Getting Paid for Music Online: Distributors, Royalties and Account Safety
Releasing a home recording is easier than ever. Getting the money that comes back safely into your bank account takes a little more care.
How music reaches streaming services
Independent musicians usually release through a distributor, a service that delivers recordings to stores and streaming platforms. Digital distribution replaced much of the work that once needed a label and physical copies.
Royalties in brief
A royalty is a payment to the owner of a work for its use. In music, recording royalties and songwriting royalties are often handled by different organisations, so a songwriter who also records may need to register in more than one place. Rules differ by country.
Keep records from the start
- Who wrote and who performed each track, and any agreed splits, in writing.
- Release dates and the identifiers your distributor assigns.
- Statements from each service, even small ones.
Protect the payout account
The account that receives your earnings deserves the same care as a bank account. Use a unique password, turn on multi-factor authentication and keep your recovery email current. Some online services add a separate payout or withdrawal password that is needed only when money leaves the account, so a stolen login alone is not enough. For an example of how such a second password is set up and reset, in Traditional Chinese and from a non-music service, see this guide to setting and recovering a separate withdrawal password (提款密碼設定與忘記處理). The principle applies to any account that pays you.
Revised 2026-10-22