what does ‘song registration’ mean and why is it such a hassle?
March, 31 2022
It's definitely a great time to be a songwriter. The days of record companies calling the shots and determining the cycle of your record, release, and tour are no longer the status quo. The internet has leveled the playing field between independent and major label artists.
With a little effort, you can build your following on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Then with a few mouse clicks, release your song and have worldwide distribution. You can upload your latest track and sell it directly on iTunes or stream it on Spotify, and within a few days, your music can be in the ears of your fans from around the globe.
So while distribution is no longer a mystery, many musicians still don't understand how to actually monetize their work. The key is to know what steps to take before you distribute your music to prepare to earn royalty income, as well as how to protect your rights.
In this post, we will explore the critical process of song registration, including how as an independent artist or songwriter, you can take the appropriate steps to register your music yourself—or have your publishing/admin company register your music----and begin collecting your songwriter royalties from day one.
So What Exactly Is Song Registration?
While distributing your songs via streaming services can get your music to your fans, which will generate some micropayments for individual streams from the distributor, it is very important that you register your music with various organizations to ensure that the proper ownership of your creative material is recognized globally and that you can begin collecting your royalties from the first day of release.
Copyrighting Your Music
When you create a new piece of music, you might not realize that it is automatically “copyrighted” the moment you write it down or record it. Copyright law automatically gives you copyright protection when the song is captured in a fixed tangible form like a sound recording or sheet music. Performing, humming, or singing it in the shower does not count. The action that many call “copyrighting” is actually referring to the registration of your work with the Copyright Office. Copyright registration is not required, however, there are incentives in the form of additional rights built into the law for you to do so. These additional rights include the ability to sue for damages and recover legal fees.
There are typically two distinct types of copyright protection associated with music. The first copyright is for the composition or the song itself. This is about the work you created that can be recorded, performed live, or covered by other musicians. No matter how many different versions, recordings, or arrangements are made, you only need to register the song once using the Performing Arts or PA form. This is registered by the songwriter(s).
The second copyright is for the sound or master recording. Each time you record a song, it creates separate copyright. For example, a live recording, studio recording, and alternative acoustic recording are three different sound recordings and need three registrations. To register you would use the Sound Recording (SR) form. Typically your label will own the SR copyright while the artist/songwriter retains the PA copyright.
While copyright registration exists to establish ownership, there are additional registrations required to begin collecting royalties on your works.
Why Song Registration Seems Like Such a Hassle
Copyright registration is just one component of the song registration process that focuses on protection. However, to properly monetize your works you will need to register with other organizations. These include:
• ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC – these organizations collect performance royalties
Registering your song with your PRO (Performing Rights Organization), whether it’s ASCAP, BMI, SESAC or the newer GMR can generate royalty income every time your song is played live, broadcast on the radio, TV, or on internet. The PROs collect money from radio stations, TV stations, restaurants, live music venues, and websites and then distribute those royalties to the copyright owner.
The composition royalty system splits royalties between the publisher and the songwriter. If you do not have a publisher, you must register twice through both affiliations, to collect all the money the song generates.
• SoundExchange – collects sound recording performance royalties
Sound Exchange collects money from non-interactive streaming services like Pandora, Apple Music, SiruisXM, and Shoutcast. These royalties are based on reports created by the services, which are required by law, and are assisted by a digital code called an ISRC code, which the owner of the sound recording must generate to register.
Sound recording royalties are split among multiple roles. These include the recording owner, the performer, and the producer. Unless someone else owns the recording or were the performers, you are entitled to all of the royalties collected by SoundExchange. Again, like PROs, you must register as the recording owner and performer to collect.
In all, there are at least seven steps for just the initial phase of song registration that you need to address:
- Create an Account and register your song online with the Copyright Office
- Choose a PRO
- Register as a publisher with the PRO
- Register as a writer with the PRO
- Register as a “both” account with SoundExchange (the sound recording PRO)
- Choose a method to create a unique ISRC code—usually, this is given to you by your distributor.
- Set up an Excel spreadsheet or database tracking system for your music
Domestic Registrations
You’re just getting started regarding the complete suite of registrations needed to collect all of your royalties. HFA, The MLC, Music Reports, YouTube CMS, and Medianet are good core groups with which to begin. Each one has its own proprietary method for registration, usually using CWR (Common Works Registration) or some variation whereby they can ingest the information and metadata pertaining to your songs.
International Registrations
Do not forget to register your songs overseas! Royalties and opportunities may be lost if you are not at least registered in Western Europe, Asia, South America, Central America, Eastern Europe, Australia, Canada, and Scandinavia. Additional territories including South Africa, Turkey or Greece are also recommended, especially given the popularity of so much American music abroad. This can be a lot of work that requires establishing a relationship with government collection agencies or sub-publishers in countries that require residency to use government services. This is where the value of an established Publishing Administrator truly shines.
Working With A Publishing Administrator
A publishing administrator can take the hassle out of the song registration process. As an artist, if your music is performed outside of the US, the song registration process can get much more complicated.
To collect international royalties, you must submit your information to the various collection societies in the countries where your music is performed, whether live or via recordings.
Without a publishing administrator, you may never get paid certain international royalties---or it can take anywhere from 18 months to multiple years, depending on the territory, for your royalties to find you. Plus, without a publishing administrator, US writers specifically are missing out on up to 51% of their publishing income since, without one, they can't collect US mechanical royalties.
A publishing administrator will handle the international and domestic royalty collection process. They will register and track songs and collect income generated from your music from hundreds of societies around the world.
Simply put, if you want to avoid the hassle of song registration, work with a publishing administrator. They can help you collect everything your song earns!”
