What Are Common Mistakes Creators Make When Registering Music?

Proper registration of your songs is very important because Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) and Collective Management Organization (CMOs) rely on this information to determine the royalties you are owed each pay period. Here are common mistakes you might encounter when registering a song, along with their solutions: 

1. Songwriting Splits: Disputes regarding split percentages are a common issue that can arise between songwriters and PROs. Incorrect split information may result in the right holders’ royalties being withheld or paid inaccurately. These disagreements could damage creative relationships with co-writers and co-composers. To avoid these disputes, all of the parties involved in the composition process should agree on splits before beginning the registration process. Split percentages should add up to 100%. We also offer a free publishing split sheet template. If you’re a Songtrust client, all of your co-writers should be added to your Songtrust account to accurately reflect each split. Please note it is not required for your co-writers to be Songtrust clients in order to add them as co-writers. 
   
   Please Note: Each writer, or composer, should list their PRO and publisher (if applicable). 
2. Incorrect ISRC Registration: When registering songs, each one will have at least one ISRC. It is important that the title associated with the ISRC and song title match in order to be registered properly. It’s also critical that songs are registered on an individual basis. You should not register an album title and attempt to match all corresponding ISRCs; instead, each single track on the album should be registered and matched separately with their correct ISRC(s). 
3. Songwriter Information: Your full legal name, Interested Party Information (IPI) number, and publisher information should be listed correctly on your registration to avoid conflicts and disputes. (Note: Your full legal name must be used for song registration, even if you perform under a different moniker or stage name.) If you submit any incorrect information on your registration, the PROs and CMOs may be unable to payout your royalties. 
4. Non Musical Works- Please do not register any non-musical works in your Songtrust catalog. According to Copyright Law, the following do not qualify as music works: spoken word (e.g., comedy routines, speeches, talks), nature sounds (e.g., recordings of waves, rain, running rivers), and/or other works that do not fall within the definition of a nondramatic musical work (e.g., ambient sounds, sleep sounds). (See USCO Circular 73A and 73B.)

5. Covers- As Songtrust administers the underlying composition of a song (musical content and lyrics), and covers are not original material, they cannot be registered with Songtrust. This also includes any derivative works, as they are not qualified for Songtrust to collect on. 

Check out this video to watch a demonstration on how to properly register your songs on the Songtrust Platform. 

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