Guides
Every society, explained.
How publishing administration actually works, from PROs and the MLC to HFA and international CMOs. Built for songwriters who want clear, practical answers.
What YouTube Content ID Pays Songwriters
What Content ID claims, why songwriters can't get direct access, and how the composition side of YouTube money actually reaches you.
How to Register Your Song, Step by Step
Every place a song has to be registered, in the order that actually works — PRO, ISWC, the MLC, SoundExchange, and international.
How to Collect International Music Royalties
Your PRO doesn't collect worldwide. How reciprocal agreements move money between societies, where it leaks, and what you can do about it.
Performing Rights Organizations: How to Join a PRO
How to join a performing rights organization, what a PRO collects, and why your songs earn nothing on the performance side until you have an IPI number.
Sync Licensing for Independent Songwriters
How sync licensing actually works for indie songwriters: master vs publishing sync, deal sizes, cue sheets, sync agents, and what to keep in-house.
SoundExchange for Independent Artists: How to Get Paid
SoundExchange collects US digital performance royalties for master owners and featured performers. How registration, matching, and payouts actually work.
Publishing Administration for Independent Songwriters
What a publishing admin actually does, what they charge, what to look for, and the questions to ask before you sign.
Neighboring Rights for Independent Artists
Neighboring rights pay the master owner and performers when a recording is publicly performed. How they work in the US vs internationally, and how to collect.
The MLC for Songwriters: US Streaming Mechanicals
The MLC collects every US streaming mechanical royalty owed to songwriters. Registration mechanics, the unmatched pool, payout cadence, and gotchas.
ISWC Codes Explained: The Global ID for Your Songs
An ISWC is the global ID for a composition. Format, how to get one via your PRO, why the MLC needs it, and how indie writers lose theirs.
BMI for Songwriters: How It Works and How to Register
BMI is one of the two US PROs you can actually join. A practical breakdown of what it collects, payout schedules, and how it differs from ASCAP.
ASCAP for Songwriters: How It Works and What It Pays
ASCAP collects performance royalties for songwriters. A practical breakdown of what it does, what it doesn't, payouts, and where you still need help.
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