Beginners Guide to Investing in Music Royalties

Beginners Guide to Investing in Music Royalties

Investing in music royalties has become an increasingly popular way to diversify an investment portfolio while also supporting the music industry. Music royalties are payments that rights holders, such as songwriters, publishers, artists, and labels, receive for the use of their music. There are two main types of music royalties: publishing royalties and recorded music royalties. Each type has its own revenue flow and benefits for investors.

Music Publishing Royalties:

Mechanical Royalties: Mechanical royalties are earned when a song is reproduced or distributed, such as when a song is streamed, downloaded, or sold as a physical copy. These royalties are collected by performance rights organizations (PROs) and mechanical rights organizations (MROs) like Harry Fox Agency (HFA) in the US. Investors can invest in catalogs of songs and earn a portion of the mechanical royalties generated from various sources.

 

Public Performance Royalties: Public performance royalties are earned when a song is played in public, including on the radio, in live performances, in clubs, and through streaming services. PROs like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC collect these royalties and distribute them to the songwriters and publishers. Investing in public performance royalties involves acquiring a stake in the future earnings of a song’s public performances.

 

Sync Licensing Royalties: Sync licensing royalties are earned when a song is used in media like films, TV shows, commercials, and video games. These royalties are split between the music publisher and the sync licensing agency. Investors can invest in catalogs of songs with strong potential for sync placements and receive a share of the earnings from these uses.

Are you ready to unleash your music bull?

Be among the first to join, we will keep you posted once a hit song go live

Recorded Music Royalties:

Sales Royalties: Sales royalties are earned from the sale of recorded music, including digital downloads and physical copies like CDs and vinyl. When a song is purchased, a portion of the revenue goes to the artist and the label. Investors can invest in recorded music catalogs and earn a portion of the revenue generated from sales.

 

Streaming Royalties: Streaming royalties are earned when a song is played on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. These royalties are divided among the artist, the label, and sometimes the publisher. Investors can invest in recorded music catalogs and earn a share of the ongoing streaming revenue.

 

Sync Licensing Royalties for Recorded Music: Sync licensing royalties also pertain to recorded music. These royalties are generated when songs are licensed for synchronization with visual media, such as movies, TV shows, commercials, and video games. Just as with sync licensing for publishing, a portion of the revenue is shared between the music publisher and the sync licensing agency. Investors in recorded music catalogs that have high potential for sync placements can benefit from a share of the earnings that arise from these lucrative opportunities.

Benefits of Investing in Music Royalties

  1. Steady Income Stream: Music royalties provide a consistent source of income, as music continues to be consumed across various platforms and media.
  2. Diversification: Investing in music royalties diversifies your investment portfolio beyond traditional assets like stocks and bonds.
  3. Non-Correlation: Music royalties often have a low correlation with traditional financial markets, making them potentially resistant to market fluctuations.
  4. Passive Investment: Once acquired, music royalties require relatively little ongoing management, making them a passive investment option.

Creative Industry Exposure: Investing in music royalties allows you to support artists, songwriters, and the music industry as a whole.

Distribution to Rights Holders

For both publishing and recorded music royalties, the distribution process involves several steps:

  1. Collection: PROs, MROs, and other relevant organizations collect royalties from various sources, such as radio stations, streaming platforms, and sync licensing deals.
  2. Administration: These organizations process the data related to music usage and calculate the appropriate royalties owed to the rights holders.
  3. Allocation: The collected royalties are divided among the relevant rights holders, including songwriters, publishers, artists, and labels, according to established agreements and ownership splits.
  4. Distribution: The collected and allocated royalties are then distributed to the respective rights holders based on their ownership shares.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, music publishing and songwriters’ royalties form the backbone of the music industry’s economic ecosystem. The flow of cash from various channels to songwriters and publishers involves a intricate network of collection agencies, PROs, mechanical rights organizations, and publishers. As technology advances and the industry evolves, efforts are being made to ensure fair compensation, transparency, and efficient distribution of royalties to creators, thereby fostering a more sustainable and equitable music landscape.

Disclaimer

Multipiece Exchange Ltd. (“MusicBull”) is a non-regulated exchange for participation units in future music royalties income streams. While we require truthful and reliable information from our Users at all times during their use of the platform, much of the information provided for the function of this trading exchange is provided by third parties, and thus the accuracy or completeness of any information contained herein cannot be guaranteed, and should not be relied upon in connection with any particular issuer’s and/or investor’s trading, nor should any information contained herein be taken or construed as an offer, recommendation, nor solicitation of any form. Further, the information contained herein may not be suitable for all persons. In addition, the information on this platform is not intended for persons who reside in jurisdictions where providing such information would violate the laws or regulations of such jurisdiction. MusicBull disclaims all warranties, express or implied, to the extent permitted by law, excluding those derived from MusicBull’s executed agreements.

MusicBull does not and cannot provide any investment advice, and only permits Users to use the platform who have read the relevant risk disclosure documents provided herein, and assent to accessing and using the platform wholly at their own risk (whether foreseen or unforeseen). Any decision made by a person to participate in MusicBull’s activities, services, or offerings should be made on the basis that such an activity complies with any applicable local laws and regulations to which the relevant User is subject.

Trading in participation units of future music royalties involves risks, the result of which may include fluctuations of your investments over time, or the loss or gain of money. Past performance is not in and of itself a reliable guarantee of any future returns, nor should it be considered indicative of future performance.

The foregoing disclosure cannot and does not claim to be an exhaustive description of all potential risks from MusicBull’s service offerings, or any User’s conduct therefrom. MusicBull highly encourages any and all Users to read the Terms and Conditions (including consulting with independent counsel if deemed necessary) contained herein, as well as any other relevant content contained here which apply to MusicBull’s services, any assets sought after by any User, and the potential risk from your desired investment objectives carefully and wholly before the use of our platform.

Skip to content