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ASCAP
Register works and claim performance royalties. Search repertoire first, then open a membership or works-registration case.
RapRoyaltyLife — artist royalty hub
Find your own money.
A free toolkit for independent artists and the people who look out for them. Search every major US royalty source under your name, estimate what your plays are worth, register new music (ASCAP & BMI lead), and build a claim packet you file yourself. No gatekeeper. No percentage off the top.
- Search your name across PROs, the MLC, SoundExchange, sync indexes, and streaming — all pre-filled.
- Estimate & document what you're owed with the plays calculator, then download a claim packet.
- Claim directly with each rights organization. You keep 100% — nothing routes through us.
New here? Start with Ask a question about one of your songs, or jump straight to Search.
Ask about your song
Your song is live somewhere — Spotify, YouTube, a distro dashboard, anywhere. Tell us what is going wrong and we will give you steps, not just links.
Royalty discovery
We open and check public indexes — not every platform has an API. Save results for your claim packet.
Honest scopeMusicBrainz and Internet Archive (Wayback CDX) are queried automatically where allowed. Tunefind, IMDb, and others return direct search links you open and verify yourself — no fake scraping.
Plays / views calculator
Add line items from your statements or best estimates. Default rates are conservative placeholders — not official royalty math.
Estimates onlySoundCloud, Spotify, YouTube, Apple, Amazon, Tidal, and other figures here are rough master-side or blended placeholders. Sync and game placements need your actual license terms. Replace every number before filing a claim.
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Rough master-side estimate via distributor; songwriter/mechanical is separate.
Estimated total royalties$0.00
Platform accountability
Who helps you claim directly vs. who takes a cut. Green = register or claim with the org. Red = proceed carefully or skip the middleman.
Registration & claim portals
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BMI
Songwriter/publisher registration and royalty claims. Bring split sheets and release metadata.
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SESAC
Invitation-based PRO. Search repertoire; contact SESAC if you believe works are registered without you.
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GMR (Global Music Rights)
Invite-only PRO. Search repertoire for high-profile catalogue; contact GMR for registration inquiries.
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The MLC
US mechanical royalties from streaming/downloads. Search portal, claim unclaimed accruals with ISRC/ISWC if possible.
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Harry Fox Agency (HFA)
Mechanical licensing administrator. Many older mechanical claims route through HFA Songfile.
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SoundExchange
Digital performance royalties for sound recordings (non-interactive streams, satellite). Check unclaimed list first.
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SoundCloud for Artists
On-platform monetization pays through SoundCloud for Artists. Off-platform streams (Spotify, Apple) go through your distributor — not SoundCloud. Dispute reposts that hijack monetization.
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Spotify for Artists
Master-side payouts go through your distributor — not Spotify directly. Use for catalog verification and royalty report cross-check.
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Apple Music for Artists
Verify releases under your name. Master royalties appear in distributor statements 2–3 months delayed.
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YouTube Content ID / Studio
Link payable AdSense account to channels with your content. Dispute mis-attributed uploads via Studio copyright tools.
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Amazon Music for Artists
Catalog verification for Amazon Music. Master payouts via distributor — compare stream counts to Amazon for Artists data.
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Tidal for Artists
Higher per-stream rates than many services. Master payouts still route through your distributor.
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Deezer for Creators
Verify catalog on Deezer. Export distributor statements for Deezer-specific revenue lines.
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Pandora AMP
Artist marketing portal. Non-interactive Pandora plays may also generate SoundExchange royalties.
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iHeartRadio
Radio + streaming catalog. Check SoundExchange for non-interactive iHeart plays as featured artist.
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Audiomack for Artists
Monetization via Audiomack for Artists. Separate from distributor master payouts on other platforms.
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Audius
Decentralized streaming with on-chain payouts. Confirm wallet ownership and upload account access.
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Beatport
Electronic music sales and streaming. Revenue via label or distributor — check Beatport-specific statement lines.
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Bandcamp
Direct sales payouts. Confirm payment email/PayPal in Settings → Payments. Separate from streaming mechanicals.
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ReverbNation
Check whether releases were distributed through ReverbNation to other stores. Export earnings from RN dashboard.
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DistroKid
Master royalties from all stores. Does NOT collect songwriter performance or mechanical — register PRO + MLC separately.
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TuneCore
Export full earnings report. Compare stream counts to Spotify for Artists. Songwriter money is PRO + MLC.
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CD Baby
Long-running indie distributor. Optional publishing admin — still register PRO + MLC for full coverage.
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AWAL
Invitation-based distributor (Kobalt group). Read contract for recoupment and term length before signing.
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UnitedMasters
Distribution + brand deals. Master payouts in UM dashboard; songwriter royalties via PRO + MLC.
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Stem
Split-friendly distributor. Verify all collaborator percentages in Stem dashboard before release.
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TikTok for Artists
Music royalties via distributor or TikTok licensing program. Check for unauthorized uploads using your recordings.
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Instagram / Facebook (Meta)
Reels and in-app music use. Payouts via distributor + PRO — Meta does not pay songwriters directly.
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Twitch
Live/VOD music use licensed at platform level. Overlaps with YouTube Content ID — check both for claims.
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Shazam
Discovery index — Shazam counts don't pay directly but help verify which ISRC/recording is live on stores.
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Songtrust
Global publishing administrator. Does not replace US PRO affiliation — use alongside ASCAP or BMI.
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Kobalt Music Publishing
Publishing admin and neighboring rights. Separate from AWAL distribution — check both dashboards.
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Sync licensing (film/TV/game)
Sync fees are negotiated per placement. Document the show/game/film title, air dates, and your PRO registration, then contact the music supervisor or your PRO.
Flags — read before paying anyone
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Royalty recovery firms (generic)
Often take 15–50% of recovered money for work you can do yourself with ASCAP, BMI, MLC, and SoundExchange portals.
Skip the middleman unless a lawyer you trust recommends one. Start with PRO + MLC + SoundExchange directly.
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Unverified distributor dashboards
If someone else controls your DistroKid/TuneCore login, they may be collecting master royalties without paying you.
Recover account access first. Cross-check streams in Spotify for Artists against distributor statements.
Royalty search
Open every major US royalty source with your name pre-filled. Try legal and stage names — registrations often use one while streaming uses the other.
Register new music
ASCAP and BMI are your lead for songwriting performance royalties. Add SoundExchange for recordings, The MLC for mechanicals, and Copyright Office for legal proof. Tap a card for full instructions.
Past royalties & money sitting
Run the royalty search with legal and stage names first — then open these claim portals. Unclaimed lists often use misspelled names.
ASCAP Repertory
Past / claimPerformance royalties — works registered with ASCAP. Search by writer or title; claim splits directly with ASCAP.
BMI Repertoire
Past / claimPerformance royalties — works registered with BMI. Search by songwriter, publisher, artist, or title.
SoundExchange
Past / claimDigital performance royalties for sound recordings (satellite, internet, cable radio). Featured artists and sound recording owners can register and claim.
SoundExchange — Unclaimed Royalties
Past / claimPublic list of unclaimed royalties. If your name (or a recording you performed on) is here, money is sitting and waiting.
The MLC
Past / claimMechanical Licensing Collective — administers blanket mechanical royalties from US streaming and download services. Search registered works and unclaimed accruals.
Often withheld — check these too
PRO black box / unmatched
Performance money with no writer match — often misspelled names.
Search ASCAP & BMI repertoire; fix splits with documentation.
SoundExchange unclaimed
Featured artist payments sitting for years.
Search unclaimed list under legal and stage names.
MLC unclaimed mechanicals
Streaming mechanicals never linked to your songwriter account.
Portal search + connect recordings.
YouTube Content ID
Someone else or a label may be collecting on your recordings.
YouTube Studio → Copyright; dispute with proof of ownership.
Neighboring rights (non-US)
International broadcast royalties for performers — separate from PRO.
If played abroad, check PPL, GVL, or regional societies.
Sync you never knew about
TV, film, games — Tunefind/IMDb show placements; money flows through PRO or lawyer.
Discovery search then claim via PRO or counsel.
Distributor holds
Distro may keep masters or recoup advances you did not understand.
Read your distro agreement; export statements; compare to streams.
Publishing admin deals
Admin takes a % forever — sometimes registers works in their name.
Audit who is listed as publisher on each PRO work.
Open a case
Build a unified submission packet. Contact info stays in your browser — we generate downloads only; nothing is stored on the server.
Learn
Registration guides live on this page. Contract, lyric, and production lessons connect to RapLife SkateLife — open them here, stay in the hub.
Register at ASCAP or BMILead PRO registration — performance royalties start here.On this page →Contract lessons360 deals, advances, and master ownership — know before you sign.SkateLife ↗Write your lyricsYour words are your copyright. Structure, flow, and ownership.SkateLife ↗Pro Tools basicsSession files are proof. Learn the workflow that protects your splits.SkateLife ↗Past royalties & unclaimedMoney sitting under misspelled names — how to find and claim it.On this page →Withheld resourcesBlack box, Content ID, sync, and publishing admin — often missed.On this page →
Sister apps
Royalty search is step one. These AF apps connect your name to public records, family safety, tutoring, and research — preview here, open when you need them.
RapLife SkateLifeOpen lessons ↗
Culture, community, and creative identity — plus contract and lyric lessons.
TruthMark SignalsBrowse signals ↗
Track legislation, lobbying, and money trails in public records.
America's Future — in-house tools
- TruthMark SignalsTrack model legislation, lobbying, and money trails in public records.When: You suspect a label, manager, or state bill affects royalty rules.Open ↗
- TruthMarkVerify a specific company, politician, or claim at authoritative sources.When: You need to confirm who owns a shell company or a contract counterparty.Open ↗
- AF GFlyOn-Mac research assistant — vet people, orgs, and deals locally.When: You're building a paper trail before talking to a lawyer.Open ↗
- RapLife SkateLifeSister culture app — community and creative identity.When: Brand and community context around the artist name you searched.Open ↗
- ShieldScanFamily digital safety — accounts, predators, online presence.When: Someone is impersonating the artist or targeting family online.Open ↗
More AF tools
- Family Detective LabOSINT learning game — includes Junior Whiteboard tutor for kids.Open ↗
- Whiteboard / JuniorInteractive AI tutor — music business, contracts, or school subjects.Open ↗
- Veterans SupportBoone Cutler Foundation — help, report, pledge, media archives.Open ↗
- OutreachFirstDonor and supporter outreach drafting for nonprofits.Open ↗
What this is (and isn't)
RapRoyaltyLife is a search aggregator with registration guides, a plays calculator, and song Q&A. It opens the right public sources with your name pre-filled and helps you assemble a claim packet.
It is not a recovery service and never collects a cut. Estimates are conservative placeholders, not official royalty statements — every claim is filed by you, directly with the rights organization.
For parents and guardians of minor artists
Run a search on a minor child's name the same way an adult would. If someone close to the artist is taking money, search quietly and bring results to a lawyer you choose — not one the industry hands you.