MUSIC PUBLISHING
GLOSSARY

Unallocated Royalties

Sometimes called "black box" royalties, these are royalties for which a publisher or writer is named but cannot be traced by a pay source. Writers who earn royalties for usage but cannot be found are often referred to as “lost” writers. After an established waiting period, these royalties are no longer payable and are generally distributed by top earners by market share. 

Related Terms:

• The Mechanical Licensing Collective
• Royalties
• Music Publishing

Related Articles:

• What's The Deal With Unallocated Royalties?
• What are Unallocated Royalties?
• Does Songtrust Receive Unallocated Royalties, and If So, How Do We Distribute Them?

Related Resources:

• Song Registration Checklist

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