SoundExchange: Becoming a member and receiving royalties
I know of a performance right society called “SoundExchange” which I read from a book. The unique thing about this organization is that it will collect royalties to not only music publishers and songwriters (like what ASCAP and BMI do) but it will include artists and sound copyright owners.To systematize this discussion, let’s break this down into several components on how SoundExchange can help you to receive royalties:
a. Unpaid royalties
b. The Play System
c. Strategies to earn royalties
First: Unpaid Royalties
If you are already an established indie artist for years and has some successful songs being streamed online in radio stations, TV services and streaming websites; then you might have some money waiting for you at SoundExchange.If you remember that you have some of your songs streamed before year 2000 (long time ago), you can check it here: http://soundexchange.com/performer-owner/does-sx-have-money-for-you/ If you are artists, then this is the specific link: http://soundexchange.com/performer-owner/does-sx-have-money-for-you/unpaid-artists/.You can search using your last name or first name. However if you are a sound copyright holder, you can also check it here: http://soundexchange.com/performer-owner/does-sx-have-money-for-you/unpaid-scros/ .If you see your name, then there is money waiting for you in SoundExchange, become a member and go ahead to claim it.
Second: The Play System
However they have a note: “SRCOs (Sound copyright owners) and artists who have released product since 2001 will not appear on this list.” It means that you need to further dig in the soundexchange database if you are a registered artists as well having your songs registered it too. In this step, you can use the “plays” system: http://soundexchange.com/performer-owner/does-sx-have-money-for-you/plays/.You need to sign up before you can search the database, do not worry it will not take too long. If you are still new or you have not made heavy promotions in the past (like putting your song in radio or web casts), then you will not see your name or your song in the database.
Third: Strategies to earn royalties
This is the most important step in how you could use Soundexchange to the fullest. Well, you need to develop a marketing plan in how you will be able to penetrate your songs to radio and soon to be fans while still getting paid for those efforts. I think one of the realistic steps is as follows:
Step 1: You need to file two copyright applications:
a. Copyright of song (lyrics and music) (Form PA)
b. Copyright of sound recording (Form SR)
You can do this both online at http://www.copyright.gov/eco/
Step 2: Once you get your copyright certificate (as well as your copyright registration number). Apply for the following performing right societies:
a. For monitoring public performance of song copyrights (select either http://www.ascap.com, http://www.bmi.com/ or http://www.sesac.com/ )
b. For monitoring public performance of sound recording copyrights/digital streams (http://soundexchange.com/ )
Step 3: Register all of your catalog songs in those societies above).
Step 4: If you are interested in radio and getting paid, read the instructions here: http://www.ehow.com/how_5684589_radio-paid.html
Step 5: If you are interested in online radio streaming, try www.jango.com
Step 6: Submit materials to radio.
Step 7: The performing right societies can monitor your work being played; they collect royalties from those stations and pay a share to you.
