Paid to
Digital Radio Report
Q2 2015
Billions Behind Us
It’s official: SoundExchange has paid more than $3 BILLION in digital performance royalties to recording artists and rights owners since 2003. Our annual payments have continuously increased and each year we’ve celebrated record-breaking milestones.
The growth of the digital radio industry and SoundExchange payments are a testament to the cultural influence of both music creators and music listeners. While $3 billion is a significant achievement for the music industry, it is only a start. SoundExchange will continue to fight for fair payment to artists and rights owners for their music each and every time it is used across every platform.
SoundExchange Paid‑to‑Date
$
1000000000
recording
artists
rights
owners
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.@SoundExchange reports $3‑BILLION paid-to-date to artists and rights owners! #3billionPaid
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SoundExchange 2015 Year‑to‑Date Payments
$
100000000
Paid to
recording
artists
rights
owners
20% Increase in Payments Year Over Year
$192.7 MILLION
Paid in
Q2 2015
Q2 2015
22,343
payees
Q2 2014
1 = 1,000 Payees
22,941
payees
Q2 2015
1 = 1,000 Payees
3%
increase in number of SoundExchange‑payeesfrom Q2 2014 to Q2 2015
The SoundExchange Effect
For seven years, SoundExchange has been on the front lines of the fight to ensure that ALL music creators are compensated fairly for their creative contributions.
In 2009, we backed legislation requiring AM/FM radio to pay artists for their over-the-air transmissions. In 2012, we fought determinedly against a legislative effort by digital radio services to reduce the amount of royalties paid to artists and rights owners. Four years after bringing the Performance Rights Act to Capitol Hill, we took a stand against the National Association of Broadcasters’ attempt to undermine copyright. We asked Congress not to express its opposition to imposing “any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge” on local radio stations for the public performance of sound recordings. Last year, we pushed digital radio services to treat legacy artists equally by paying royalties for their pre-1972 recordings.
This spring, in our most comprehensive appeal to Congress to date, we joined forces with the other members of the musicFIRST Coalition to support an all encompassing package of reforms on Capitol Hill—Fair Play, Fair Pay Act. This inclusive bill would correct some of the longest standing inequities in our music licensing system and require fair pay for the music creators who enrich our lives every day with their talents and gifts.
Wanna help? Support the movement online.
For developments related to the fight for creators’ rights on Capitol Hill, stay tuned to our Advocacy page on SoundExchange.com
Christylez Bacon Listens to Digital Radio Just Like You
Progressive Hip-Hop Artist, Christylez Bacon, loves the kids! The dapper-dressed Christylez spent the day entertaining SoundExchange staff members’ offspring during our annual Bring Your Child to Work Day. With beatboxing skills that rival Sgt. Larvelle Jones (everyone’s favorite silver screen cop), Mr. Bacon put on an energetic performance that awed the kids (and their mommies and daddies too).
After treating us to an electrifying set that featured a unique blend of musical genres, Bacon sat down and shared with us why he thinks digital radio is the “bees’ knees.”
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Moving Music Forward
SoundExchange is the independent non-profit organization created for the digital age. SoundExchange ensures that recording artists and rights owners are compensated when their work is streamed by non‑interactive digital radio
SoundExchange royalties are paid by more than 2,500 non-interactive Internet radio, satellite radio and cable radio services for their use of sound recordings. These royalties are distributed by SoundExchange directly to the more than 110,000 recording artists and rights owner accounts that earn them.
