Every recorded song contains two separate copyrights. Each has its own set of platforms that pay you.
The Recording
Your master
The specific audio file you made. Pays the owner and the featured artist.
The Song
Your publishing
The composition, the melody and the lyrics. Pays the writers.
Data & law (Luminate, Mediabase, Copyright) don't pay directly, they make sure everything above counts and is enforceable.
The Streaming Calculator
What does a stream actually pay?
Platforms pay fractions of a cent. Volume plus ownership is how independents win.
2026 industry-average estimates. Actual payouts vary by country, listener plan, and your deals.
Platform
Streams
Insight
Volume is the independent's weapon.
At $0.003 a stream, 1,000 streams is $3, but 1,000,000 is $3,000, and 10,000,000 is $30,000. Registration makes every stream count. Marketing makes the streams. That's the whole game.
The 200% entitlement
Own both sides. Model your 200%.
Every song is two copyrights: the master and the composition. Drag either slider to see, in real time, exactly what you claim on each royalty destination.
Combined ownership
200% owned
Drag the sliders to model any deal
Master
Sound Recording
The specific recorded performance
100%
Master 100%Given away 0%
Composition
Song
Melody, lyrics, chord changes
100%
Composition 100%Given away 0%
What this means right now
At 200% (100% master + 100% composition) you keep every dollar from every royalty stream: SoundExchange, DSPs, AFM & SAG-AFTRA, The MLC, PRO performance, and sync.
Master-side aggregate
200% / 200%
Composition-side aggregate
200% / 200%
Where each side pays
One royalty destination per row
Destination
Side
You claim
Given away
SoundExchange
Digital and satellite radio, neighboring rights
MASTER
100%
0%
DSP master royalties
Spotify, Apple, Amazon paid through your distributor
MASTER
100%
0%
AFM & SAG-AFTRA Fund
Neighboring rights for performers on the recording
MASTER
100%
0%
The MLC
US digital mechanicals on the underlying song
COMPOSITION
100%
0%
PRO (ASCAP / BMI / SESAC)
Performance royalties every time the song is played
COMPOSITION
100%
0%
Sync licensing
Film, TV, ads. Composition side pays the writer and publisher.
COMPOSITION
100%
0%
The ownership calculator
What do YOU actually keep?
Every artist starts at 100%. Watch what each signature costs.
Add a party
You keep 100% of everything.
Tap a chip above to see what a signature costs.
This is why we build independent.
Royalty Lock exists so you never NEED to sign your rights away to get registered, collected, and counted. Do it yourself. Own it all.