Register as a Recording Artist

Artists are eligible to register if they:

• Are a featured (i.e. principal or named) artist on a recording (not a session or contract musician, producer or DJ), either as a soloist or part of a band
• Are a New Zealand citizen or resident; and
• Have performed on a recording which is the subject of a Master Rights Agreement with Recorded Music NZ

Provided the relevant Master Rights Holder has granted the requisite permission to Recorded Music NZ, and the registration form is completed (see below), we can then distribute up to 50% of the income from recordings directly to the recording artist(s) via their nominated claimant.

The default position is that Recorded Music NZ pays 50% of revenues from a recording to the registered recording artist(s) and 50% to the Master Rights Holders (i.e. the owner or licensee of copyright). Recording Artists need to declare one “nominated claimant” to receive their share. The percentage split can be varied by agreement between the recording artist and Master Rights Holder but this must be notified to Recorded Music NZ via an amended distribution payment percentage form which must be completed, signed and agreed on by both the Recording Artist and Master Rights Holder.