You’ve put years of effort into fine-tuning your skills and pursuing your dream of being a musical artist. This dream has come to fruition and your songs have become very popular. Sadly, many artists have not received due credit or payment for their work. You don’t want to end up in a similar position.
One common way that musicians receive a regular income is through royalties. Outlined below are two of the more common types of musical royalties.
Synch royalties
One great way to get your music out there is through videos, TV shows, films and advertisements. Millions of people see these every day. The filmmakers and actors make money out of this, and so should you for providing the soundtrack. Generally, companies that want to use your music in their production will pay a one-time fee, or synch royalty, that you agree entitles them to use the music for that specific production.
Mechanical royalties
Mechanical royalties used to apply to the physical reproduction of music in the form of records and CDs. Of course, listeners have largely moved away from these formats to streaming their music. With mechanical royalties, you can be paid for every listen that a song of yours receives. The amount per play is usually very small. However, if you’re on a platform that receives thousands or even millions of hits, you can receive a good amount for your work.
As an artist, it’s vital that your work is protected legally and that you receive a fair share of the proceeds. Seeking legal guidance on the matter will help ensure that you get paid for your work.