Royalties & Bundles: How “All-in-One” Plans Cut Payouts — and When Clarity Might Arrive When a streaming service adds audiobooks (or other media) to a music plan and calls it a bundle, U.S. mechanical royalties for songwriters can be calculated at a discounted...
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2025 Tax Overhaul Impacts Royalty Earnings The tax landscape for music creators is changing rapidly. Effective January 2025, new IRS and regulatory provisions introduce tailored treatments for royalty income—from cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) on mechanical...
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The State of Artist Royalties in 2025: What Every Music Creator Needs to Know The music industry is generating more revenue than ever, yet the question of who benefits remains front and center for creators. With streaming payouts reaching historic highs, AI disrupting...
The Label Recoupment Trap: Why 87% of Signed Artists Never See Royalties You signed the deal. You delivered the album. The single went gold. Your royalty statement? $0. Welcome to the recoupment trap — where record labels deduct nearly every cost before an artist sees...
Your Royalties. Your Right to Know.
A royalty audit is a professional review of your royalty statements and underlying financial records to confirm you’ve been paid what you’re owed. It checks whether all sales, streams, and licensing uses of your work were properly reported by your label, distributor, or publisher.
Because even honest accounting systems make mistakes. Complex contracts, recoupable expenses, and global reporting often lead to missed payments or misapplied deductions. A royalty audit helps uncover those gaps and protects your earnings.
A full audit typically takes a minimum of three months, depending on how complete the records are and how responsive the other party is. Larger labels or multiple agreements may take longer.
It starts with a review of your contract to understand your audit rights—what can be examined, how far back you can look, and which revenue streams are included.
Your audit team will send a formal notice to the label or publisher requesting access to their royalty statements, sales data, and expense records. This step opens the door for a detailed review.
The audit compares what was reported to what was actually earned. Auditors examine statements, invoices, and digital sales reports to verify every revenue line tied to your work. They look for missing sales, incorrect deductions, and unreported income sources like streaming, syncs, or foreign releases.
After the review, the auditor prepares a clear summary report outlining any discrepancies and supporting evidence. This report becomes the basis for discussion or recovery.
If differences are found, the parties work toward a settlement or adjustment. The audit process often also leads to better tracking systems and clearer reporting for the future.
Whenever royalty statements look inconsistent, new income streams appear, or several years have passed without review. Many professionals perform an audit every two to three years to stay compliant and informed.
A royalty audit isn’t about conflict—it’s about clarity and accountability. Whether you’re an artist, producer, or label, the process ensures every stream, sale, and sync is properly counted so you can make informed decisions about your career and catalog.
Royalties & Bundles: How “All-in-One” Plans Cut Payouts — and When Clarity Might Arrive When a streaming service adds audiobooks (or other media) to a music plan and calls it a bundle, U.S. mechanical royalties for songwriters can be calculated at a discounted...