Sound recording
A fixation of music, sounds, or other audio onto a physical or digital medium — such as a CD, vinyl record, or digital file. The sound recording copyright is distinct from the underlying musical composition copyright and is typically owned by the record label or the recording artist. Sound recordings generate master use fees, streaming royalties, and neighboring rights.
Articles about Sound recording
Music Copyright vs Trademark: What's the Difference and Do You Need Both?
Confused about music copyright vs trademark and which one you actually need? This article cuts through the overlap and explains what each protects, how registration works, typical costs and timelines, and the real-world consequences for streaming, sync and merchandise.
How Performance Royalties Work: A Deep Dive for Independent Artists
Performance royalties explained - a practical FAQ for independent artists who want to stop leaving money on the table. This guide lays out who gets paid for compositions versus recordings, which collecting societies handle each right, and the exact registration and metadata steps (ISWC, ISRC, IPI) you need to ensure plays are matched and paid.
What Are Neighbouring Rights in Music? Everything Artists and Labels Need to Know
If you've wondered what is neighbouring rights music and why performers and labels sometimes get separate checks from songwriters and publishers, this FAQ cuts through the confusion. It explains who neighbouring rights protect, how collections work across key territories, the essential metadata and registration steps that actually matter, realistic revenue expectations, and practical next steps to claim unpaid royalties.
Spotify vs Apple Music: Which Platform Pays Artists More?
Spotify vs Apple Music royalties is a debate in every music community, but the reality is messier than a single per-stream number. This comparison lays out sourced per-stream ranges, explains how master and composition splits and distributor deals change net pay, and walks through worked examples for independents and label-signed artists.
SOCAN vs ASCAP: Which PRO Is Right for You?
Deciding between SOCAN vs ASCAP determines where and how your performance royalties are collected and paid. This SOCAN vs ASCAP comparison walks through eligibility, territorial scope, what each PRO does and does not collect, registration and split workflows, payout mechanics, and the metadata mistakes that cause missing royalties.
PRS vs PPL: Understanding the Difference for UK Artists
If you release recorded music in the UK, a single radio play or stream can generate two separate payments - one for the song and one for the recording. PRS vs PPL neighbouring rights determine who gets paid for each, and this article lays out exactly what PRS collects, what PPL collects, and the registration steps you need to claim both.
How to Build a Sustainable Music Career as an Independent Artist
This practical how to build music career guide gives independent artists a step-by-step roadmap to create reliable income, retain rights, and grow an engaged fan base. You will get concrete music career tips on revenue diversification, rights registration and royalty collection, repeatable release and promotion workflows, live and direct-to-fan strategies, and measurable milestones to use over the next 12 months.
The Royalty Audit That Found $30,000 in Missing Payments for an Independent Band
This royalty audit case study shows how a targeted audit recovered $30,000 in unpaid royalties for an independent band. It details the data sources, matching methodology, and an itemized breakdown of shortfalls across streaming, mechanical, and performance royalties so you can compare the findings to your own releases.
How to Get Your Music on Spotify and Start Earning Streams
If you are an independent artist wondering how to get music on Spotify, this guide walks you step by step from finished master to first-week promotion and royalty collection . You will learn how to choose a distributor and upload music to Spotify, prepare ISRCs and metadata correctly, schedule and submit music to Spotify for editorial consideration, and run a targeted launch that improves playlist chances.