SoundExchange & Digital Royalties
Maximizing Your Revenue Beyond Streaming
When your music is played on digital radio—such as Pandora, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, or Music Choice—it generates a specific type of royalty called "Non-Interactive Digital Performance Royalties."
Unlike your Spotify streams (which go to your distributor), these royalties are collected and paid out by SoundExchange.
How the 50/50 Split Works
Per the terms of your Stephen Allen Music Group® license, all digital performance royalties for the Master Recording are split:
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50% to the Featured Artist (You)
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50% to the Producer (Stephen Allen Mackey)
This is the industry standard for non-interactive royalties. SoundExchange is designed to pay both the performer and the creator of the track directly.
Why You Must Register
If you are not registered as a "Performer" with SoundExchange, they are likely holding your money. Even if your distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, etc.) collects your Spotify money, they do not collect your SoundExchange royalties unless you have opted into a specific (and often expensive) admin package.
To collect your 50%, you must:
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Register for free at SoundExchange.com.
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Submit your repertoire (the songs we’ve created together).
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Assign the Producer Share: During registration, ensure you acknowledge the 50% producer split to Stephen Allen Mackey.
The Difference Between SoundExchange and BMI
It is a common mistake to think BMI covers everything. Here is the breakdown:
| Royalty Type | Collected By | Split |
|---|---|---|
| Performance (Lyrics/Composition) | BMI / ASCAP | 50% Artist / 50% Producer |
| Mechanical (Digital Streams) | The MLC | 50% Artist / 50% Producer |
| Digital Performance (Digital Radio) | SoundExchange | 50% Artist / 50% Producer |
Professional Transparency
At Stephen Allen Music Group®, we believe in a transparent partnership. By ensuring all registrations are handled correctly from day one, we protect the longevity of the record and ensure both parties are compensated for the life of the song.
Need help with your registration? If you are a Custom Beat client or Exclusive License holder, feel free to reach out for a brief consultation on how to properly list Stephen Allen Music in your SoundExchange repertoire.
