What Are Music Neighbouring Rights?

If you're an independent artist, producer, or even a session musician, there's a high chance you've heard the term “neighbouring rights” but haven’t fully understood what it means or whether you're entitled to claim them. In 2025, with streaming royalties remaining modest for most, understanding all possible revenue streams is crucial, and neighbouring rights are one of the most overlooked sources of income in the music business.

In this guide, we’ll explain what neighbouring rights are, who can collect them, how they differ from other royalty types, and most importantly, how you can start claiming your share.

What Exactly Are Neighbouring Rights?

Neighbouring rights refer to the royalties paid to those who are involved in the performance and broadcast of a sound recording. Unlike publishing royalties (which go to songwriters and composers), neighbouring rights are paid to the performers and recording owners when a track is played in public.

This includes when your music is:

• Played on the radio

• Broadcast on TV

• Performed in public spaces, such as shops or clubs

• Streamed in certain countries where neighbouring rights are recognised (notably excluding the United States for performers)

If you are a featured artist, a session musician or the owner of a master recording, you could be earning income every time your music is played in public… but only if you’re properly registered.

How Do Neighbouring Rights Differ from Publishing?

It's common to confuse neighbouring rights with publishing rights. While both generate royalties, they cover different aspects of a song’s lifecycle.

Publishing relates to the underlying composition: the lyrics and melody. Neighbouring rights are concerned with the recording and the performers who brought that composition to life.

To put it simply, if you wrote the song, you earn publishing royalties. If you performed or own the recording of the song, you may be entitled to neighbouring rights.

Who Can Claim Neighbouring Rights?

There are three main parties who may be entitled to neighbouring rights royalties:

1. Performers: This includes lead artists, session musicians, backing vocalists, and sometimes even producers, depending on local laws and contractual agreements. If your name is credited on a track or if you contributed musically to a recording, you may be eligible.

2. Master Rights Holders: Typically, the record label or the independent artist, if they’ve released the music themselves. The owner of the sound recording receives a separate portion of neighbouring rights royalties.

3. Rights Collection Agencies: These bodies collect neighbouring rights on behalf of performers and rights holders. In the UK, the main organisation responsible for this is PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited).

How Do You Register to Receive Them?

In the UK, registering with PPL is essential. PPL collects royalties from broadcasters, public venues, and online services, and then distributes them to artists and rights holders. You’ll need to register both your repertoire and your performer contributions in detail.

If your music is played internationally, you may also be entitled to royalties collected in other countries. PPL has reciprocal agreements with similar organisations worldwide, including GVL in Germany, SCPP in France, and SIMIM in Belgium. These international collections are one of the most significant benefits of registering with PPL as a performer.

It's also worth noting that many artists choose to work with specialist neighbouring rights agencies to manage international collections. These agencies often have direct relationships with foreign societies, which can result in faster and more accurate payments.

Why Independent Artists Are Missing Out

One of the biggest issues is a lack of awareness. Many independent artists don’t realise that they are entitled to performance royalties even if they aren’t signed to a label. Others assume that if they are collecting streaming income through a distributor, that’s the end of the road.

In reality, radio play, television usage, and background music in public spaces all generate money. And in many cases, this revenue goes unclaimed, eventually being absorbed back into the system. This is especially common with international royalties that remain unmatched because the artist never registered properly.

Another common scenario is session musicians or producers not understanding they are legally entitled to royalties, particularly in European territories. In fact, countries like Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands are known for being generous with neighbouring rights, but only if your credits are accurate and up-to-date.

Real-World Examples and Industry Impact

Consider someone like Nile Rodgers, who has performed on hundreds of records over the years. As both a producer and a performer, he’s eligible to receive neighbouring rights royalties every time one of those recordings is played on the radio or used in a public setting.

Similarly, independent UK artists like Tom Misch or Jordan Rakei, who have built strong followings without traditional label deals, are eligible to collect significant performance royalties. If they’ve registered with PPL and accurately claimed their contributions, they are likely receiving payments that many other unsigned artists are still leaving on the table.

Don’t Leave Money on the Table

Neighbouring rights may not be as widely understood as streaming or publishing income, but for many artists, they represent a meaningful and sustainable revenue stream, particularly in international markets. Whether you’re a vocalist, instrumentalist, producer, or self-releasing artist, understanding your rights and registering properly is essential.

In an industry where income streams are often inconsistent, this is one of the few sources of passive income that artists can control. If your music is being played publicly and you haven’t yet registered for neighbouring rights, now is the time to change that.

Need Help Navigating Neighbouring Rights?

At Music Mogul Marketing, we support artists in understanding and unlocking the full potential of their catalogue. Whether you're looking to register with PPL or prepare your music for sync and radio, we can help you move smarter. Get in touch with us today to learn more.