Master Royalties vs. Publishing Royalties in the EDM Music Industry

by Robbie Hutton

We come across these question's from EDM producer's ALL the time - "What's the difference between master and publishing? "What is a PRO and do I need one? What's a publishing administrator?". We are going to clear up these important notes in this blog!

Firstly, let's start with the basics:

What are master royalties?

Master royalties are paid to the owner of the master recording of a song. This includes the recording artist, record label, and/or recording studio. Master royalties are generated whenever the song is streamed, downloaded, played on the radio, or used in a film or TV show.

How to monetize the master royalties 100% from an EDM vocal you buy from Vocal Hut

When you buy an EDM vocal from Vocal Hut, you are purchasing the master recording of the EDM vocal. This means that you own the master rights to the EDM vocal and are entitled to receive 100% of the master royalties generated by the EDM vocal.

To monetize the master royalties from your EDM vocal, you can:

  • Release the EDM vocal as a single or as part of an EP or album.
  • License the EDM vocal to other producers or record labels.
  • Use the EDM vocal in your own productions and release them on streaming platforms.

In the EDM music industry, 80% of all royalty revenue is generated from the master recording royalties.

Now a bit about publishing!

What are publishing royalties?

NOTE: (publishing royalties are split 50/50 with the buyer and Vocal Hut when a vocal is purchased from the Vocal Hut website)

Publishing royalties are payments made to songwriters and music publishers for the use of their copyrighted compositions. These royalties are generated whenever the music is performed, broadcast, sold, streamed, or reproduced in any form.

We recommend signing ONLY "master only" contracts with labels when releasing the song so you can benefit on monetising the publishing yourself with the help of a publishing administrator, which brings us to our next frequently asked question from EDM producers...

What is a publishing administrator?

A music publishing administrator (e.g SongTrust, Sentric) is a company or individual that collects royalties on behalf of songwriters and music publishers. Royalties are payments made to copyright holders for the use of their copyrighted works. In the EDM music industry, there are two main types of royalties: mechanical royalties and performance royalties.

Music publishing administrators work to collect both mechanical and performance royalties on behalf of their clients. They do this by registering songs with performing rights organisations (PRO's e.g PRS for music, ASCAP, BMI etc) and mechanical licensing companies (e.g PPL UK) and by tracking and auditing royalty payments.

As EDM music producers, it is important to understand how music publishing works and how to collect royalties on your songs. Working with a music publishing administrator can be a great way to ensure that you are getting paid fairly for your work.

Here are some of the benefits of working with a music publishing administrator:

  • They have the expertise and experience to collect royalties from all over the world. This can be a complex and time-consuming process, so it is helpful to have someone who knows the ropes.
  • They can help you to register your songs with the appropriate organisations. This is necessary in order to collect mechanical and performance royalties.
  • They can audit your royalty payments to make sure that you are getting what you are owed.
  • They can help you to negotiate licensing deals for your songs. This can be important if you want your songs to be used in movies, TV shows, commercials, or other media.

So all you EDM music producer's out there - we at Vocal Hut encourage you to learn more about music publishing and how to collect royalties on your songs. Working with a music publishing administrator can be a great way to ensure that you are getting paid fairly for your crafted masterpieces!

Conclusion:

Understanding the difference between master royalties and publishing royalties is essential for any EDM artist who wants to maximize their earnings. By purchasing a vocal from Vocal Hut, you can own the master rights to the vocal and receive 100% of the master royalties generated by the vocal. This gives you complete control over your music and allows you to monetize it in the way that best suits you.

We recommend signing a split sheet contract with your collaborators stating who earns what in regards to master/publishing for a track. We also recommend using SongSplits when getting the publishing splits down.

Here at Vocal hut we also aid in getting your song signed to professional EDM labels once your song with our EDM vocal is complete and offer advice in regards to master/publishing queries when signing final contracts for release. To check out our Terms and Conditions for each vocal bought from Vocal Hut, click here

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