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SM Blueprint
Step 2 of 10 in this module#32 of 1,000

2. Part 1: Your Digital Distributor (Master Recording Royalties)

Part 1 • Three-Part Registration Structure for 100% Streaming Royalties

Your digital distributor is responsible for collecting Master Recording Royalties. These are the royalties generated from the sound recording itself when it's streamed, downloaded, or sold digitally.

<ul> <li><strong>Role:</strong> Acts as the intermediary between you and streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, etc.) and digital stores (iTunes, Amazon).</li> <li><strong>What They Collect:</strong> Your share of ad revenue, subscription revenue, and download sales generated by the *master recording*.</li> <li><strong>Examples:</strong> DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, Symphonic.</li> <li><strong>Action:</strong> If you're using DistroKid, ensure your account is active and all your releases are distributed.</li> </ul> This is typically the easiest part of the setup, as most artists already have a distributor.

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In this module: Three-Part Registration Structure for 100% Streaming Royalties10 steps
  1. 1The Comprehensive Royalty Collection Strategy
  2. 2Part 1: Your Digital Distributor (Master Recording Royalties)
  3. 3Part 2: Your Performing Rights Organization (PRO) (Performance Royalties)
  4. 4Part 3: Your Publishing Administrator (Mechanical Royalties & Global Collection)
  5. 5The Flow: How Royalties Reach You
  6. 6The Interplay: Why All Three Are Necessary
  7. 7Why You Need a Publishing Administrator (Even if You're a PRO Member)
  8. 8Strategic Implications: Building a Comprehensive Income Stream
  9. 9Common Mistakes to Avoid
  10. 10Your Definitive 3-Part Royalty Collection Checklist