What are shares and how do I figure out my share?
This information is only about MasterStreams Master Publishing Administration service. For information on Mastersplits, visit the Payment Splits tile in your artist dashboard. Your share refers to how much of the copyright you own for a composition. If you wrote the whole song, your share is 100%. If you collaborate…
What is a CAE / IPI Number?
CAE and IPI numbers are the same, and they are international identification numbers given to songwriters and publishers to uniquely identify rights holders. These numbers, typically 9-11 digits long, are assigned when a songwriter joins a performing rights organization (PRO) such as BMI/ASCAP. The IPI system replaced the CAE system…
How Do I Register My Music Once I’ve Purchased Master Publishing?
Registering your compositions correctly is vital for faster and more efficient collection of your publishing revenue. Accurate data ensures accurate payments, and although dealing with all the information might seem overwhelming, registering with Master Publishing is easy.
What is the difference between a composition and a sound recording?
A composition is a musical work, with or without lyrics, that has been created by a songwriter/composer. A sound recording, often also referred to as a ‘master’, is the recording of a performance of the underlying composition. This includes beats, percussion, bass, guitar, vocals, etc. A single composition or musical…
Can I submit compositions for publishing administration that I did not write/compose or that are NOT my original compositions?
No, you can only submit your own original compositions. If a composition was written by someone else, their copyright and ownership control it.
Do I get paid when my composition is streamed?
Yes, royalties from streams are the fastest-growing source of income for songwriters. Depending on whether the streaming service is Interactive or Non-Interactive, there may be 1 or 2 royalty streams payable. Interactive Streaming Service: Users can freely choose songs, create playlists, and have full control, e.g. Spotify & Apple Music….
What different types of income do I earn as a songwriter?
You can make money from your compositions in several ways, which fall into four main groups: Mechanical Royalties: Earned from interactive/on-demand streaming, digital downloads, physical products (like vinyl and CDs), and ringtones. The streaming services pay a small percentage of each stream directly to PROs/ collecting societies. Public Performance and…
What is the difference between a Performer and a Songwriter?
Performer refers to the artist or band that is actually performing the song Songwriter refers to the individual(s) who actually wrote the lyrics and melody
Can I collect songwriter royalties if my work is in the public domain?
Yes, you can receive royalties if you create a new arrangement of a song that is in the public domain. A song becomes public domain if its lyrics and music were published more than 100 years ago, which means its copyright has expired. If you arrange a public domain work,…
When will I get paid?
Master Publishing receives publishing royalties from many societies, and each society has its own schedule for distributing payments. Usually, they follow a quarterly basis. So, Master Publishing processes and pays out royalties 45 days after each calendar quarter ends. Here’s the schedule: Q1 (January – March): Payout in mid-MayQ2 (April…
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