Streaming Subscription Price Increases and Music Royalties The economics of music streaming are undergoing a subtle but profound shift that has artists and labels recalibrating their expectations for royalty revenue. In late 2025, reports indicate that Spotify is...
The American Music Fairness Act: A Strategic Equity Movement for Radio Royalties In the spring of 2025, the music industry’s long-standing debate over broadcast radio royalties re-entered the legislative spotlight with the renewed push for the American Music...
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...
Taylor Swift’s Fight for Her Masters & What It Means for Creator Rights In the high-stakes intersection of creativity and commerce, few stories illustrate the power dynamics of ownership better than Taylor Swift’s years-long battle over her master recordings....
Every Play Pays™ — How Your Music Earns, and Why the Details Matter Your music did the work. The streams were delivered. The plays happened. Now the question is: did every play pay? At Studio Budgets, our mantra is Every Play Pays™. That means we believe your music...
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...
Per-Stream Payout Comparisons: Apple Leads, Peloton Surprises In January 2025, new data show that per-stream payouts across digital platforms remain vastly different — and that difference matters to creators. Platforms like Apple Music and non-traditional services...
All the Ways — and I Mean All - that Creator Make Money from Music Why this matters In an era where streaming dominates and traditional income sources shift, understanding every income stream available and how it works is the difference between scratching by and...
Drake and Allegations of Fake Billion Streams: What It Means for Streaming Integrity As of early November 2025, the music industry is again wrestling with streaming-fraud allegations, and one of its biggest names—Drake—is cited at the center of a new class-action...
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.
Streaming Subscription Price Increases and Music Royalties The economics of music streaming are undergoing a subtle but profound shift that has artists and labels recalibrating their expectations for royalty revenue. In late 2025, reports indicate that Spotify is...