From the Brewsta Million music-business archives, Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer Poo Bear discusses one of the biggest issues facing music creators: how streaming translates into income.
Originally featured on Brewsta Million as an interview/video post, we're revisiting the topic because streaming royalties remain an important part of understanding the modern music business.
Poo Bear Talks Streaming Royalties
Streaming changed the way millions of people listen to music, but it also changed how artists, songwriters, producers and other rights holders are compensated.
For independent artists especially, seeing thousands of streams doesn't necessarily mean seeing the amount of money they might expect. The revenue generated by a recording can be divided among multiple parties depending on ownership, publishing, distribution and contractual agreements.
Watch the Original Poo Bear Interview
Why Music Royalties Can Be Complicated
A song can involve more than one set of rights. The composition and the actual sound recording are separate pieces of the business, and different people or companies may have ownership interests in each.
That is one reason artists should understand more than simply how many streams a song receives. Publishing, songwriting splits, master ownership, distribution agreements and contracts can all affect where money ultimately goes.
What Independent Artists Can Take From This
Creating the music is only one part of building a sustainable career. Artists should also learn how their music is registered, who owns what, how collaborators are credited and which companies are collecting revenue on their behalf.
Understanding those basics early can make it easier to ask better questions when dealing with distributors, publishers, labels and other music-industry partners.
From the Brewsta Million Music Business Archives
Brewsta Million has covered more than songs and videos throughout its history. The archives also include conversations about the business behind music and the challenges artists face while building their careers.
Originally featured on Brewsta Million. Updated with original editorial context as part of the Brewsta Million Music Archives.
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