Mechanical Royalty Administration
Millions in unclaimed mechanical royalties are sitting in databases right now. If your songs aren't properly registered, that money has a deadline — and once it passes, it's gone for good.
— The Problem
Every time your song is streamed or downloaded on platforms like Spotify, it generates mechanical royalties.
But those royalties don't just show up automatically. If your catalog isn't properly registered and matched, that money never reaches you.
Instead, it sits in a holding pool — the "black box" — with a deadline attached. And once that deadline passes, it's redistributed to other rights holders.
Most independent artists have no idea this is happening. By the time they catch it, that money has already been redistributed.
$424+ million in mechanical royalties have moved through a centralized black box since the Music Modernization Act took effect. Much of it remains unclaimed.
Unclaimed royalties have a shelf life. Once redistribution deadlines pass, that money is gone — divided among rights holders who were properly registered.
— How It Works
We handle the entire process from start to finish. No platforms. No algorithms. Real people working your catalog.
We review your full catalog and identify every song eligible for mechanical royalty recovery — including ones you may have forgotten about.
We register your works with mechanical rights societies and ensure every track is properly claimed under your name.
We actively pursue unmatched and unclaimed royalties sitting in the black box — money that's owed to you but has never been disbursed.
We stay on top of your catalog so every new release is registered immediately and nothing slips through the cracks going forward.
— Why CTA Music
CTA was built by a team with deep experience at some of the world's leading music publishers, but we've rethought the traditional model from the ground up.
In most publishing setups, mechanical royalties often take a back seat to performance income from ASCAP or BMI. We specialize in mechanicals specifically, so every part of our process is designed around identifying, registering, and collecting this often overlooked revenue stream.
We don't ask for ownership of your catalog. We don't lock you into multi-year agreements. And we don't require you to give up control of your rights just to access our services.
Our role is simple: help you capture what's already yours, without changing who owns it.
There are plenty of tools that scan for unclaimed royalties and hand you a report. We do the actual work. We handle registration, claiming, follow-ups, and reporting, managed by real people who know your catalog. You can get on a call with us and work through things directly — no ticketing systems or automated queues.
You'll always know what we recovered, what we're pursuing, and exactly what you're owed. No black holes. No vague statements. Detailed reporting every step of the way.
Have a question? Want to walk through your catalog together? We meet with clients during the week by phone, video, or in person. You'll never be left wondering what's happening with your money.
Most publishers treat mechanicals as an afterthought. For us, it's the entire focus — and that difference shows up directly in your royalty statements.
— CTA Music
— The Industry Problem
Most publishers and music companies are laser-focused on Performance Rights Organizations — BMI, ASCAP, SESAC. These royalties are visible, consistent, and easy to track.
Mechanical royalties — especially unclaimed ones sitting in the black box — require a different kind of attention. They're buried in databases, require proactive registration and claiming, and most publishers don't prioritize them.
And if you do find a publisher willing to handle it? You're often looking at signing away years of your catalog and handing over partial ownership of your music — just to access a service that should have been available to you all along.
— Let's Talk
If your music is out there, there's a good chance royalties are waiting for you right now. Drop your email and we'll reach out to take a look at your catalog — no obligation.