Does SoundExchange Owe You Money?
December 3, 2020
SoundExchange distributes nearly $1 billion annually in royalties, yet many artists fail to collect payments due to non-registration or incomplete information.
What is SoundExchange?
SoundExchange is a nonprofit organization that collects royalties from non-interactive streaming services like SiriusXM, then distributes them to featured artists and rights owners (labels, producers).
How It Works
Broadcasters send SoundExchange detailed playlists of songs played and corresponding payments. SoundExchange then distributes these funds as royalties among performers and copyright holders.
Payment Distribution
- 45% to featured artists
- 50% to copyright owners (labels)
- 5% to non-featured artists (backup musicians, session players)
Types of Royalties
| Type | Source | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| SDARS | SiriusXM | $47–49 per spin |
| CABSAT | Cable Radio / Stingray | $0.02–0.03 per spin |
| Webcasting | Various webcasters | $0.0018–0.0024 per spin |
| BES/PES | Venues / Music Choice | Less than $0.01 per spin |
Why SDARS Royalties Pay the Most
SiriusXM's 34.9 million subscribers generate approximately $8 billion in gross revenue. Federal law mandates they allocate 15.5% (over $1 billion) to SoundExchange for artist compensation.
How to Get Paid
Register with SoundExchange and claim your songs. ShineX tracks SDARS royalties and helps you calculate your earnings potential.