Most independent artists understand Spotify and Apple Music payouts because distributors usually provide monthly statements. But outside streaming revenue, organizations like PPL India, IPRS, The MLC, and SoundExchange follow completely different royalty payment structures and timelines. This creates a lot of confusion among independent artists so let's solve it.
PPL India Royalties, Distribution Cycle, Track Removal & Membership Guide:
PPL India (Phonographic Performance Limited) is a copyright society that collects and distributes public performance royalties for sound recordings in India. This includes revenue from radio, TV, public places, events, and other music usage.
PPL collects royalties from businesses and platforms that publicly play music. These royalties are then distributed to rights holders such as record labels and owners of sound recordings.
The royalty distribution cycle at PPL follows a structured system based on interim and final payouts. Members are required to submit usage data twice in a financial year, along with an additional submission at the time of joining.
At the time of interim declaration, members must submit total usage counts along with sub-label wise details. For final distribution, a consolidated CA certificate is required if applicable, along with usage data.
Royalty payouts are made in multiple phases, including interim payouts and a final distribution. Payments are done on a pro-rata basis depending on the duration of active membership during the financial year.
For example, interim payouts may occur multiple times during the year, followed by a final payout at the end of the financial cycle.
If you want to remove tracks from PPL, you need to provide a list of expired tracks with the specific expiration date in the end_date_of_rights column. No additional documents are required for track removal. However, if there is a sub-label transfer or ownership change, an official email confirmation is required. The processing time for track updates or removal is usually around 5 to 6 working days.
PPL also uses a system called Soundsys for managing recordings. If your tracks conflict with another member, they will appear in the Claim Workspace. In such cases, you must resolve the conflict. If there is no conflict, your tracks will appear normally in the database.
If a recording is not in the Claim Workspace but has correct metadata and no conflicts, royalties can still be processed normally.
To withdraw from PPL membership, you must send a notice via email at least 90 days in advance. There is a formal notice period requirement before membership termination is processed.
After withdrawal, interim royalties are placed on hold. Final settlement is done during the year-end distribution. Members receive their royalties on a pro-rata basis for the period during which they were active.
For example, for a financial year, final royalty payments may be completed in the next year’s closing cycle
To ensure smooth royalty collection, members should regularly update their repertoire, submit accurate usage data, and resolve any ownership conflicts in time.
THE SOURCE OF INFORMATION IS PPL INDIA SUPPORT TEAM
The MLC (USA) Royalties, Distribution Cycle, Track Removal & Membership Guide:
The MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective) is the official organization in the United States responsible for collecting and distributing digital mechanical royalties from streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and others.
The MLC was created under the Music Modernization Act of 2018 and is the only source of digital audio mechanical royalties for streams in the United States.
Track removal from The MLC is not straightforward. Due to legal requirements under the Music Modernization Act, The MLC cannot fully remove works data from its database. If you want to remove a work from your catalog, you need to contact Member Support and discuss the specific case. There is no standard documentation or fixed timeline for removal, as full deletion is not allowed.
The MLC distributes royalties on a monthly basis. Payments are typically sent around the 15th of each month, depending on weekends or holidays. When your statement is ready, you will receive an email notification.
There is a delay in reporting and payments. Each monthly distribution usually includes usage data from approximately three months earlier. For example, a March payment will generally include royalties from December usage.
To withdraw membership from The MLC, you need to contact Member Support and request account closure. The team will confirm your request and guide you through the process.
There is no advance withdrawal system or special notice period defined publicly, but once your membership is closed, you will no longer be eligible to receive royalties.
The MLC only pays royalties to active members. If your account is closed, any royalties generated after closure or any previously uncollected royalties will not be paid. This is because their system cannot distribute payments to non-members.
Unmatched royalties are also affected. If royalties remain unmatched and your membership is closed, those royalties will remain unpaid since The MLC cannot assign or distribute them without an active member account.
It is important to note that The MLC is completely free to use. Since it is the only source of US mechanical streaming royalties, withdrawing membership is generally not recommended, as it can result in loss of revenue.
To ensure proper royalty collection, you should keep your catalog updated, ensure accurate metadata, and maintain an active membership with The MLC.
THE SOURCE OF INFORMATION IS US MLC SUPPORT TEAM
IPRS Royalties, ISWC, Work Removal & Membership Withdrawal Guide:
IPRS (Indian Performing Right Society) is a copyright society in India that collects and distributes royalties for songwriters, composers, and publishers. It primarily handles public performance and mechanical royalties within India.
ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code) is assigned to musical works, but it is not automatically given to every registered work. ISWC codes are only allotted when both the composer and the author are members of recognized societies or have an IPI number. If your work does not have ISWC yet, it is likely due to missing membership or IPI details.
IPRS has not defined a fixed public timeline for ISWC allocation. If your work qualifies, it will be assigned once all requirements are fulfilled. No additional documentation is usually required unless specifically requested.
IPRS collects both public performance and mechanical (reproduction) royalties in India. This includes revenue from usage such as radio, TV, streaming platforms, and other music usage formats. However, IPRS does not provide a separate breakdown between performance and mechanical royalties. Both are combined and distributed together.
Royalty distribution is done periodically by IPRS. Members receive their earnings through regular distribution cycles based on usage data and licensing collections.
If you want to remove or amend a registered work, you need to send an email to documentation@iprs.org. In the email, clearly mention the amendment or removal request along with required details. You must provide a valid released song link along with the correct creator information. The timeline for processing is not fixed and will be communicated by the IPRS team over email.
If you want to withdraw your IPRS membership, you need to send a request email to membership@iprs.org with your membership details. There is a notice period of 60 days for membership withdrawal.
For pending or unmatched royalties after withdrawal, IPRS follows its official distribution policy. You can refer to their distribution scheme document available on their website for detailed rules regarding royalty handling.
To ensure proper royalty collection and avoid issues, artists and composers should keep their works properly registered, maintain accurate metadata, and ensure that all creator details are correctly linked with valid memberships or IPI numbers.
THE SOURCE OF INFORMATION IS IPRS SUPPORT TEAM
SoundExchange Payout Cycle: How It Works, Revenue Sources, Withdrawals & Track Removal Guide:
SoundExchange is a digital performance rights organization that collects and distributes royalties from non-interactive streaming platforms. This includes services like Pandora, SiriusXM, and internet radio stations. It does not collect from Spotify or Apple Music.
SoundExchange collects revenue from platforms that use non-interactive streaming. These include satellite radio, internet radio, and business music services. There are hundreds of licensees such as SiriusXM, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and many webcasting stations.
The payout cycle of SoundExchange is not real-time. Platforms report usage data with a delay of around 2 to 4 months. After that, SoundExchange processes the data and matches royalties to accounts. Because of this, payments usually arrive after 3 to 6 months from the time of streaming.
SoundExchange has minimum payout thresholds. For monthly payments via direct deposit, the minimum is 100 dollars. For quarterly payments, the minimum is 10 dollars for direct deposit and 100 dollars for paper checks. If your earnings do not reach the threshold, the amount is carried forward until it does.
Each stream generates a very small amount of revenue, often a fraction of a penny. Because of this, it can take time before an account becomes eligible for payout. If you are not receiving payments, it usually means your account has not reached the minimum threshold yet.
SoundExchange payments are automatic. There is no manual withdrawal option like Spotify. Once your account reaches the required threshold, the payment is processed automatically. Payments are usually sent via direct deposit or paper check, and you will be notified by email.
If you want to remove tracks or adjust royalty percentages, you need to log into SoundExchange Direct. Go to the My Catalog section and open Associated Recordings. Select your catalog and search for the tracks using artist name or track title. Select the tracks and add them to the cart. Then download the cart as a spreadsheet.
Send that spreadsheet to accounts@soundexchange.com
and mention clearly which tracks need to be removed or adjusted. The processing time for these changes is usually around 30 days.
If you want to completely delete your SoundExchange account, you need to submit an official withdrawal form. Once submitted, it typically takes around 30 business days to process.
SoundExchange also has a rule regarding unclaimed royalties. If royalties are not claimed within three years, they may be used to cover administrative costs. This usually happens when artists or labels are not properly registered.
To avoid losing revenue, artists should register with SoundExchange, keep their metadata accurate, and regularly check their catalog.
THE SOURCE OF INFORMATION IS SX SUPPORT TEAM
Information Gathered From: https://learn.direnotemedia.com/
