DIY Musician

How to monetize your music on every platform with CD Baby

By Ryan DiLello

Mon Apr 6th, 2026 21:03:32

If you’ve released your music onto streaming platforms with a distributor like CD Baby, you’re already earning recording royalties every time someone plays your track. But streaming isn’t the only way your music generates income.

What happens when a fan uses your song in a TikTok video? Or when your music plays in a YouTube video?

In those cases, you’re owed micro-sync royalties – income generated when your music is paired with content on “social video” platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. These are high-volume, low-fee licenses (fractions of cents in the U.S.) that are often automated to cover the performance and mechanical rights for uses in videos.

How is social media and video monetization...

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