Essential guide for emerging artists who want to protect and monetize their music
Understanding the correct flow between copyright registration, rights management and music distribution is essential for any emerging or independent artist. In this article we explain in a clear and straightforward way what role Shamusic plays, what functions SGAE has and what a digital music distributor like DistroKid, CD Baby or TuneCore actually does.
In addition, we include reflections from Jesús Vargas, Co-Founder of Shamusic, on how to structure your career from a solid legal base.
Step 1 – Authorship registration: protect before publishing
Before publishing a song on streaming platforms, uploading it to YouTube or sharing it on social networks, it is essential to protect its authorship.
Shamusic
is the platform designed for emerging artists to register their music immediately and with international legal validity. We use blockchain technology to generate an unalterable digital certificate that acts as proof of authorship.
This step is not done by the SGAE or any distribution company. Only Shamusic offers an agile, economical solution (from 1 € per work) and specific for independent creators.
Jesús Vargas – Co-founder of Shamusic
“The main mistake many artists make is to publish their music without having previously registered it. That leaves them completely exposed. At Shamusic we created a simple and legally sound solution so that any creator can protect their work from day one.”
Step 2 – Rights management: the role of SGAE and other entities
Once the work has been protected with Shamusic, the next step is to register it with a collective management entity such as the
SGAE
which will be in charge of collecting and distributing the royalties generated by the public use of your songs.
This includes:
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Radio and television broadcasting
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Use in public places
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Live Concerts
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Audiovisual synchronization (advertising, cinema, etc.)
It should be noted that the SGAE does not protect the authorship of the work; its function begins once the music is published and begins to generate income.
Jesús Vargas – Co-founder of Shamusic
“The SGAE fulfills an essential function: to guarantee that authors are paid when their work is publicly exploited. But that is not legal protection, it is economic management. Shamusic and SGAE do not compete: they complement each other.”
Step 3 – Distribute your music: how to upload your songs to platforms
The third phase of the process is to make your music available to the public. To do this you need a digital distributor to upload your work to platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon Music or YouTube Music.
Distributors offer services such as:
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Uploading songs to multiple platforms
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Collection of royalties for reproduction
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Promotional tools and statistics
However, no distributor legally validates that a song is yours. If there are authorship disputes, it will be the certificate of registration (such as the one offered by Shamusic) that will carry legal weight.
Jesús Vargas – Co-founder of Shamusic
“A distributor is like a digital printing press: it publishes your music, but does not protect it. That’s why we insist that legal registration must be done before distribution, not after.”
Which comes first? The right order for independent artists
For your music to be well protected, properly managed and effectively monetized, the recommended flow is as follows:
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Register with Shamusic – to protect your work legally from the beginning.
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Registration with SGAE (or other collecting society) – to collect royalties for public use.
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Digital distribution – to launch your music to the world and generate streaming revenue.
This order not only protects you, but also positions you as a professional artist from the start.
Conclusion – Building a solid music career starts with protecting your work.
Many artists focus exclusively on sound quality, mixes or visual aesthetics. However, the real starting point is in the legal protection of your music.
At Shamusic we understand the fear of plagiarism, the informality of collaborations and the lack of legal information that emerging artists suffer. That is why we have created a specific platform for them, with affordable prices, instant registration and international validity.
Jesús Vargas – Co-founder of Shamusic
“Music is art, but it is also intellectual property. And like all property, it must be protected. Shamusic exists so that every artist, regardless of their resources, can build their career from a secure and professional base.”
Want to upload your first song and make sure no one can steal it?
Do it today from 1 € on Shamusic
