Creating great music is only the first step. To build a sustainable career, you need to understand how to earn from it. For songwriters (composers of music and authors of lyrics) and music publishers, one of the most important revenue streams is performance royalties.
This guide breaks down what they are and how you can maximise your earnings.
What Are Performance Royalties?
Performance royalties are payments you receive whenever your song is played in public. This includes:
- Radio and TV broadcasts
- Streaming services (like Spotify, Apple Music)
- Music played in businesses (shops, bars, restaurants, hotels)
- Live performances at concerts and festivals
- Background music in offices or on hold
It would be impossible for you to track every single use of your music yourself. This is where Collective Management Organisations (CMO) such as ECCO come in.
How CMOs Like ECCO Help You Get Paid
CMOs, such as the Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation For Music Rights (ECCO) Inc., act on your behalf. We issue licences to businesses that want to play music, collect the fees, and then distribute the royalties to you, the rights holder.
As a member of regional and international networks, ECCO ensures you collect royalties not just locally, but when your music is played around the world.
Maximising Your Performance Royalty Income
Your royalty payouts can vary based on a song's popularity, airplay frequency, and live performance data. To ensure you get everything you’re owed, follow these key steps:
- Register Your Works Correctly: This is the most critical step. Ensure every song you write is fully and accurately registered with ECCO. Incomplete information is a common cause of delayed or missing payments.
- Understand Your Setlists: If you perform live, provide accurate setlists to venues, promoters, or ECCO directly. This tells us which songs to pay you for.
- Pursue Sync Licensing: Getting your music placed in films, TV shows, and adverts is a fantastic source of performance royalties, as these broadcasts generate payments each time they air.
- Grow Your Audience: More plays mean more royalties. Focus on getting your music on popular playlists, played on the radio, and performed at live shows.
Supporting a Sustainable Music Industry
ECCO recently hosted a webinar, “Where The Money Comes From? Understanding and Increasing Your Music Royalties,” presented by Fabien Alfonso. The session highlighted the vital role CMOs play in protecting creators' rights and ensuring they are paid for the use of their work.
Understanding your royalties is key to a sustainable career. By taking these proactive steps, you can maximise your income while ensuring the legal use of music, supporting the growth of the entire Caribbean music industry.
Are you a music creator? Join ECCO to protect your rights and start earning from your work.
Are you a business or event organiser? Obtain a copyright licence from ECCO to stay compliant and support local creators.
