SoundExchange Adds PayPal and Venmo and Locks In Broadcaster Rates Through 2030

For independent artists, royalty administration can feel like a maze of registrations, metadata and payment portals. Two SoundExchange updates make some parts more straightforward: creators can now select PayPal or Venmo as a payment method in SXDirect, and a five-year agreement with the National Association of Broadcasters sets commercial broadcasters’ non-subscription digital royalty rates from 2026 through 2030.

The changes address different points in the process. Payment options affect how eligible royalties reach registered creators. The NAB settlement sets rates and reporting requirements for certain digital radio transmissions. Neither one replaces the need to register correctly and make sure recordings are accurately identified.

What changed

More ways to receive royalties

SoundExchange’s payment options include PayPal and Venmo, alongside Cash App and Zelle. Eligible registrants can request a payment-method update through the Payment Information section in SXDirect.

SoundExchange says the receiving account must be in the registrant’s name. Eligibility can vary by payment method and registrant type. Its published guidance also describes different payout schedules and balance thresholds, so artists should check the terms that apply to their account rather than assume every method works the same way.

Five years of commercial broadcaster rates

SoundExchange and the National Association of Broadcasters agreed to a settlement covering commercial broadcasters’ non-subscription digital performances from 2026 to 2030. According to SoundExchange’s announcement, the per-performance rate begins at $0.0028 in 2026 and increases by $0.0001 each year, reaching $0.0032 in 2030.

A “performance” generally means one listener hearing one recording. The individual rate is small, but the number of plays and listeners contributes to the overall royalty calculation. Inside Radio’s reporting covered the agreement and its implications for radio streaming fees.

Why the NAB deal matters to artists

The settlement concerns commercial broadcasters’ non-subscription digital transmissions. It does not mean every song played over a traditional over-the-air AM/FM signal generates a SoundExchange royalty. For a broadcaster, its online stream is a distinct digital service, and qualifying non-interactive transmissions can fall under the statutory sound-recording royalty system.

The rates provide a schedule through 2030, giving broadcasters and rights holders more certainty about the per-performance amounts during that period. The deal also shortens broadcaster reporting and payment deadlines: reports and payments are due within 30 days after the end of the month in which the transmissions occurred, instead of the prior 45-day deadline. More timely reporting can help keep usage data and royalty accounting on a clearer schedule.

The settlement matters to artists because accurate reporting is part of how performances are matched to recordings and ultimately to the people entitled to payment. A rate cannot be credited correctly if the recording or performer information is missing or inaccurate.

What SoundExchange is, and is not

Sound recording performance royalties on non-interactive services: SoundExchange collects and distributes U.S. digital performance royalties for sound recordings played on qualifying non-interactive digital services, including services such as Pandora, SiriusXM and iHeartRadio. SoundExchange reports that it has distributed more than $13 billion to more than 800,000 music creators. Its overview for artists, labels and producers explains the registration and royalty process.

Not on-demand streaming: SoundExchange royalties are not the same as payments for on-demand streams where a listener selects a specific track. Those plays are generally accounted for through a different licensing and payment chain, often involving a distributor or streaming platform.

Not publishing or composition royalties: A song has separate copyrights in the sound recording and in the underlying musical composition. The music and lyrics. SoundExchange’s statutory digital performance royalties relate to the sound recording. They are distinct from songwriter and publisher royalties for the composition.

Not The MLC: The Mechanical Licensing Collective administers U.S. blanket mechanical licenses and collects and distributes eligible mechanical royalties for musical compositions from covered digital audio services. It does not replace SoundExchange’s role in sound-recording performance royalties. More information is available at The MLC.

Not distributor payouts: A distributor typically delivers recordings to services and reports or pays royalties under its own agreements. SoundExchange registration is a separate process. A distributor account alone does not automatically register an artist or master owner with SoundExchange.

Publishing

Publishing concerns the composition, the song’s music and lyrics, while SoundExchange’s relevant royalties concern recordings. As SoundExchange puts it: “Artists who own or control their master recordings may also collect eligible SoundExchange royalties when their music is played on qualifying non-interactive digital services.”

SoundExchange has also announced a reciprocal agreement with MusicNation covering the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The arrangement creates a pathway for eligible U.S. rights holders to collect neighboring-rights royalties when their recordings are played in the UAE, and for UAE creators to be compensated for qualifying U.S. plays. Details are in SoundExchange’s MusicNation announcement.

Practical checklist for independent artists

Register as both a featured artist and a rights owner. Registration is free. If you perform as the featured artist and own your masters, register in both roles so you can claim the eligible shares available to you. SoundExchange distributions are commonly described as making up to 95 percent of collected royalties available to featured artists and sound-recording copyright owners, subject to the applicable distribution rules. See SoundExchange’s registration information.

Check the Payee List for unclaimed funds. Search the Payee List Information and unclaimed-royalty resources on SoundExchange’s website. If a recording or contributor is unregistered or only partially registered, royalties may not yet be reaching the right account.

Verify ISRCs and performer metadata. The International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) identifies a specific recording. Check that each track’s ISRC, title and featured-artist information are correct and consistent across your release records. SoundExchange provides an ISRC search tool.

Choose a payment method in SXDirect. Review which options your account qualifies for and make sure the payment account is in the registrant’s name. Keep banking or payment details current to avoid delays.

Keep your contact information current. Accurate email, mailing and account details help SoundExchange match records and reach the right person when account information needs attention.

Pay attention to older royalties. SoundExchange says unclaimed royalties are generally held for approximately three years before they may be released or forfeited under applicable rules. Check older catalog and account information before that window closes; do not assume funds remain claimable indefinitely.

Radio-friendly talking points

5-minute segment: “What does SoundExchange actually pay?” Explain the difference between sound-recording performance royalties and publishing royalties. Use the simple distinction: one payment relates to the recording, the other to the composition.

5-minute segment: “A song can be played and still go unmatched.” Describe how an incorrect ISRC, missing artist credit or incomplete registration can disrupt royalty matching. Emphasize checking metadata across release records.

7-minute segment: “What the 2030 rate schedule means.” Walk listeners through the per-performance rates for 2026–2030, explain what a performance means, and clarify that the settlement applies to covered commercial broadcaster digital transmissions, not every traditional AM/FM play.

5-minute segment: “Four payment apps, one account to keep current.” Explain that PayPal and Venmo join Cash App and Zelle as payment options, and that artists need to confirm their eligibility and details through SXDirect.

8-minute segment: “Do you have unclaimed royalties?” Discuss SoundExchange’s Payee List resources, the approximate three-year window for unclaimed royalties, and why artists who own their masters should check registration in both artist and rights-owner roles.