This music publisher wants to help ‘middle-class’ songwriters get the money they’re owed

The romanticized notion of the struggling artist has evolved into the "hustle" or "grindset," but many artists struggle to collect royalties due to the complex music industry. Royalty collection is particularly difficult, with hundreds of music streaming platforms operating in hundreds of countries, each with their own copyright laws. As a result, an estimated $1 billion in royalties goes unclaimed annually. Independent music publisher Kobalt aims to change this with its new product Kosign, designed to empower emerging songwriters by helping them collect owed royalties. Kosign targets a growing "middle class" of artists who operate independently but may not be ideal for a publishing contract. The platform leverages Kobalt's infrastructural and technological capabilities to streamline royalty collection for emerging artists. Kosign users can register their songs globally, track royalties in real-time, and access useful metrics, all for a $100 signup fee and 20% of royalties. The platform is selective, assessing projected earnings to ensure a good fit for members. Kosign offers emerging artists a flexible deal, allowing them to keep control of their copyrights and leave the platform at any time. By using Kosign, artists like Gidi can collect owed royalties, expand their artistic output, and achieve financial security.