⏱️ Block 3 · Royalties · 45 minutes + up to 45 days processing — START EARLY
🎯 Week Goal
Register with SoundExchange as both a Rights Owner (your label) and a Performer (you, the artist) to collect 100% of your digital performance royalties on the ℗ side.
📌 Learning Objectives
Explain digital performance royalties and where they come from
Distinguish the Rights Owner side from the Performer side
Complete both SoundExchange registrations correctly
Understand why processing time (up to 45 days) means starting NOW
💵 The Two Halves of Your Money
Think of SoundExchange like a paycheck split between two people who both worked on the song: the label (Rights Owner) gets one half, the artist (Performer) gets the other. If you only register one side, you literally leave half your money on the table. Since you're your own label AND your own artist — register BOTH and collect both halves.
📻 Where Digital Performance Royalties Come From
Pandora
SiriusXM
iHeartRadio
Music Choice
Webcast Radio
These are "non-interactive" streams — you can't pick the exact song, like traditional radio.
🔑 Two Different Registrations — Two Different Names
Featured Artist / Performer registration uses your PERSONAL / artist name. Rights Owner (Sound Recording Copyright Owner) registration uses your label LLC/DBA. These are two separate registrations — this is the "triple-threat trap" most artists fall into by registering only once.
📝 Part A: Rights Owner Registration (Label Side)
Go to SoundExchange.com → register as a "Rights Owner" using your LLC/label name
Ownership questions: "Does this sound recording copyright owner own a record company?" → Yes, enter your label name. Percentage claimed → usually 100%
Payment setup: choose "Individual" (single-member LLC — remember Week 7!), click "DBA" and add your company name so they list your LLC as a disregarded entity correctly
Complete the W-9 — your SSN (disregarded entity), digitally sign
Upload documents — direct deposit authorization or voided check (Week 8!) + government ID photo
📝 Part B: Performer Registration (Artist Side)
Begin the Performer registration — this side collects the artist's share
Identity details — DOB, citizenship, photo ID to confirm you're the actual artist
Artist info — solo artist name (solo = 100%); if you're in a group, negotiate and enter your split BEFORE registering
Payment setup — same as Rights Owner: Individual + company name as DBA + W-9 with SSN
Sign both the agreement and the international agreement
💡 Shortcut
If you represent yourself and you're your own record company, choose the option to register as yourself for BOTH accounts — the registration information is the same for both.