We are the music makers

Topic

Soundexchange

  • AM/FM radio still pays US recording artists nothing, and the American Music Fairness Act has stalled again

    The American Music Fairness Act would make AM and FM stations pay performers and labels for the recordings they play, as satellite and internet radio already must. As of 23 Oct 2026 neither the Senate nor the House bill has gone beyond committee referral, despite a Senate hearing in December 2025. A resolution opposing any new radio fee has more than 230 House cosponsors.

    Artist rightsvia US Government Publishing Office (govinfo)

  • Producers: how to get paid by SoundExchange with a Letter of Direction

    Producers, mixers and engineers only get US digital radio royalties from SoundExchange if the featured artist signs a Letter of Direction, or, for recordings made before November 1995, through a narrow 2% fallback in the statute. Here is how both routes work, with the numbers, and what to put in your producer agreement so you never have to chase it.

    Industryvia Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School

  • Played on a record? The AFM & SAG-AFTRA Fund may owe you money

    US law sets aside 5% of SoundExchange digital radio royalties for backing musicians and singers, and the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Fund pays it out whether or not you are in a union. Here is who qualifies, how the money is split, and how to check the unclaimed list.

    Industryvia AFM & SAG-AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund

  • SoundExchange, explained: the US digital radio royalty you only get if you register

    SoundExchange collects US royalties when recordings play on non-interactive digital services such as SiriusXM, Pandora and iHeartRadio. Registration is free and open to artists outside the US, but unclaimed money expires after three years, and self-releasing artists who register only as performers leave the larger share behind.

    Industryvia Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School

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