Clarity for independent artists

Knowledge

This page explains why many artists earn streams but still miss money. Use it to understand the system, then apply if you want it built properly.

Simple explanations
No fluff
System accuracy
Revenue streams graphic

Distribution vs Royalties

Distribution

Distribution sends your music to platforms (Spotify, Apple, YouTube Music). It usually pays out only the platform streaming revenue that passes through the distributor.

Royalty Infrastructure

Infrastructure connects your ownership to the royalty systems that pay writers, publishers, and sound recording rights. If it’s missing, money can go unclaimed.

The four major royalty areas

Performance Royalties

Paid when music is publicly performed or played. If you are not registered correctly, the system cannot route payments.

Mechanical Royalties

Paid from streaming and downloads. Mechanical royalties often require separate collection setup from your distributor.

Digital Performance (Sound Recording)

Paid for certain digital radio-style plays. Many artists miss this entirely because they never connect the correct pathway.

YouTube Monetization

Content ID and usage tracking. If your audio is being used and not monetized correctly, revenue leaks.

Common royalty leaks graphic

Common reasons artists don’t get paid

These show up constantly in international catalogs.

• Missing registrations in key systems

• Incorrect ISRC or mismatched titles

• Missing writer splits or publisher info

• YouTube uses not claimed/monetized

• Catalog scattered across accounts and emails

Trust & Structure

We operate with a process-first mindset, backed by a registered U.S. business entity and a system designed for global artists.

If you are outside the U.S., you still can have a clean infrastructure. The key is correct setup and consistent metadata.

Trust graphic