Music Knowledge
What Is a Performance Royalty?
Performance royalties explained: when your song is played in public, on radio or streamed, how performance rights organisations collect and pay writers.
A performance royalty is income generated when a composition is performed or played publicly — on the radio, in a bar, at a venue, on TV, or through streaming services. It is collected by performance rights organisations (PROs) and paid to songwriters and publishers.
What counts as a public performance
Any playing of music outside a private circle counts — broadcast radio and TV, streaming services, gyms, shops, concerts and bars. Each generates performance royalties that are tracked and distributed.
Streaming services pay performance royalties for the writer share through PROs, which is why your song needs to be registered with a PRO to collect them.
How PROs distribute payments
PROs collect licence fees from broadcasters and venues, then distribute them to writers based on usage data and popularity. Distributions typically happen quarterly or monthly.
If you are not a member of a PRO, or your works are not registered, these royalties sit unclaimed. Registering each song is essential.
The role of publishers
Publishers and administrators register your compositions with PROs worldwide, handle foreign income, and reconcile payments across territories.
Zaventra Music Group's publishing administration registers your works and collects writer royalties on your behalf, so you don't lose unclaimed income.
Key Points
- Income from public performances
- Collected by PROs
- Streams, radio, TV and venues qualify
- Requires composition registration
Frequently Asked Questions
Do artists get performance royalties?
The writer of the composition receives performance royalties. Artists who perform their own songs receive both the writer share and, separately, the sound recording royalties from streaming.
Which PRO should I join?
Join the PRO for your country of residence. They handle foreign licensing through reciprocal agreements with other territories' PROs.
When do I get paid?
Most PROs pay on a quarterly or monthly cycle after collecting usage data, so there is a delay of several months between airplay and payment.