What is a Royalty Statement?
A royalty statement is a financial report that shows how much money a songwriter, artist, or rights holder has earned from the use of their music during a specific period. These statements are typically issued by record labels, publishers, distributors, or royalty collection organizations and summarize revenue generated from sales, streaming, licensing, and other sources.
A royalty statement usually includes detailed information such as the number of streams or sales, the territories where the music was played, the type of royalty earned, and the deductions or expenses applied. It may also show how royalties are divided among different rights holders according to agreed percentages.
Royalty statements are important because they provide transparency about how revenue from music usage is calculated and distributed. By reviewing these reports, artists and rights holders can track the performance of their music and verify that they are receiving the correct payments for their work.