There’s been a lot of talk lately about changes to how YouTube de-monetizes non ad-friendly content, meaning if your content isn’t “ad-friendly,” YouTube will prevent ads from appearing on those … Continue reading
Music Rights
Making the complicated details of music rights easier to understand for independent musicians. Make sense of important issues like copyright law and music royalties.
YouTube improves Content ID system
Up until last week, a disputed rights claim on a YouTube video meant that the video could not be monetized until the dispute was resolved. According to a recent blog … Continue reading
What is a Mechanical Royalty? A Guide for Musicians
How does a songwriter earn money? —— [Insert your own punchline here.] But the real answer is… music publishing! Publishing Royalties are a revenue source for songwriters If you’re a songwriter, … Continue reading
CD Baby is building the world’s largest indie publishing catalog. Are you in?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLyUtHi1x2U A few years ago we launched a publishing administration service for independent songwriters called CD Baby Pro. Along the way we built one of the largest indie publishing houses … Continue reading
3 ways to earn money from your music on Spotify
NOTE: The CD Baby Pro Publishing service was discontinued as of August 8th, 2023. Any paid release which was signed up for CD Baby Pro Publishing prior to August 8th, … Continue reading
I’m turning off the radio! (Let’s make 2016 the year we fix a 100-year-old inequity)
[This post was written by CD Baby CEO Tracy Maddux.] The United States is among only four countries in the world that do not pay artists for radio airplay. The … Continue reading
Everything you need to know about your music on YouTube
How, why, and when you can earn money from your music and videos on YouTube If you’re distributing your music through CD Baby, we can help you earn money from … Continue reading
How an indie artist earned $56k from one song on Spotify (an interview with Perrin Lamb)
“As long as you have your own business in order and not too many hands in the cookie jar, (streaming) can be very lucrative.” — Perrin Lamb For those (most) … Continue reading
Who’s the real bad guy: music streaming, or the major labels?
Since its launch, Spotify has paid out over two billion dollars to rights holders. That’s a hefty sum, especially considering they’re just one player in a streaming market that also … Continue reading
Is “Happy Birthday” now in the Public Domain?
Have you ever wondered why the waiters at TGI Fridays sing their own unique, annoying song when it’s time to bring out the cake and embarrass you on your birthday? No, it’s not to … Continue reading