International Royalty Collection: Are You Getting Paid Worldwide?

Streaming has made one thing undeniably true: your music is global from day one.

The moment you release a song, it's available in 180+ countries. Fans in Germany, Brazil, Japan, and Nigeria can stream it instantly.

But here's the uncomfortable question: Are you collecting royalties from all those countries?

For most independent artists, the answer is no.

The Problem: Collection Gaps

When you join ASCAP or BMI, you're registering with a US-based PRO. They have reciprocal agreements with PROs in other countries, but:

• Coverage isn't always complete.
• Foreign royalties take longer to flow back.
• Some territories require direct registration.

Similarly, if you only register your publishing in the US, you're missing mechanical royalties from international streaming.

The Solution: Global Sub-Publishing

Sub-publishing is when a local publisher or administrator collects royalties on your behalf in a specific territory.

For example:

• PRS collects in the UK.
• GEMA collects in Germany.
• SACEM collects in France.
• JASRAC collects in Japan.

A publishing administrator like Songtrust, Sentric, or CD Baby Pro handles this for you automatically—registering your songs with PROs and mechanical collection societies in 100+ countries.

What Gets Collected Internationally

Without international representation, your foreign royalties may sit in the "black box" for years before being distributed to... major publishers.

Case Study: The German Streaming Gap

Germany is one of the largest music markets in the world. If your song is being streamed on Spotify Germany, GEMA is collecting mechanical royalties.

But if you're not registered with GEMA (directly or through an admin), that money isn't reaching you. It's going into a pool that eventually benefits registered members—often major labels.

The same applies to every major market: UK (PRS/MCPS), France (SACEM), Japan (JASRAC), and dozens more.

How to Go Global

Option 1: Publishing Administrator (Recommended for Indies)

• Services like Songtrust, Sentric, or TuneCore Publishing.
• They register your songs in 100+ countries.
• They collect and pay you directly.
• Fee: Usually 15-20% of what they collect.

Option 2: Traditional Publishing Deal

• Sign with a publisher who has global offices.
• They handle sub-publishing in all territories.
• Trade-off: You give up ownership or a significant share.

Option 3: Direct Registration (Complex)

• Register directly with each foreign PRO.
• Time-consuming and often requires local representation.
• Generally not practical for most independents.

The Timeline Reality

International royalties take time. Even with perfect registration:

• Foreign PRO payments can take 12-24 months to flow through.
• Mechanical collections may lag even further.
• Patience and proper registration are both required.

Your International Checklist

1. ✅ US PRO Membership (ASCAP/BMI) — Performance royalties.
2. ✅ Publishing Administrator — Worldwide mechanical + performance.
3. ✅ SoundExchange — US digital performance (master side).
4. ✅ Distributor — Global streaming revenue (master side).
5. ✅ SplitChord — Document ownership BEFORE going global.

The Bottom Line

Going global with your music means going global with your business setup. Don't leave money sitting in foreign collection societies.

Use SplitChord to lock in your splits, then use a publishing administrator to collect everywhere your music plays.

The world is listening. Make sure you're getting paid.