societies have the same level of efficiency, technological infrastructure, or legal authority. Some territories may lack transparent systems for data reporting or experience lengthy bureaucratic delays, causing international royalty payments to take months or even years to reach creators.
Reciprocal agreements between PROs aim to streamline this process, but challenges remain. Differences in copyright laws, licensing structures, and royalty rates across jurisdictions add layers of complexity. Additionally, not all collection societies participate in global databases, making cross-border collaboration less effective. This fragmentation can result in underpayments and an overall lack of consistency in global royalty administration.
Transparency Issues
A major source of frustration for artists and rights holders is the lack of transparency in how royalties are calculated and distributed. Many PROs and digital service providers (DSPs) do not provide clear or detailed reporting on how much revenue is being generated, how it is being divided, and what deductions are made before artists receive their share. As a result, rights holders are often left in the dark about the true value of their works in the marketplace.
Opaque practices make it difficult for creators to verify whether they are being fairly compensated, and in some cases, prevent them from identifying and correcting errors in royalty statements. This lack of transparency has prompted calls for greater accountability, with some stakeholders advocating for legislation that would require digital platforms and PROs to disclose more comprehensive financial and usage information.
These challenges collectively threaten the sustainability of the music economy, especially for smaller creators who cannot afford to hire legal or administrative support to chase unpaid or misallocated royalties. Addressing these issues will require systemic improvements in data handling, international cooperation, and corporate transparency—ensuring that every stream, performance, and reproduction of a song results in rightful compensation for its creators.
Technological Innovations and the Future of Royalties
As the music industry continues to evolve in the digital age, emerging technologies are offering groundbreaking solutions to many of the challenges plaguing royalty collection and distribution. Innovations such as blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning are at the forefront of a transformation that promises to make the system more transparent, accurate, and artist-friendly.
Blockchain Technology
Blockchain, a decentralized and tamper-proof ledger system, is one of the most promising developments for the music royalty landscape. Its transparent and immutable structure allows for precise documentation of music rights ownership, licensing agreements, and transactional data. With blockchain, every time a song is played, downloaded, or used commercially, the usage event can be recorded on the ledger in real time, triggering immediate royalty calculations and payments to the appropriate rights holders.
Startups like Ujo Music, Revelator, and Vezt are leveraging blockchain to streamline the royalty process. Smart contracts—self-executing agreements embedded in the blockchain—can automate royalty splits based on pre-defined ownership percentages, eliminating delays and disputes. Furthermore, because blockchain is decentralized, artists and creators can have greater control over their data without relying solely on intermediaries like publishers or PROs.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
AI and machine learning are also revolutionizing how music usage is identified, tracked, and analyzed. Advanced audio recognition tools can scan billions of streams, radio broadcasts, and live performances to detect song plays with extraordinary accuracy. These technologies can distinguish even short snippets of music used in remixes, mashups, or background scores—areas that traditional tracking methods often miss.
Machine learning models can analyze complex data patterns, predict royalty trends, and identify anomalies in royalty distributions that might indicate errors or fraud. These insights help rights organizations and music platforms fine-tune their operations, reduce administrative overhead, and ensure that more revenue reaches creators without leakage through inefficient systems.
Real-Time Royalty Accounting
Another key innovation is the move toward real-time royalty accounting. Historically, royalties have been paid out quarterly or biannually due to the administrative burdens of aggregating usage data. However, with the integration of cloud computing and AI analytics, some platforms are now offering near-instantaneous reporting and faster disbursement of royalties. This enables artists to track their earnings in real time, enhancing financial planning and transparency.
Global Metadata Standardization
Technological solutions are also driving efforts to standardize music metadata—a critical step in improving the accuracy of royalty payments. Organizations such as the Digital Data Exchange (DDEX) and CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) are working on global metadata standards to ensure consistency across all platforms and territories. Proper metadata ensures that songwriters, composers, and performers are correctly identified and compensated whenever their work is used.
Artist-Centric Platforms
Beyond backend technology, innovations are also reshaping the artist interface. Tools like Stem, Amuse, and Songtrust empower artists to manage their royalties, distribute music, and monitor performance data independently. These platforms often include intuitive dashboards, automated royalty tracking, and integrated publishing administration, helping artists retain more control and transparency over their income streams.
While the full-scale adoption of these technologies is still underway, the trajectory is clear: the future of royalty collection and payment lies in automation, decentralization, and real-time data analytics. As the industry embraces these changes, the ultimate goal remains constant—to ensure that music creators are fairly and efficiently compensated for their work, without unnecessary delay or opacity.
Empowering Artists through Awareness and Education
In today’s fast-paced and digitally driven music industry, understanding how royalties work is not merely advantageous—it is essential. For artists, songwriters, producers, and other rights holders, a solid grasp of royalty structures, licensing mechanisms, and collection processes can be the difference between financial instability and a sustainable creative career. Unfortunately, many creators enter the music business without a clear understanding of how revenue is generated and distributed, leaving them vulnerable to unfair contracts, missed opportunities, and unpaid royalties.
Educational empowerment is the first line of defense. Workshops, webinars, music business courses, and online resources provided by organizations such as the Recording Academy, Songwriters Guild of America, and Berklee Online are equipping artists with the knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of intellectual property law, performance rights, publishing agreements, and digital distribution. These programs not only demystify the royalty ecosystem but also teach artists how to register their works, track earnings, and advocate for fair compensation.
Many collection societies and PROs have also launched dedicated portals and mobile apps for their members, enabling creators to manage their repertoire, access real-time royalty data, and receive alerts about upcoming distributions. These tools make it easier for artists to stay informed and proactive in managing their intellectual property, which is often one of their most valuable assets.
Furthermore, artist collectives, legal clinics, and grassroots organizations are playing a crucial role in leveling the playing field. Initiatives like Women in Music, Black Music Action Coalition, and the Future of Music Coalition provide community-based support, mentorship, and policy advocacy, particularly for underrepresented or marginalized artists. Their work is helping to build a more equitable music industry by ensuring that all creators, regardless of background, have access to the resources and guidance they need to succeed.
Digital platforms and independent distribution services have also stepped in with educational blogs, royalty calculators, and video tutorials. Services like CD Baby, DistroKid, TuneCore, and Bandcamp provide not just distribution but also business literacy resources that help artists make informed choices about licensing, monetization, and copyright registration.
Ultimately, knowledge is power. By arming themselves with accurate information and leveraging available educational tools, artists can better protect their rights, negotiate favorable contracts, and optimize their revenue streams. In an industry where the rules are constantly evolving, continuous education and awareness are vital for long-term career viability and creative independence.
The Path to Equitable Compensation
The business of music royalties is far more than a technical or legal framework—it is the lifeline of the global creative economy. Royalties provide the financial foundation that enables artists, songwriters, composers, and producers to continue innovating, expressing, and shaping culture. Without a reliable, transparent, and equitable royalty system, many creative careers would be unsustainable, and the richness of the global music landscape would suffer as a result.
In an era of digital transformation, where music can travel across continents in seconds and be consumed by millions through various platforms, the mechanisms of royalty collection and distribution must keep pace. The adoption of advanced technologies such as blockchain, AI analytics, and global metadata standardization offers promising pathways to a more efficient and just system. These innovations are not merely conveniences—they are necessary tools to ensure that creators are rewarded fairly for the ongoing value their works generate.
At the same time, ongoing advocacy for industry transparency, artist rights, and legislative reform must remain a priority. Governments, collection societies, digital service providers, and major labels all have a role to play in building a more equitable future. From advocating for user-centric payment models to reforming outdated licensing structures, collective action is required to fix the systemic imbalances that often disadvantage independent and emerging artists.
Equally important is the role of education and self-empowerment. As artists become more business-savvy and engaged with the financial side of their careers, they are better equipped to advocate for themselves, make informed decisions, and build long-term stability. A culture that encourages learning, transparency, and accountability will lead to a more inclusive and vibrant music industry.
Ultimately, fair and sustainable compensation is not a luxury—it is a right. It is the recognition that creative labor holds immense cultural and economic value. As the music world continues to evolve, the pursuit of equitable royalties must remain central to industry discourse, policy-making, and technological innovation. Only by placing creators at the heart of the system can we ensure a thriving, diverse, and just musical future.