Internet Radio Plays & Sound Exchange money

[remmet]

On Taxi TV yesterday, Michael briefly talked about Sound Exchange holding money for you that had accrued from Internet radio use of your music. He said most people had no idea that this money had been generated and was sitting with Sound Exchange waiting for you to collect it.

I'm curious how it's possible that your music could be used on Internet radio without you knowing about it. Wouldn't a broadcaster need your permission for such usage? Wouldn't it be copyright infringement otherwise? Or would such usage be more likely to have come about as a result of a library licensing deal? But even in that case, wouldn't there be a system in place whereby you'd get paid in some manner for the use of your music?

So many things to learn about!

Richard

[andygabrys]

I dunno Richard.

I was under the assumption that SoundEchange was mainly paying for plays during radio programming, which is a few of my jazz tunes, but none of my production music. there is no reason it would appear there.

I signed up for Sound Exchange the other year but they seem several steps worse than a P.R.O. when it comes to actually making contact with a real person.

anyone actually gotten paid by Sound Excahnge?


anyone?

[VTrails]

Soundexchange collects performance rights to the owner/s of the recording (note, this is different to songwriter royalties) for satellite radio and internet radio play, so you wouldn't expect to see anything from them in relation to music signed to libraries, unless they happen to have some sort of internet radio as part of the deal).

There are statutory rates that are set for this use, and anyone who pays this rate can play your songs, no need to get your permission. My understanding is that you won't see real money from Soundexchange unless you're getting airplay on satellite radio or a lot of Pandora plays. I've had quite a bit of internet radio play, and I can see that Soundexchange has some activity for my band in their search system, but I haven't seen any money yet. I assume that all the fractions of pennies haven't yet added up to the threshold for them to issue a payment, which I think is only $10.

[brentmagstadt]

Hey, I've made money off of SX. Just yesterday I got my statements (two, even, for whatever reason). Between the two, I made $0.05!! Woot!

The only reason they even contacted me was because my balance was around $13.60, but... they made a mistake (they don't know it yet, I'll inform them shortly...) and credited me for plays of a band that had my bands name years ago, but this band is somewhat big now (or was, maybe...).

Anyways, subsequently, even though my music was registered correctly up on SX with correct titles and band name(s), I received play payments for songs that were obviously not mine.

Oh and, I just checked myself for both artist and copyright holders on SX and I'm not even there; same for the plays database (I logged in and looked for me, even though I was already there...hehe... ). Hmnnn... I find it... odd?? that I would get paid for music I registered but doesn't show up in my account or in a SX site search.
Not quite clear on what or how they are doing things. Maybe, ya know... they know. I don't.

Long/short... I made 5 cents, and have to give back 13+ (which I don't mind), and deal with informing them of their mistake. Should I mention that they are, ummm, a bit less... err.. professional? On the top of it? Accurate??? . . . than my PRO, even?
Not a very... sound... (wait for it...) exchange.
Doh.

[remmet]

Funniest post I've seen in a long time! Thanks Brent.

[rdance]

reeshard,

my ears perked up too when michael mentioned that the other day, so...i signed up for sound exchange today (major left brain documentation...ugh!). but i had put out three cd's from 2008-2010, and knew my tunes were getting radio play/internet play, mostly in europe, based on album reviews i got back. (actually sold a few thousand tracks thru amazon, cd baby, etc.)...but still i wondered, how will i ever track the airplay royalties?

i guess i'll find out soon enough if sound exchange can do what they say they do...was free to join btw.

[morble]

I belong to BMI and I haven't seen a penny from over 500,000 streaming plays. I looked into sound exchange and from what I gather, you can't belong to any PRO and join SX. If anyone knows how I can collect on all the internet radio plays I have, please let me know. It's actually 604,322 plays by my accrued accounting. Should I quit BMI and join SX?

[ceedub]

You can belong to your PRO and Soundexchange. No reason not to do both. Yes, it's unlikely you will see much money from Soundexchange. Pandora pays OK though.

[coachdebra]

Yes, you SHOULD belong to both. They don't overlap and you maybe missing out on some $ (notice I didn't put $$$$ )

But every penny counts, right?

[deantaylor]

There is a pretty easy way to check to see if you've got any royalties waiting for you on SX. I have done that before .. had a few songs that got internet radio play and SX picked up on them. Never joined though .. it would have been pennies.