In music, there are two types of copyright: the Composition (the words and melody) and the Sound Recording (the actual audio file). While PROs like ASCAP and BMI collect for the composition, Neighboring Rights (also known as "Related Rights") are royalties paid for the public performance of the sound recording.

1. Who Collects Neighboring Rights?

These royalties go to the owners of the sound recording (usually the Label or the independent artist) and the Performers on that recording. This includes the featured artist and the session musicians who played in the studio.

2. SoundExchange vs. Neighboring Rights

In the United States, we have SoundExchange, which collects performance royalties from digital radio (like Pandora or SiriusXM). However, the US does not pay performers for terrestrial radio (FM/AM). In Europe and most of the rest of the world, terrestrial radio DOES pay performers. This global collection is what is typically called "Neighboring Rights."

3. Why it Matters for Session Musicians

If you are a session musician who played on a hit song that is being played on the radio in the UK, Germany, or Japan, there is money waiting for you. You don't have to own the song to collect these performer royalties.

4. How to Collect

To collect these global royalties, you can register with a collection society like PPL (UK), Adami (France), or use a global administrator like Songtrust (for publishing) or dedicated Neighboring Rights agencies.

Summary

Neighboring rights are often overlooked by American artists, but they represent a significant portion of global music income. Whether you are a solo artist or a studio player, understanding these "related rights" ensures you are fairly compensated for your performance.