What Are Royalties in Songwriting?

What Royalties Represent

Royalties are earned based on ownership of a song’s composition, not the recording. So even if you didn’t perform or produce the song, you still get paid if you wrote it.

 The 4 Main Types of Songwriting Royalties

Royalty Type	What It Pays For	Paid To
Performance	Public plays (radio, venues, streaming)	Songwriters + Publishers
Mechanical	Song reproductions (CDs, downloads, streams)	Songwriters + Publishers
Sync Licensing	Song use in film, TV, ads, games	Songwriters + Publishers (if negotiated)
Print	Sheet music or lyric use	Songwriters + Publishers

 Other Royalties (Less Common but Important)

• Lyric display royalties – When lyrics are used in books, websites, merch.
• Karaoke royalties – Paid when karaoke versions use your lyrics/melody.
• International royalties – Collected via foreign PROs and publishers.
• Sample royalties – Paid when someone samples your composition.

 Who Pays the Royalties?

Source	Royalty Type	Paid Through
Spotify, Apple	Mechanical + Performance	MLC + PROs
Radio, TV, Venues	Performance	PROs (e.g., ASCAP, BMI)
Film, Ads	Sync Licensing	Negotiated directly or via publisher
Publishers	Various types	Royalty splits with writer
YouTube	Performance + Micro-sync	PROs + Content ID

 Pro Tips

• Register your songs with a PRO (for performance royalties) and the MLC (for mechanical royalties).
• Use admin services like Songtrust if you don’t have a publisher.
• Keep metadata accurate—royalties depend on proper song identification.

Bottom Line:
Royalties are your paycheck as a songwriter. The more your songs are used, the more you earn. Understanding how they work is essential to making a sustainable income from your music.