PAPER TRAIL
Royalties, Publishing & ISRC Guide
Your beats are earning money you have never collected. Master vs publishing, PROs, the MLC, neighbouring rights and the codes – with a European (Czech OSA) example.
After this you can
- Explain master vs publishing money, and name who collects each one in your country.
- Know which PRO or society to join, roughly what it costs, and what you need before you apply.
- Decide between doing it yourself and a publishing administrator, with real commission numbers.
- Know what ISRC, ISWC and IPI numbers are, where each comes from and where to find yours.
- Send a split sheet after every session, and register your whole catalog in 30 days.
Look inside
The chapters
- 01Every song earns two kinds of money
- 02PROs and societies: join the right one
- 03A European example: OSA and the Czech system
- 04Mechanicals, the MLC and publishing administrators
- 05Master money beyond streams: SoundExchange and neighbouring rights
- 06The codes: ISRC, ISWC and IPI
- 07Splits and split sheets: get it in writing
- 08Follow one song: where the money actually goes
- 09Your 30-day royalty plan
Who it's for
Producers and artists who already release music or sell beats and suspect they are only getting paid part of what their songs earn – especially outside the US.
Why trust it
- Every fee, threshold and rule checked on the platforms' own help pages in October 2026 – sources listed at the back.
- No hype, no "get rich" promises. Real numbers, real steps, the downsides too.
- Written by producers, for producers – FL Studio as the reference DAW.
- Not sponsored by any platform. We tell you when the free option is enough.
– · FIRST DROP + PLAYLIST PLUG + PAPER TRAIL
Questions
How do I get it?
Right after checkout you get a download link on the thank-you page and by email. It's a PDF – opens on your phone, tablet or computer.
Is this only for the US?
No. It's written for producers in any country. Where rules differ (taxes, collecting societies, payouts) we say so and show a European example – and tell you where to check your own country.
Will it be out of date in a month?
Platforms change their rules. That's why every number has a date and a source link, and the guide shows you where to check the live rule before you pay or sign anything.
Is this legal or tax advice?
No – it's practical education. For contracts and taxes in your country, talk to a local lawyer or accountant. The guide tells you exactly what to ask them.
TrapWin is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any platform named in this guide. Some links in the guides go through trapwin.com/go/ and may be affiliate links – it never changes what we recommend. Licensed for personal use, please don't share or resell the PDF.