Apple Pays iTunes Match Royalties Based on Song Accesses

Apple reportedly pays iTunes Match royalties based on how many times a song is accessed, according to comments made by TuneCore president Jeff Price to MacRumors.

Price tells MacRumors that Apple keeps 30% of iTunes Match revenues for itself -- the same percentage the company keeps from the iTunes and App Stores. The remaining 70% is divided, with 88% going to record labels and 12% going to songwriters. The royalties are split amongst artists based on "how many times someone accesses your song" via iTunes Match and it doesn't matter if a song is matched or uploaded -- the royalty is paid either way.

The remarks come after Price posted a blog entry revealing that the first royalty payments from Apple had been made. TuneCore artists received over $10,000 for the first two months.


"The music industry needs innovation. Services like iMatch, Spotify, Simfy, Deezer and others are bringing that innovation-it will take some time to learn which are the ones consumers want. But in the interim, seeing an additional $10,000+ appear out of the thin air for TuneCore Artists by people just listening to songs they already own is amazing!"

Read More [via MacRumors]