The music business is complex. We break down the difference between master and composition rights, PROs, mechanical royalties, and how to ensure you're collecting all your money.
Master vs. Composition
Every song has two copyrights: the Master (the actual sound recording) and the Composition (the underlying lyrics and melody). An independent artist who writes and records their own music owns both. If you cover a song, you own your Master, but the original writer owns the Composition.
Performance Royalties and PROs
Whenever your composition is broadcast—on the radio, TV, or played live in a venue—you earn a performance royalty. To collect this, you must register with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) like ASCAP, BMI, or PRS.
Mechanical Royalties
Mechanical royalties are generated whenever your composition is reproduced, whether physically (CDs, vinyl) or digitally (interactive streams on Spotify or Apple Music). To collect these, especially globally, you need a publishing administrator or an entity like the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) in the US.