When and how much will I get paid for my performance?

*A note regarding CD Baby Pro Publishing

When you get paid depends on when you submit your performance, and how the submission date lines up with your affiliated P.R.O.’s distribution cycle. Generally payments will be received 6-9 months following your performance. See below for information regarding when you should be getting paid depending on the P.R.O. you are a member with ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, SOCAN, & PRS. All other P.R.O.'s you will have to contact directly.

The amount of royalties earned will vary depending on the venue. Venues with larger capacity pay a higher license fee so those shows will earn you more royalties than shows at a venue with a smaller capacity.

If the distribution date in which you expected payment has passed and you have not received your performance royalties from concerts you have submitted, don’t stress. There are a few reasons why this might be the case. First and foremost, always make sure your songs are registered correctly, this could be the difference between your songs earning or not earning royalties. Also, make sure you submit your performance information accurately.

CD Baby will not be able to provide you information about the status of your setlist submission or its payment. Please contact your Performing Rights Organization for any questions you have.

ASCAP

As an ASCAP songwriter, you can typically expect to be paid about 6 months following the calendar quarter in which the performance occurred. Follow the link below to look at ASCAP’s distribution schedule.

https://www.ascap.com/help/royalties-and-payment/payment/distribution

CD Baby will not be able to provide you information about the status of your setlist submission or its payment.  Please contact ASCAP.

BMI

As a BMI songwriter you can typically expect to be paid anywhere from 6 months to a year following the date of your performance depending on the submission date. Follow the link below to look at BMI’s current distribution schedule.

https://www.bmi.com/faq/entry/how_often_is_this_paid_out

CD Baby will not be able to provide you information about the status of your setlist submission or its payment. Please contact BMI.

SESAC

As a SESAC writer you can typically expect to be paid 3 months following the end of the calendar quarter in which the performance occurred. Royalties received from foreign collection societies will be distributed 6 months days following the end of the calendar quarter in which they were received.

CD Baby will not be able to provide you information about the status of your setlist submission or its payment. Please contact SESAC.

SOCAN

SOCAN follows a similar distribution cycle to the US PROs. Depending on when you submit your performance, you can expect to be paid in the next 9 months. Royalties earned from foreign performances are treated the same as domestically earned royalties once they have been collected. For more information on the SOCAN distribution, go here: 

CD Baby will not be able to provide you information about the status of your setlist submission or its payment. Please contact SOCA

PRS

PRS pays out royalties earned from concerts on a timeline consistent with their general distribution cycle. Their main distributions are in April, July, October, and December. Payments will generally come about 6 months after your submission, but may take longer depending on the territory and venue.

CD Baby will not be able to provide you information about the status of your setlist submission or its payment. Please contact PRS.

Want information on how to submit a live performance? Go here

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*The CD Baby Pro Publishing service was discontinued as of August 8th, 2023. Any paid release which was signed up for CD Baby Pro Publishing prior to August 8th, 2023 is considered a legacy Pro release and will continue to receive Pro Publishing services. CD Baby now offers a new expanded suite of revenue amplifiers called “CDB Boost” instead.