Does SoundExchange Owe You Money?

Fred Wilhelms, an attorney in Nashville, has been battling SoundExchange on behalf of recording musicians. SoundExchange has appointed itself the collector and distributor of royalties for digital media such as satellite radio, internet streaming, etc. These royalties have been payable since February 1, 1996. If your music has been played on the Internet since that date, you are entitled to a share of the royalties.

The problem is, SoundExchange has done a FEMA-quality job of distributing funds or locating musicians due money, effectively abandoning the task. Royalties not claimed by December 15 will be forfeited.

Thanks to Fred's pressure, SoundExchange has finally published a list of almost 9000 artists they have not yet located. You read it correctly -- 9000 musicians, many of whom you will know.

You can look through the list here on the SoundExchange page, and alert artists, artist managers, labels, or artist heirs with whom you have contact. The list is a veritable Who's Who of World, Canadian, Cuban, Hawaiian, Brazilian, Tex Mex, blues, traditional, jazz, Americana, songwriters, and folk music. It'll leave you breathless, in fact SoundExchange claims to not have found a way to locate the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Cesar Rosas from Los Lobos, or Richard Thompson, for example.

Please also look at the Copyright list on the SE website; you or someone you know is on this list and is due copyright money, until December 15.

If you, as an individual or as a member of a recording group, are not registered with SoundExchange by December 15, 2006, you will lose all rights to your royalties earned before March 31, 2000.

There are thousands of identified artists who will lose these royalties unless they act before the deadline. SoundExchange has listed these "unfound" artists on their website.

Go to the SoundExchange Unpaid Artists page and search through the list for your name...

Take the time to read the list. If you are on it, follow the instructions for filing a claim. It costs you nothing and it does not take much time. If you register now, you will receive the unclaimed royalties and will received future royalties automatically.

Friends and families of recording artists should also check the list. If you know anyone on there, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW IMMEDIATELY. You will note that there are a number of deceased performers on the list. If you know any surviving relatives, let them know about this.
This money belongs in the hands of the artists who created the music.

Thanks to Susan Martinez for alerting me to this issue.

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