The world of music royalties can feel like a black hole or a dirty secret. So, we sat down with an industry insider, who agreed to speak to us on the condition of anonymity, to get some straight answers to the questions we all ask.
HERE WE GO!
HERATIKS: Right, let's get straight into it. We have heard that our tracks are getting played in clubs and events from Miami to Amsterdam to Apres Ski Parties and more recently in Ibiza. How does an organisation like PRS for Music even know our music is being played on a Saturday night in, say, Manchester?
Industry Pro: That’s the million-dollar question. It’s a mix of new tech and old-school data. The most accurate method is Music Recognition Technology (MRT). Think of it as a "Shazam in a box" that PRS installs in a growing number of venues. It listens 24/7 and fingerprints the audio, so if your track gets played, it gets logged. For the thousands of venues without that tech, it’s more statistical. PRS uses data from DJ charts, radio plays, and other sources to make an educated guess on what was played and distributes the venue's license fee based on that.
HERATIKS: Okay, so MRT is key for clubs. What about big festivals like Creamfields or Parklife? Is it the same system?
Industry Pro: Festivals are much more reliable. As part of their license agreement, every single DJ is required to submit a full, accurate setlist of every track they played. PRS uses those direct reports to pay the writers. A play at a major festival is one of the most guaranteed ways to see a royalty payment.
HERATIKS: This is the big one for us. We send out a few unreleased promos like our tracks "Papi" and "Phat Bass." How does the system track those? How does the "Shazam in a box" know what our unreleased track sounds like if it's not on Spotify yet?
Industry Pro: It doesn't. And that’s the crucial thing most producers don't realise. The audio fingerprinting databases that power MRT are fed by digital distributors. So for example, when Data Transmission delivers "Drop Tha Spot" for release, the audio file is sent to Spotify, Beatport AND these fingerprinting companies. For an unreleased promo, the MRT system is blind. You are relying 100% on a DJ manually reporting it on a setlist and hoping they don't just label it as "ID - ID" - we'll come back to that...
HERATIKS: So if MRT can't identify our unreleased tracks, why are we always told to register them with PRS as soon as they're written, even before we have a label?Industry Pro: Because you're preparing for the human half of the system. Registering "Papi" with PRS is like getting an official ID card for your song. When a DJ plays it at a festival and puts "HERATIKS - Papi" on their setlist, PRS checks its database. Because you registered it, they find the "ID card" and know exactly who to pay. If you hadn't registered it, they'd find nothing, and that money would be lost.
HERATIKS: So this ID - ID on dj set lists is a big problem for dance producers right? The "ID - ID" track... If a DJ doesn't know the name, doesn't want to list it as it's exclusive or is being lazy and lists it as "ID," we get nothing, right?
Industry Pro: Exactly. That is the single biggest source of lost income for producers. The money goes into a black hole of unallocated funds. MRT is the only real solution to this, but again, only after the track has been distributed and fingerprinted.
HERATIKS: So, to be clear, we can't just join an MRT service ourselves and upload our unreleased tracks to get them in the system early?Industry Pro: Correct. You can't join it like you join PRS. The fingerprinting databases are B2B services that work with distributors. Your gateway to that system is your official release.
The Takeaway
HERATIKS: So, what are the two most important things a producer can do right now to make sure they get paid?
Industry Pro: Simple. First, register every single track with PRS as soon as it's finished. Don't wait for a release. It's your proof of ownership. Second, build your network. Be on good terms with the DJs who play your music. A simple, polite message asking them to list your track titles correctly on their setlists can be the difference between getting paid and getting nothing!
Now It's Your Turn, Heathens!
So, if you've heard one of our tracks out on a dancefloor this summer, don't let it be another "ID - ID"! Hit us up on our socials, let us know where you heard it, and help us solve the mystery.
The best way to support us is to join the community and tell all your promoter friends about us! See you in the dance!!
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