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Welcome back! Even experienced artists can miss out on royalties due to small oversights. In this post, we’ll clear up some of the most common myths and mistakes around neighboring rights—and help you stay on track.Common Mistakes and Misconceptions About Neighbouring RightsEven for experienced performers, neighbouring rights can be confusing. Many artists miss out on royalties they’ve rightfully earned—often because of small but important misunderstandings.🚫 “I’m registered with a PRO, so I’m already covered.” PROs collect royalties for songwriters and publishers. They don’t manage royalties for recorded performances. Neighbouring rights require separate registration.❓ “I didn’t write the song, so I’m not entitled to anything.” You don’t need to be the songwriter. If you sang, played, or produced a released track that’s being played publicly, you may be entitled to royalties.⚠️ “I only played a small role—it’s probably not worth it.” Even small contributions—especially as a session musician—can lead to royalty payments, particularly in countries that recognize non-featured performers.🌍 “I registered in my country—so I’m covered globally.” Neighbouring rights are governed by national laws and reciprocity agreements. To collect royalties internationally, you may need to register in or through multiple territories.⏳ “I’ll deal with this later.” Royalties may expire if unclaimed after a few years. Don’t leave money on the table—take action sooner rather than later.✅ Takeaway With the right information and support, you can avoid these common pitfalls and make sure your work gets the recognition—and payment—it deserves.📅 Next post: “How Streaming and International Plays Affect Your Royalties”

Episode 4: Common Mistakes and Misconceptions About Neighbouring Rights

Thanks for joining us again! Now that you know what neighboring rights are and who’s entitled to them, it’s time to get practical. This post covers how to claim the royalties you’ve earned—and avoid missing out.How to Claim Neighbouring Rights RoyaltiesPerforming on a recording is only the beginning. If that track is played on the radio, in a store, or on certain streaming platforms, it could be generating neighboring rights royalties for you. But unlike some other types of royalties, these don’t arrive automatically. You need to take specific steps to claim what you’re owed.🎭 Identify Your Role Start by confirming what your role was in the recording: featured artist, session musician, producer, or label. Your role determines your royalty entitlement.📄 Collect the Right Information Make sure all relevant details are accurate and complete: - Track and artist name - Your name and role - ISRC code - Release date and label info🌍 Register with a Rights Organization You must register with a collective management organization (CMO) or use a neighboring rights administrator. Registration in your home country may not be enough—especially if your recordings are played internationally.🤝 Consider Working with an Administrator A professional administrator can register your repertoire globally, track usage, and file claims across multiple territories.✅ Final Tip Some royalties expire if unclaimed after a few years. The sooner your rights are registered, the better.📅 Next post: “Common Mistakes and Misconceptions About Neighboring Rights”

Episode 3: How to Claim Neighbouring Rights Royalties

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 labelsIf 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”

Episode 2: Who Gets Paid and Why?

Welcome to the first post in our Beginner Series on Neighbouring Rights! If you’ve ever performed on a track and wondered whether you’re entitled to royalties, this is the place to start. We’ll walk you through what neighbouring rights are, how they differ from copyright royalties, and why they matter.What are neighbouring rights? <br style="border-color: #e5e7eb; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(62,172,255,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-transform: translateX(0) translateY(0) rotate(0) skewX(0) skewY(0) scaleX(1) scaleY(1); --tw-border-opacity: 1;" data-mce-style="border-color: #e5e7eb; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(62,172,255,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-transform: translateX(0) translateY(0) rotate(0) skewX(0) skewY(0) scaleX(1) scaleY(1); --tw-border-opacity: 1;">When most people think about music royalties, they usually picture the rights earned by songwriters and composers. These are known as copyright royalties, and they protect the melody, lyrics, and structure of a song. But there’s another important type of right that’s often overlooked—especially by performing artists. These are called neighbouring rights.Neighbouring rights are a type of royalty paid to the people involved in the recording of a piece of music. This includes:- Performers (both featured and non-featured/session musicians) - Producers or record labels (those who fund or release the recordings)These royalties are generated when a recording is used publicly. That can include:- Airplay on radio and TV - Music played in restaurants, shops, gyms, or hotels - Use on certain streaming platforms or internet radio servicesIf you’ve performed on a commercially released recording, and that recording is played in any of these settings, you may be entitled to royalty payments—even if you didn’t write the song.Copyright protects the song itself—the composition, lyrics, and melody. Copyright royalties are paid to the songwriter and music publisher.Neighbouring rights, on the other hand, protect the recording of the song. They reward the people who helped bring the song to life in a studio. So, if you’re a vocalist, instrumentalist, or producer on a track that’s played in public, you may have a right to royalties—regardless of who wrote the song.For many artists, neighbouring rights are a valuable income stream—especially if their recordings receive regular radio play, are included in playlists, or used by businesses. However, these royalties are not automatic. You need to be registered with the right organizations, and your contributions must be documented correctly.Unfortunately, many performers miss out on these payments because they simply don’t know the rights exist, or they aren’t sure how to claim them. That’s where this blog series comes in.Over the next few weeks, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know—who qualifies, how to register, common mistakes, and how to get help if you need it.📅 Next post: “Who Gets Paid and Why?”

Episode 1: What Are Neighbouring Rights?

Navigating the world of music rights can be overwhelming—especially when it comes to neighbouring rights, which are often misunderstood or overlooked entirely. That’s why we’ve created this Beginner Series: to break things down in a clear, accessible way for anyone new to the topic.Every two weeks, we’ll explore a different aspect of neighbouring rights, helping performers, producers, and rights holders understand what these royalties are, who qualifies, and how to make sure you’re not missing out on income you’ve earned. From the basics of what neighbouring rights are, to claiming royalties, avoiding common mistakes, and understanding international usage and streaming, this series is designed to help you feel informed and empowered.Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refresh your knowledge, we hope this series helps you get the most from your recordings.Stay tuned for the first post called "What are neighbouring rights" which will be released here over the next few days.

Understanding neighbouring rights: Beginner series

Recently, Sweden's Ministry of Justice has announced to implement national treatment remuneration rules for music usage, effective July 1, 2025. This policy change represents a significant advancement in aligning national copyright laws with European Union directives and it ensures that foreign music creators receive the same remuneration as Swedish nationals, promoting fairness and equity in the global music industry.The Netherlands was among the first to respond to the Court of Justice of the European Union's (CJEU) 2020 ruling in the RAAP v. PPI case. By January 1, 2021, the Dutch collection society SENA began implementing national treatment, extending equitable remuneration rights to non-EEA performers and producers, including those from the United States. Similarly, Denmark's collecting society, Gramex, has recently aligned its practices with the CJEU's directive, ensuring that foreign artists receive equitable remuneration for the use of their music within Denmark. ​Sweden's decision to adopt national treatment further underscores the importance of non-discriminatory practices in the creative sector and highlights the evolving landscape of international copyright law. As more countries follow suit, the global music industry moves closer to a fair and equitable system for all creators, regardless of nationality.

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Episode 4: Common Mistakes and Misconceptions About Neigh...

Episode 3: How to Claim Neighbouring Rights Royalties

Episode 2: Who Gets Paid and Why?

Episode 1: What Are Neighbouring Rights?

Understanding neighbouring rights: Beginner series

Sweden adopting national treatment for artists