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What is a royalty?

A royalty is a payment made to the copyright owner of a musical work when it is publicly performed or used.

IMRO collects licence fees from broadcasters, online music providers, venues, pubs, hotels, and many other businesses that use music. Once this revenue is collected and analysed, it is distributed as Public Performance Royalties to the copyright owners of the works that were played or performed.

In other words, royalties are your earnings when your music is used — whether on the radio, streamed online, performed live, or played in public spaces.