Maximize Your Music Earnings: The Guide for AI MUSIC Artists

Leveraging Suno AI for High-Quality Music Creation: A Guide for Independent Artists Creating AI MUSIC

As a new artist, understanding how to make money from your music and dealing with royalties on streaming platforms is crucial. Here’s a streamlined breakdown of the key steps and considerations, tailored for music creators using Suno AI.

Selling Your Music

Digital Sales:

Digital sales are a great way to directly monetize your music. Here are some effective methods:

1. Direct Sales via Website (e.g., jackrighteousmusic.com)

• Example: Using platforms like Shopify, artists can sell their music directly to fans through their own websites. This allows for greater control over pricing and direct interaction with fans.
• Benefits: Full control over sales, higher profit margins since there are no third-party commissions.

2. Bandcamp

• What it is: A platform that allows artists to sell their music directly to fans. It supports digital downloads and offers options for selling merchandise.
• Benefits: Bandcamp takes a 10-15% commission on sales, but artists keep a larger share compared to some other platforms. It’s user-friendly and popular among independent musicians.

3. Gumroad

• What it is: A platform that allows creators to sell digital products, including music, directly to their audience.
• Benefits: Simple setup, customizable storefronts, and the ability to bundle music with other digital products like e-books or exclusive content.

Streaming Royalties

Major Streaming Platforms:

• Platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Tidal
• How it works: Earn a small amount of money (royalty) each time your song is streamed. The amount varies by platform and is usually a fraction of a cent per stream.

Registering with Performing Rights Organizations (PROs)

PROs collect performance royalties whenever your music is played publicly, such as on the radio, TV, live venues, and streaming services. Here’s a detailed look at the major PROs:

SOCAN (Canada)

• What it is: SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada) collects performance royalties when your music is played publicly in Canada.
• Membership Fee: No fee for songwriters/composers. $50 CAD one-time fee for publishers.
• Administration Fees: SOCAN deducts approximately 15% from collected royalties.
• Benefits: SOCAN offers comprehensive tracking and royalty collection across Canada, ensuring you get paid for various public performances of your music.

ASCAP (U.S.)

• What it is: ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) collects performance royalties in the U.S.
• Membership Fee: $50 USD one-time fee for songwriters and publishers.
• Administration Fees: ASCAP deducts approximately 12-13% from collected royalties.
• Benefits: ASCAP provides detailed reports and timely payments, along with various networking opportunities and member benefits.

BMI (U.S.)

• What it is: BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) is another U.S. PRO that collects performance royalties.
• Membership Fee: Free for songwriters. $150 USD one-time fee for individual publishers or $250 USD for publishing companies.
• Administration Fees: BMI deducts approximately 10-15% from collected royalties.
• Benefits: BMI is known for its extensive support for artists, including various showcases, competitions, and scholarships.

PRS for Music (UK)

• What it is: PRS for Music collects performance royalties in the UK.
• Membership Fee: £100 GBP one-time fee for writers, £400 GBP one-time fee for publishers.
• Administration Fees: PRS deducts approximately 15% from collected royalties.
• Benefits: PRS offers robust support and resources for artists, ensuring comprehensive royalty collection and industry representation in the UK.

GEMA (Germany)

• What it is: GEMA collects performance royalties in Germany.
• Membership Fee: €36 EUR one-time fee for writers, additional fees for publishers.
• Administration Fees: GEMA deducts approximately 15% from collected royalties.
• Benefits: GEMA provides extensive coverage and detailed royalty reports, making sure artists get paid for their music used in Germany.

Registering with Mechanical Rights Organizations

Mechanical rights organizations collect royalties whenever your music is reproduced, such as in digital downloads or physical copies (CDs, vinyl). Here are the key organizations:

CMRRA (Canada)

• What it is: CMRRA (Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency) collects mechanical royalties in Canada.
• Membership Fee: No fee for membership.
• Administration Fees: CMRRA deducts approximately 10-15% from collected royalties.
• Benefits: CMRRA ensures that artists receive royalties for mechanical reproductions, covering a wide range of music uses.

Harry Fox Agency (U.S.)

• What it is: The Harry Fox Agency collects mechanical royalties in the U.S.
• Membership Fee: No fee for membership.
• Administration Fees: Harry Fox Agency deducts approximately 8.5% from collected royalties.
• Benefits: Harry Fox Agency is well-regarded for its efficiency in collecting and distributing mechanical royalties in the U.S.

MCPS (UK)

• What it is: MCPS (Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society) collects mechanical royalties in the UK.
• Membership Fee: Included with PRS for Music.
• Administration Fees: MCPS deducts approximately 8-10% from collected royalties.
• Benefits: MCPS provides comprehensive royalty collection services, ensuring artists get paid for the reproduction of their music.

Licensing Your Music

Sync Licensing:

• What it is: Licensing your music for use in movies, TV shows, commercials, video games, etc.
• How it works: Get paid a fee upfront and may also earn royalties if the content is broadcast or streamed.

Music Publishing

What it is:

• Role: Managing your songs and ensuring you get paid every time they are used. Publishers help collect royalties, license your music, and sometimes provide advances.
• Self-Publishing: Use services like SongTrust or DistroKid Publishing if you don’t have a publisher.

Live Performances and Merchandising

Live Performances:

• Revenue: Earnings from ticket sales, performance fees, and sometimes a cut from the venue’s bar sales.
• Additional Income: Selling merchandise (CDs, T-shirts, posters) at shows.

Note: Many people scoff at the notion of AI music being used at live shows, but this skepticism is premature. There are countless creative ways artists have already found to incorporate AI music into live performances. As we cover in this article, there are many ways artists can work with music originating from Suno AI, so never stop letting yourself be creative in how you present yourself to your fans.

Enhancing AI-Generated Music with Suno AI

Suno AI Music Files and Formats

• Output Formats: Suno AI generates music that can be exported in MP3 and WAV files, compatible with digital audio workstations (DAWs).
• Editing Tools: Suno AI provides tools to adjust tempo, key, and instrumentation before exporting.

Mastering Requirements

• Quality Issues: AI-generated music may have inconsistencies, requiring additional mastering to meet professional standards.
• Mastering Process: Use dynamic EQ, compression, and other effects to balance the mix and improve sound quality.
• Professional Mastering: For best results, use professional mastering services to meet industry standards, especially for sync licensing.

Ensuring You Collect All Available Earnings

For American Artists:

1. Distribute Your Music: Use DistroKid to get your music onto streaming platforms. Join DistroKid with my referral link
2. Register with a PRO: Sign up with ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC.
3. Register with a Mechanical Rights Organization: Use Harry Fox Agency or Music Reports.
4. Music Publishing Administration: Work with SongTrust or DistroKid Publishing.
5. Sync Licensing: Use platforms like Musicbed, Songtradr, or Audiosocket.
6. SoundExchange Registration: Collect digital performance royalties from non-interactive streaming services.
7. Master Your Tracks: Use mastering services like LANDR or a professional mastering engineer.
8. Protect Your Music: Register with the U.S. Copyright Office.
9. Promote Your Music: Use social media, music blogs, radio, live performances, and music videos.

For Canadian Artists:

1. Distribute Your Music: Use DistroKid to get your music onto streaming platforms. Join DistroKid with my referral link
2. Register with a PRO: Sign up with SOCAN.
3. Register with a Mechanical Rights Organization: Use the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA).
4. Music Publishing Administration: Work with SongTrust or DistroKid Publishing.
5. Sync Licensing: Use platforms like Musicbed, Songtradr, or Audiosocket.
6. Re
   Registration: Collect performance royalties for recorded music played in public.
7. Master Your Tracks: Use mastering services like LANDR or a professional mastering engineer.
8. Protect Your Music: Register with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.
9. Promote Your Music: Use social media, music blogs, radio, live performances, and music videos.

Summary

Making money as an artist involves a combination of digital sales, streaming royalties, licensing your music, publishing, and live performances. Understanding the types of royalties and how they are collected is key to maximizing your earnings. Use digital distributors to get your music on streaming platforms and ensure you’re registered with the appropriate organizations to collect all your royalties.

To maximize the quality and commercial potential of your Suno AI-generated music, focus on mastering your tracks using professional tools or services. This will enhance the listening experience and open up opportunities for monetization through sync licensing and other revenue streams. By addressing inherent quality issues and refining your music post-generation, you can ensure your AI-created compositions stand out in the competitive music industry.