What is Performance Royalties?
Also called: public performance royalties
Performance royalties are payments to songwriters and publishers when a composition is performed in public, which includes radio play, streaming, TV, live shows and music played in venues and shops.
They are collected by performing rights organizations (PROs) that license broadcasters, venues and platforms and pay their members. Songwriters join a PRO in their country and register each song, with the correct splits between the writers.
Performance royalties belong to the composition, not the recording. In many countries there are separate neighbouring rights royalties for the recording when it is broadcast or played in public.
The songwriter share and the publisher share are usually paid separately, which is why self published writers often also set up a publishing entity or use an administrator.
Put it to work
Review a music contract in plain language before you sign it.
Review Music Contract