Artist Royalties

A royalty is a payment made to you each time your music is used or sold.

When your music is streamed, downloaded, performed in public or licensed for use in film, television, advertising and games, it generates income. That income is collected from platforms, stores and partners, and after any agreed deductions it is paid to the people who own a share in the music.

At Canada Music Group, royalties are reported through the CMG Distribution Portal. We aim to present them clearly, so that you always know what has been earned, where it came from and what is still to be paid.

Not everyone who contributes to a piece of music earns the same kind of royalty. Understanding which type applies to you makes statements much easier to read.

Recording artists

If you perform on a recording that we release or distribute, you earn from the use of that recording, mainly streams, downloads and any physical or licensed uses. Your share is set by your agreement.

Songwriters and composers

If you wrote or co-wrote a song, you earn from the use of the song itself. This includes public performance, reproduction and sync licensing. These royalties are often collected through publishing administration and collecting societies.

Artists who also write

Many creators are both performers and writers. In that case, you may earn both recording and songwriting income, and they will usually appear in different parts of your reporting.

Other contributors

Producers, featured performers and other collaborators may also have a share, depending on what was agreed when the music was made. This is why recording each person’s share in writing is so important.

Your statements and earnings are available in the portal at cms.canadamusicgroup.cc. Here is how to find them.

1. Sign in

Go to cms.canadamusicgroup.cc and sign in with your account details. If you have forgotten your password, use the reset option on the sign-in page.

2. Open the Royalties section

Choose Royalties from the menu to see a summary of what you have earned, what is pending and what has been paid.

3. Select a statement

Pick the period you would like to look at. You can view details on screen or download a copy for your records.

4. Ask if something is unclear

If anything is confusing, contact us and we will walk you through it. See the support section below.

Each royalty statement is designed to answer four simple questions.

What period does it cover?

Every statement shows the period in which income was reported, so that you can match it to your records.

Where did the income come from?

Income is broken down by release and by type of use, so you can see which music is performing and in which channels.

What was deducted?

Any agreed costs or recoupable amounts are shown clearly, along with how they have been applied.

What is payable to you?

The final amount is the net sum due to you for that period after any deductions, together with the status of the payment.

A simple example makes the numbers easier to follow.

The figures below are invented purely for illustration. Your own terms may be different, so please always check your agreement and your statements.

Imagine that a release earned 1,000 in a reporting period. Under the agreement, the artist’s share of that income is 70%, which is 700. Suppose the artist also has an advance, and 200 of it has not yet been recovered. The 200 is applied against the 700, leaving 500 payable to the artist for that period.

In the next period, with the advance fully recovered, the same share of any new income would be paid out in full. The statement for each period shows these steps, so you can see exactly how the final amount was reached.

If your music has more than one contributor, your share may also be divided among them according to the agreed splits. The statement will show your portion, not the full amount earned.

Different kinds of use produce different kinds of income, and not every creator earns from every type.

Streaming and downloads

Income earned when your recordings are streamed or downloaded on digital platforms and stores.

Public performance

Income earned when songs are performed in public or broadcast. This is usually collected through collecting societies and relates to the songwriter and publisher.

Mechanical income

Income earned when a song is reproduced, for example in a download or a physical copy, and in many places when it is streamed.

Sync and licensing

Income earned when music is licensed for use with moving images, such as film, television, advertising and games.

A share, or split, describes how income from a song or recording is divided between the people who created it. It is normally written as a percentage, and the percentages for a given work add up to 100%.

Shares are recorded when a release or song is registered, and they should reflect what everyone agreed. If a share is recorded incorrectly, payments will be incorrect too, which is why it is worth checking them carefully before a release goes live.

If you believe a share is wrong, or if a collaboration changes after release, let us know as early as possible. Changes usually require agreement from everyone who has a share, and we may ask for written confirmation.

An advance is money paid to an artist or songwriter before earnings arrive. It is normally recovered from future earnings under the terms of the agreement, a process known as recoupment. Until the advance has been recovered, royalties are applied against it rather than paid out.

Whether you have an advance, and how it is recovered, depends entirely on your agreement. Statements show clearly how much has been recovered and how much remains, so you can follow your position over time.

Royalties are not paid the moment a stream happens. They pass through several stages: platforms collect the data, report it to us, we process it and then we include it in a statement and payment.

Each platform and partner reports on its own schedule. Some report monthly, others less often, and some reports arrive weeks after the period they cover. That is why your income for one month may appear across several later statements.

This delay is a normal feature of the industry and does not mean that anything has gone wrong. If you are ever unsure whether something is delayed or missing, ask us, and we will check where it is in the process.

Payments follow the schedule in your agreement and depend on when income is reported to us by platforms and partners. Because reporting schedules differ, some income arrives after a delay, which is normal in the music industry.

To receive payment, you need to have accurate payment details on your account. Keep them up to date, and tell us if anything changes. In some cases we may ask for additional information, such as tax details, so that payments can be made correctly.

If you have not received a payment you were expecting, please check your statement first, then contact us with the details.

Music is heard around the world, so income may be earned in different currencies. Where income needs to be converted, it is converted into the currency of your statement or payment according to the terms that apply.

Exchange rates change over time, so the value of income in your own currency can rise or fall between the time it is earned and the time it is paid. Statements show the amounts used, so you can follow the calculation.

If you have questions about the currency of a payment, please contact us before you register your payment details, so that we can explain the options.

Royalty income may be subject to tax, and the rules differ from country to country and from person to person. We cannot give tax advice, and we encourage you to speak to a qualified adviser who knows your situation.

In some cases, we may need to ask for tax-related information, or to deduct tax at source where the law requires it. Providing accurate details helps us pay you correctly and on time.

Keep copies of your statements and payment records. They will be useful when you prepare your own tax returns.

Good records make life easier for every creator. We suggest the following habits.

Keep your agreements

Store signed agreements, split sheets and written confirmations of any changes in a safe place where you can find them.

Download your statements

Save a copy of each statement when it becomes available, so that you have a record independent of any online account.

Track your releases

Keep a simple list of your releases, dates and collaborators. It helps you to spot anything that looks unusual.

Update your details

If you change your name, address, email or payment details, update them promptly.

We work hard to be accurate, but mistakes can happen, whether in data from a platform, a registration or a calculation. If you think something is wrong, please tell us. Describe what you have noticed, which release and period it relates to and, if you can, why you believe it is incorrect.

We will review it, explain what we find and, if a correction is needed, make it and show it clearly on a later statement. We would always rather correct a mistake than have it go unnoticed.

Your account contains personal and financial information, so please look after it. Choose a strong password that you do not use anywhere else and keep it private.

Be cautious about any message that asks for your password, bank details or other sensitive information, especially if it creates pressure to act quickly. If you are unsure whether a message is genuine, do not click links in it. Go directly to cms.canadamusicgroup.cc or contact us through our contact page.

Some words appear often on royalty statements. Here are the most common ones in plain language.

Advance. Money paid before earnings arrive, normally recovered from future royalties.

Collecting society. An organisation that collects royalties for public performance and certain other uses and passes them on to its members.

Deduction. An agreed amount taken from income before payment, such as a cost that is recoupable.

Gross income. The total amount earned before any deductions or shares are applied.

Net income. The amount remaining after deductions and shares, which is payable to you.

Recoupment. Recovering an advance or agreed costs from earnings before further payments are made.

Reporting period. The span of time that a statement or income report covers.

Royalty. A payment made to a rights holder each time their work is used or sold.

Share or split. The percentage of income allocated to each contributor to a work.

Statement. A document showing what income was earned, what was deducted and what is payable.

Why has some of my income not appeared yet?

Platforms and partners report on different schedules, so some activity appears with a delay. The income will be added to a later statement.

What if a statement looks wrong?

Contact us with the release title, the period and a description of what looks incorrect. We will investigate and explain.

Can I change my payment details?

Yes. Update your details in your account, or contact us if you need help.

Who can see my royalty information?

Your statements are private to you and the people who need access to administer them. We do not share them publicly.

Do you provide tax or legal advice?

No. If you need advice about taxes or contracts, please speak to a qualified professional.

How often are statements produced?

Statements follow the schedule set out in your agreement and depend on when income is reported to us.

Can I see which platforms my income came from?

Yes. Statements and reports break income down by release and type of use so you can see where it came from.

What happens if I have not recovered my advance?

Royalties are applied against the advance until it has been recovered. Your statement shows the balance remaining.

Can I split a payment between collaborators?

Payments are made according to the shares recorded for each work. If you want to change how income is divided, contact us and we will explain what is needed.

How do I update my bank details?

Update them in your account, or contact us if you need help. For your protection, we may ask you to confirm any change.

Where can I learn more?

Visit the FAQ page or the Distribution Portal page, or contact us directly.

If you have a question about your royalties, our team is here to help. To get a quick answer, include the email address of your account, the release title and the period you are asking about, and use the contact page with “Distribution question” selected.

You may also find answers on our FAQ page.