Notes · Platform royalties
SoundCloud Royalties
A SoundCloud play can earn recording and songwriting royalties. Notes delivers the recording and registers the composition side. Flat subscription. No royalty cut.
SoundCloud is a creator-first streaming platform that started as an upload service and grew into a full DSP with subscription tiers and the Fan-Powered Royalties payout model. It hosts everything from emerging-artist releases to label catalogs.
Best for Notes. Musicians who release to SoundCloud and still need the publishing and neighboring-rights sides registered, not only the recording delivery.
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How Notes collects this
Notes ships your sound recordings to SoundCloud as part of every release, with credits and ISRCs included. Your songwriter credits are registered with PROs and The MLC so the publishing side of every play is paid as well. Recording royalties from SoundCloud, plus the performance and mechanical royalties behind every play, are reconciled in one place, with no percentage taken. Notes does not take a percentage of royalties.
The two pools
Where this sits on the royalty ring
- Distribution
- Broadcast
- Publishing
- Performance
Each arc is a /learn royalty type. The ring is the same chart as the glossary hub.
By platform type
Which royalties a play can earn
| Platform type | Recording | Mechanical | Performance | Neighboring | Sync |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive streaming (Spotify, Apple Music) | ● | ● | ● | — | — |
| Non-interactive radio (Pandora, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio) | ● | — | ● | ● | — |
| Download / DJ stores (Bandcamp, Beatport) | ● | ● | — | — | — |
| Short-form & social (TikTok, Meta, Snap) | ● | ● | ● | — | ● |
| Fitness, sync & background (Peloton) | ● | — | ● | — | ● |
| Karaoke & sing-along (Singa, WeSing) | — | ● | ● | — | ● |
Interactive streaming (Spotify, Apple Music) pays recording, mechanical, and performance royalties, not neighboring rights, which come from non-interactive radio via SoundExchange. Karaoke also generates a print (lyric) royalty not shown above. ROXi-style on-demand music-video and karaoke TV is audiovisual, so it leans on sync and master-use licensing rather than the statutory mechanical.
Questions
FAQ
- What are SoundCloud royalties?
- SoundCloud is a creator-first streaming platform that started as an upload service and grew into a full DSP with subscription tiers and the Fan-Powered Royalties payout model. It hosts everything from emerging-artist releases to label catalogs.
- How do I get my music on SoundCloud?
- Create a Notes account, add your release, and Notes delivers it to SoundCloud with your credits and ISRCs attached. You keep your masters and your rights, and Notes doesn't take a percentage of your royalties.
- How long does it take for my music to appear on SoundCloud?
- Most releases reach SoundCloud within a few days. Setting your release date a couple of weeks out gives you time to line up pre-saves and pitch playlists before it goes live.
- Does Notes take a percentage of my SoundCloud royalties?
- No. Notes is a simple $5/month subscription with no percentages and no hidden fees. Your SoundCloud royalties are paid to you in full.
- Does Notes collect my songwriting royalties too, or just the recording?
- Both. Alongside your SoundCloud delivery, Notes registers your songwriter credits with PROs and The MLC, so the publishing royalties behind every play get collected as well.
Built on the record
Sources
Notes is an independent music distribution and publishing administration service. Named platforms and collection societies are independent organizations. This page is not affiliated with, authorized by, or sponsored by them. SoundCloud is a trademark of SoundCloud Limited. Notes is not affiliated with, authorized by, or sponsored by SoundCloud.