How long registration takes
Registration moves in steps, and most of the wait is the societies' own processing. Here is what happens at each step and where to watch it.
There's no single fixed time, because most of the wait happens at the societies, not with us. Once you submit a song, it goes out with our next batch. After that, each society confirms it on its own schedule. You can watch every step in My Songs.
The steps
- Preparing. We have your song and haven't sent it yet. It goes out with the next batch.
- Filed. We sent it and are waiting on the society's answer. Nothing for you to do.
- Under review. Some songs stop here for a while. The society has the song and its own records say it is still checking or processing it. When the society gives a reason, the song's page shows it.
- Registered. A society confirmed the song. The song's page says which society confirmed it and on what date.
What each song status means explains every word you might see.
Why the two sides can finish at different times
Each song has a Performance status and a Mechanical status. They go to different societies. Your PRO handles the performance side, and The MLC handles mechanical royalties in the US. One can confirm your song before the other, so it's normal to see Registered on one side and Filed on the other for a while. Our MLC guide notes that new works can take The MLC several weeks to process, which is why it pays to register early, before a release gets going.
What can slow a song down
- Missing details. A co-writer with no IPI number, or a title spelled differently from the recording, can lead to a possible match the society can't confirm. On a song you added yourself, that shows as Action needed. Open the song to see why.
- Another publisher's claim. If another publisher already has the song registered, we don't file it at all. It shows as Held. See Why a song says Held.
- No PRO yet. If you haven't joined a PRO or added your IPI number, we can only register the mechanical side for now. Our PRO guide explains how to join.
Knowing when it's done
The song's page says you'll be notified once it's confirmed. You don't need to check back every day. Your list updates as each society answers.
Registration is only the first step toward getting paid. Societies then pay on their own schedules, which When royalties arrive explains.
Common questions
Do I need to do anything while a song says Filed?
No. Filed means the song was sent and we're waiting on the society's answer. There is nothing for you to do.
Why is one side registered before the other?
Performance and mechanical registrations go to different societies, and each confirms on its own schedule.
Related articles
How to add a song
Add a song from your dashboard: find it on Spotify or type it in, list the songwriters and their splits, and submit it for registration.
Adding co-writers and splits
Save your co-writers once on the Songwriters page, then pick them on any song and give each one a share. Splits must total exactly 100%.
What each song status means
What Draft, Preparing, Filed, Under review, Registered, Action needed and Held mean on My Songs, and why each song has two statuses.
Why a song says Held
Held means another publisher already has the song registered, so we haven't filed it. Here is why, and what you can do.
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