Show Me the Money! How to set up your song to actually pay you money.
You finally wrote a great song. Something you believe in, something people genuinely respond to. That’s a huge win, but here’s what I’ve learned after years of working with developing artists: writing a great song is just the beginning. What comes next is what separates a passion project from a career.
I’ve seen incredibly talented artists leave serious money on the table. Not because their songs weren’t good enough, but because they didn’t take the time to set things up correctly. The truth is, most of the income from your song doesn’t just show up automatically. It’s collected from several different sources, and unless you know exactly where to register, what to claim, and how to track it, you might never see it.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through the essential steps you need to take to make sure your song is ready to earn. These aren’t just tips. They’re the exact steps I guide my clients through every day. Let’s make sure your music is more than just heard, it gets paid.
1. Register Your Song (If You’re Releasing It)
You don’t have to register every song, only those you plan to release or pitch commercially.
Copyright protection begins automatically at the moment of creation.
Official registration with the U.S. Copyright Office gives you legal standing in court and a stronger defense of your work.
This is highly recommended for songs going out to streaming platforms, sync opportunities, or live commercial release.
Register your copyright through the U.S. Copyright Office.
2. Join a PRO and Claim Both Shares
Performing Rights Organizations (PROs)—such as ASCAP or BMI—track and pay royalties for when your song is played publicly (e.g., live shows, radio, streaming).
You can only be a member of one PRO at a time.
Register as both a writer and a publisher to collect 100% of your performance royalties. Many artists mistakenly skip the publisher side and leave money on the table.
3. Choose a Digital Distributor
Your distributor gets your recording onto Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more.
Open-access options: DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby
These work well for most independent artists.Selective distributors: AWAL, The Orchard, UnitedMasters, Vydia
These often offer more marketing tools, sync pitching, and playlist support—but only take on select artists.
Remember: your distributor collects revenue tied to the master recording, not the song’s composition royalties.
Explore DistroKid | TuneCore | CD Baby
4. Register with The MLC
If your song is streamed, you’re owed mechanical royalties in addition to performance royalties. The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) handles this for U.S. songwriters and publishers.
It’s free to join
You must register both yourself and your released songs
Many independent artists never collect mechanical royalties simply because they haven’t registered.
5. Sign Up with SoundExchange (If You're the Artist)
Streaming on services like Pandora or SiriusXM falls under “non-interactive” streaming. These platforms don’t pay through your distributor or PRO—they pay through SoundExchange.
If you are the artist and/or own your master:
Register as a Featured Artist
If applicable, register as the Rights Owner as well
6. Prepare for Sync Licensing Opportunities
Sync licensing (TV, film, ads) can generate meaningful upfront payments and long-term royalties.
Upload to sync libraries like Songtradr, Musicbed, or Artlist
Create instrumental versions and clean edits of your song
Proper registration (copyright, PRO, MLC) ensures you’re ready to get paid when placement happens
Make sure that your song ID includes all of the metadata i.e. writers, producers, musicians, etc.
Wrapping It Up
Monetizing your music isn’t just about talent, it’s about setup. By registering your released songs, affiliating with the right organizations, and choosing the right partners, you create multiple royalty streams that work for you. Whether you're just getting started or releasing your tenth single, these steps are essential to turning your creative work into actual income.
If you’re unsure where to begin or want someone to walk through your catalog with you, I can help or direct you to someone who can. Book a Song Income Setup Call through Nashville Music Consultants, and let’s make sure your next release doesn’t leave money on the table.
