What is SoundExchange?

What SoundExchange Does

  • Collects royalties for master recording owners (usually record labels and performing artists, or independent artists who own their masters).
  • Distributes royalties to:
    • Featured artists (the performers)
    • Sound recording copyright owners (labels or independent owners)
    • Non-featured musicians and vocalists through the AFM/SAG-AFTRA Fund (in some cases)


 Difference Between SoundExchange and PROs

Aspect

SoundExchange

PROs (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC)

Royalties For

Sound recordings (masters)

Song compositions (writers & publishers)

Platforms Covered

Non-interactive digital (Pandora, SiriusXM, webcasters)

All public performances (radio, TV, venues, interactive streaming)

Payment To

Artists and labels

Songwriters and publishers



 Who Should Register with SoundExchange?

  • Recording artists who own their masters.
  • Independent labels and distributors.
  • Musicians and vocalists eligible for featured or non-featured payments.
  • Note: Songwriters do not register with SoundExchange for songwriting royalties; that’s handled by PROs.


 How to Use SoundExchange

  • Register as an artist or rights holder.
  • Submit accurate recordings and metadata.
  • Track your royalties and payments through their portal.


 Pro Tips

  • If you’re an independent artist, SoundExchange can be a major income source.
  • Register early to avoid missing unpaid royalties.
  • SoundExchange collects only from non-interactive streams — interactive streams (Spotify, Apple Music) pay via different channels.


Bottom Line:
SoundExchange ensures that artists and master owners get paid when their recordings are played on certain digital platforms, complementing the work PROs do for songwriters.

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