Releasing music as an independent artist is an exciting journey, but before you share your work with the world, there’s a crucial first step that often gets overlooked: registering your music. Properly registering your songs ensures that you receive every dollar owed to you from streams, radio play, public performances, and digital downloads. Without registration, you could be leaving money on the table and even risk losing ownership rights over your own music. If this part of the music release process is new to you, don’t worry, we’ll break it down clearly and dive into why registering your music is so essential: 

Why is registering your music so important?

We all know that music is more than just an art form, for a lot of artists it’s their livelihood, and in the broader sense it’s a business that drives an entire industry. Just like a company will patent its inventions, artists must document and protect their creative work. Registering your music helps secure these key aspects of your career as an artist: 

• Legal Protection: Official registration provides proof of ownership in case of copyright disputes or plagiarism claims.
• Financial Security: You are entitled to various royalties, including performance, mechanical, and master recording royalties.
• Industry Recognition: Being properly registered with industry organizations can help build credibility and make collaborations smoother.
• Long-Term Revenue: Music royalties can generate passive income for years, but only if your work is properly documented.

What happens if you don’t register your music?

It’s common for artists to assume that once they release a song, they will automatically start earning royalties. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Here are some real-world consequences that come from failing to register your music: 

• Lost Royalties: If you’re not signed up with the right organizations, you won’t receive the money that streaming services, radio stations, and venues pay for your music.
• Ownership Disputes: Without official copyright registration, someone else could claim ownership of your work, and you may struggle to prove it’s yours in a legal battle.
• Uncollected International Royalties: Your music might be generating revenue in other countries, but without proper registration, you won’t be able to claim those earnings.

The Risks of Skipping Registration (hypothetical): 

To put things into perspective, let’s imagine an independent artist named Alex Jordan, who just released their new single, "Fading Echoes." They’ve put the song on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, performed it at a few live gigs, and even got some airplay on local radio stations. However, Alex never registered the song with a PRO.

As a result, Alex misses out on performance royalties from radio airplay, streaming, and live shows where the song was played. They also lose out on potential licensing deals, which are agreements where someone pays to use your music in things like commercials, movies, TV shows, or online videos. Without registration, Alex also has no way to track or claim any unreported plays.

In a rarer scenario, "Fading Echoes" could be used without permission—in the background of a viral YouTube or TikTok video, for example, or in an advertisement or promotional video. In this case, Alex would have limited legal protection or options to address the situation.

Had Alex registered "Fading Echoes" with a PRO like ASCAP or BMI, they would have been able to collect royalties, gain legal protection, and ensure they’re fairly compensated for their music’s exposure.

When is the perfect time to register your music? 

The best time to register your music is before you release it to the public! Registering your copyright early ensures you have legal proof of ownership if any disputes arise. Also, signing up with PROs and royalty collection agencies before distribution guarantees you don’t miss out on earnings from day one. 

If you’re reading this now and realize you’ve already released without registering, don’t worry, it’s never too late! You can still register after a release and start collecting the royalties you’re owed. 

Registering your music doesn’t have to be overwhelming. This step-by-step guide will walk you through to make the process quick and hassle-free. Then, once your music is registered, you’ll be one step closer to the promotion stage of your release–where Songtools comes in to help take things to the next level! 

1. Copyright Your Song

Even though your song is automatically protected by copyright the moment you create it, officially registering with the U.S. Copyright Office provides legal proof of ownership, which is essential if you ever need to take legal action.

• Go to www.copyright.gov
• Choose "Register a Work" and select "Sound Recording" or "Musical Composition"
• Fill out the application with your song details
• Upload your song file (MP3, WAV, or another accepted format)
• Pay the registration fee (typically $45–$65)

2. Sign Up with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO)

To collect performance royalties (money earned when your song is played on radio, TV, in venues, or streamed internationally), you need to register with a PRO like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC.

• Research & choose a PRO: ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC (each has slightly different benefits)
• Create an account and register as a songwriter
• Submit your song details (title, writers, and publisher if applicable)
• Link your PRO account to your distribution platform (if needed)

3. Register for Mechanical Royalties

Mechanical royalties are generated every time your song is streamed or downloaded. Some PROs don’t collect these royalties, so you’ll need to register with an agency like The Mechanical Licensing Collective for U.S. streaming and downloads. 

• Sign up for an account at www.themlc.com
• Register your song to ensure you collect your share of mechanical royalties

4. Register to Collect Sound Recording Royalties (Master Royalties)

If you own your master recordings (the actual recorded versions of your songs), you’re entitled to royalties from digital and satellite radio (like Pandora, SiriusXM, and internet radio). These are not collected by PROs, so you’ll need to register with SoundExchange.

• Go to www.soundexchange.com
• Create an account as an artist and/or rights holder
• Submit your recordings to track and collect master royalties

5. Set Up Publishing Administration (Optional, but Recommended)

If you write and release your own music, you can self-publish or work with a publishing administrator (like Songtrust or a PRO’s publishing service) to ensure you collect all possible publishing royalties. Some streaming platforms (DSPs) also offer built-in publishing admin options.

• Decide if you need a publishing admin service (if you’re an independent songwriter, it may be beneficial)
• Research platforms like Songtrust or TuneCore Publishing
• Register your songs to maximize publishing revenue

By following these steps and registering your music in the right places, you’re guaranteeing you will be compensated for your work. Every artist deserves to collect every dollar that their music generates. While there are many stages in making this happen and in the music release process, Songtools is here to guide you through it to maximize your track’s success. Remember, we’re here to support your journey and help you reach your full potential as an artist!