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Registration & Standards

IPI

Interested Party Information — the unique 9- or 11-digit identifier assigned to each rights holder (songwriter, publisher, or other party) in the global CISAC database. IPI numbers are used across CMOs and CWR files to link rights holders to their works.

Articles about IPI

How to Register Your Songs With a Performing Rights Organization Step by Step
Royalties

How to Register Your Songs With a Performing Rights Organization Step by Step

Knowing how to register songs with a PRO is the single most effective step an independent writer can take to start collecting public performance royalties . This concise, step-by-step guide shows exactly what metadata to gather, how to set writer and publisher splits, when to register recordings with SoundExchange or neighbor rights societies, and how to verify and correct registrations so you do not lose revenue.

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How to Collect Every Royalty You're Owed as an Independent Musician
Royalties

How to Collect Every Royalty You're Owed as an Independent Musician

If you release your own music, you are probably leaving money on the table. This practical playbook shows how to collect music royalties at every step — from a catalog audit and correct metadata to registering with PROs, SoundExchange, and mechanical and neighboring rights societies, plus how to file retroactive claims.

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Music Publishing Administrator vs Full Publisher: Which Is Right for You?
Music Publishing

Music Publishing Administrator vs Full Publisher: Which Is Right for You?

Music publishing administrator vs publisher is the core decision that determines whether you keep copyright and pay an admin fee or trade a publisher share for advances, active exploitation, and broader pitching. This article breaks down the legal differences, typical fees and splits, who collects which royalties, and the contract red flags to watch so you can choose based on catalog size, career stage, and income goals.

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ASCAP vs BMI vs SESAC: Which PRO Should You Join?
Royalties

ASCAP vs BMI vs SESAC: Which PRO Should You Join?

Choosing the right PRO can change how much you earn from performances and how reliably you collect international and streaming royalties. In this ASCAP vs BMI vs SESAC comparison we break down membership rules, payout mechanics, switching logistics, and what each organization actually collects so you can pick the one that fits your career.

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SoundExchange vs PRO: Understanding the Difference and Why You Need Both
Music Business

SoundExchange vs PRO: Understanding the Difference and Why You Need Both

Most independent musicians and small labels leave streaming and radio money on the table because they confuse who collects what. This guide breaks down SoundExchange vs PRO so you can see exactly which organization handles sound recording versus composition royalties and gives step-by-step registration actions for artists, session players, producers, and rights owners.

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DistroKid vs TuneCore Publishing Administration: Which Pays More?
Music Distribution

DistroKid vs TuneCore Publishing Administration: Which Pays More?

DistroKid vs TuneCore publishing is the question every independent songwriter asks when deciding how to collect the publisher share of their royalties. This article compares each service using published commission rates, fee models, territory coverage, and reporting differences so you can see which one delivers higher net payouts in realistic scenarios.

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Publishing Royalties FAQ: Everything Independent Artists Ask Most
Royalties

Publishing Royalties FAQ: Everything Independent Artists Ask Most

This publishing royalties FAQ answers the questions independent artists ask most about who gets paid, how payments flow, and what to do when royalties go missing. You will get clear definitions of performance, mechanical, sync, and neighboring rights, practical steps to register works and set splits, and straightforward guidance on when to self-manage versus use an administrator like UniteSync .

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How to Set Up Music Publishing Admin as an Independent Artist
Music Publishing

How to Set Up Music Publishing Admin as an Independent Artist

Setting up music publishing admin is the difference between leaving money on the table and collecting the royalties your songs earn worldwide. This guide gives a step-by-step checklist to prepare your catalog, register with PROs and mechanical rights bodies, lock in co-writer splits, and choose between DIY administration or a third-party publishing administrator.

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Music Royalty Auditing: The Complete Guide to Finding Lost Earnings
Royalties

Music Royalty Auditing: The Complete Guide to Finding Lost Earnings

If you suspect streams and performances are producing less cash than they should, royalty auditing music is the process that finds the gaps and turns them into recoverable earnings. This guide provides a practical, step-by-step workflow: what data to collect, how to reconcile DSP, distributor and PRO statements, common metadata failures to watch for, and the claim evidence you will need to recover funds.

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