A royalty is money you earn whenever your music is streamed, sold or used. There are a few types, and knowing them helps you collect everything you're owed. Here's the simple version.
| Royalty | Earned when… |
|---|---|
| Recording (master) | your recording is streamed or sold |
| Mechanical | your composition is reproduced/streamed |
| Performance | your song is played publicly or on radio |
| Sync | your song is used in video, film or ads |
Your distributor collects the recording royalties from streaming and pays them to you. Performance and mechanical publishing royalties are collected via a PRO/publisher. General information, not legal or financial advice.
The streaming (recording) royalties are the ones most independent artists earn first. With a 0% commission distributor like Mazufa you keep 100% of them. See how artists get paid from streaming and estimate yours with the royalty calculator.
A music royalty is money you earn when your song is streamed, downloaded, sold, performed publicly, or used in video. Different uses generate different royalty types.
Recording (master) royalties from streams/sales, mechanical royalties from reproductions, performance royalties from public play, and sync royalties from use in video/film/ads.
Your distributor collects the recording royalties from streaming platforms and pays them to you. With Mazufa you keep 100% at 0% commission.
A Performing Rights Organization collects performance royalties for songwriters when music is played publicly. It's separate from your distributor.
You keep 100% of the recording royalties Mazufa collects from streaming and stores — 0% commission. Publishing royalties are collected separately via a PRO/publisher.
All guides & tools · Best free music distributor · Royalty calculator · Free tools
Distribute to 150+ stores with Mazufa. 0% commission, keep 100% of your rights.