How to Register with SoundExchange as an Artist and Rights Owner
By Written by Peter McVeigh
It's free, you don't need to be a US citizen, and unclaimed money can expire. Here's the process.
If your recordings play on services like SiriusXM or Pandora, SoundExchange may be holding money for you. Registering is free and takes a few steps. Do it early, because its FAQ says royalties expire after three years.
I checked the details in this guide on 4 November 2026. Fees and rules change, so check each organization's own page before you rely on them.
Who should register
Featured artists: the performer or band named on a recording.
Rights owners: whoever owns the sound recording. If you self-release and paid for the master, that's probably you.
Both: plenty of independent artists are both, and SoundExchange lets you register as both.
Songwriters and publishers don't register for their song share here. Producers, mixers and engineers are only paid through a Letter of Direction from a registrant. Non-featured musicians are covered through AFM and SAG-AFTRA.
The steps
Step 1: Go to register.soundexchange.com and click Register.
Step 2: Choose the account type. You can register yourself or someone else, as a performer, a rights owner, or both.
Step 3: Verify your identity and add details. SoundExchange says the steps depend on the account type and include identity verification and payment information. You can stop and come back, and it saves your progress.
Step 4: Add tax details. Non-US registrants need a W-8BEN. Without it, 30% withholding applies.
Step 5: Set up SoundExchange Direct. After registering, you get a link to create an account. There you can update tax and bank details, give a manager access, submit recording data and claim recordings.
Step 6: Search and claim your recordings. Check every release under every spelling of your artist name.
You don't need to be American
SoundExchange says: "You DO NOT need to be a U.S. citizen to register." If you only need US collection, registration is enough. Becoming a full member lets it collect internationally through its agreements with other countries.
How the money is split
Who: Share
Rights owner of the recording: 50%
Featured artists: 45%
Non-featured artists fund: 5%
Band members need to agree how the featured share is divided. Sort it out early, because disputes can hold up money.
What you'll get paid, and when
SoundExchange pays monthly by direct deposit once you've got at least $100 accrued, or quarterly from $10. Paper checks go out quarterly with a $100 minimum. It says most royalties are paid within 45 days of receipt, and it quotes an administrative rate of 4 to 6%.
A worked example
Say a recording earns $1,000 at SoundExchange in a period. Before SoundExchange's administrative rate, that's how the statutory split works:
Situation: Rights owner share: Featured share
Solo artist who owns the master: $500 to you: $450 to you
Three-piece band owning the master together: $500, split by your ownership agreement: $450, for example $150 each if you agreed equal shares
Artist signed to a label: $500 to the label: $450 to the artist, paid directly
The remaining $50 goes to the non-featured fund. The direct artist payment is one of the reasons to register even if you've got a label.
Questions people ask
My label has registered. Do I still need to?
Probably. A rights owner registering doesn't automatically set up your own featured artist account. Check your SoundExchange profile rather than assuming.
Can my producer be paid?
SoundExchange pays producers, mixers and engineers only where a registrant submits a Letter of Direction. If you've promised someone points, agree this in writing and submit the letter.
Can a manager help?
Yes. SoundExchange Direct lets you give others account access, so you don't need to share your login.
Does it cover Spotify?
No. On-demand plays aren't this route. Registration is for non-interactive platforms such as SiriusXM, Pandora and iHeart Radio.
Common mistakes
Assuming your distributor does this. Check. Distributors generally handle on-demand income, which is different money.
Waiting until you're successful. Small balances still expire.
Missing ISRCs or wrong data. SoundExchange uses ISRCs to match recordings to reported plays.
Forgetting the second role. If you own the master and perform on it, make sure you're paid for both.
What to do next
Register, set up direct deposit, then search for your recordings. Our ISRC Code Tracker keeps the data in one place, which makes claiming much easier.
Sources
SoundExchange, Register: https://register.soundexchange.com/
SoundExchange, FAQ: https://www.soundexchange.com/frequently-asked-questions/
SoundExchange, Digital performance royalties: https://www.soundexchange.com/digital-performance-royalties/
SoundExchange, Why register: https://www.soundexchange.com/2020/09/30/artists-and-sound-recording-owners-heres-why-you-should-register-with-soundexchange/
SoundExchange, All about ISRCs: https://www.soundexchange.com/2024/01/09/all-about-isrcs/
Disclaimer
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.