Episode 2: Who Gets Paid and Why?

Welcome back to our Beginner Series! In this post, we’re digging into who actually gets paid when a recording earns neighboring rights royalties. Whether you’re a lead artist, a session musician, or a label, this one’s for you.

Neighbouring rights - Who gets paid and why?

If you’ve performed on a recording that’s been officially released, your work could be generating income every time that recording is played in public—on the radio, in a café, on TV, or on certain streaming platforms. But who exactly qualifies for these royalties?

This is where neighboring rights come in. These rights ensure that the people who helped bring a recording to life are fairly compensated when that recording is used commercially. But not everyone involved in a song qualifies, so let’s look at who does.

🎤 Featured Performers
A featured performer is typically the main artist credited on a track. This could be a lead singer, a solo instrumentalist, or a member of a band whose name appears as the primary act. If this is you, you almost certainly have a right to neighboring rights royalties.

🎧 Non-Featured or Session Musicians
Many countries also recognize the rights of non-featured performers—also called session musicians or background vocalists. If you were hired to perform on a track but weren’t listed as a main artist, you might still be eligible for royalties.

🎚️ Producers and Record Labels
The producer or record label that invested in the creation and release of the recording also receives a share of neighboring rights royalties. This reflects their role in financing, organizing, and distributing the music.

🧠 In Summary
Neighboring rights are shared between:
- Featured artists
- Session musicians (in many cases)
- Producers or record labels

If you’ve performed on a track that’s being played somewhere in the world, your contribution may be earning royalties—whether you know it or not.

📅 Next post: “How to Claim Neighboring Rights Royalties”