Pioneers of the procedure
We pioneered the procedures for examining digital services, including setting the procedures for SoundExchange’s audits of webcasters over 25 years ago.
Royalty Audits
We pioneered the audit of digital services.
Over 25 years ago we set the procedures for SoundExchange’s audits of webcasters. Since then we have conducted more digital service audits worldwide than anybody, and the industry’s biggest rights holders rely on us to find what they are owed.
Schedule a ConsultationMore digital audits than anyone
We have conducted more digital service audits worldwide than anybody, across download, streaming, subscription, aggregator and mobile services.
Data at the largest scale
Our systems process and review reporting of over 20 billion streams per month as needed for the largest services and the largest audits.
Strategic, not just arithmetic
We assess where you are not being paid, especially where a licensee has gone outside the agreed scope of its grant of rights.
What we uncover
Every underpayment, and the reason behind it.
A royalty audit examines the books and records of a licensee or distributor to determine whether payments were miscalculated or transactions underreported. We go further: we show you strategically where you are not being paid, and present each issue with the underpayment it caused.
- Underreported transactions and payment miscalculations against the statements rendered and the royalties paid
- Uses that go outside the agreed scope of the grant of rights: territories, products, services and configurations never licensed
- Contract terms interpreted or implemented incorrectly in the licensee’s workflows and software
- Complex royalty terms accounted for incorrectly, from rates to reserves
Why the biggest audits come to us
People use Royalty Review Council because of our knowledge, our experience, and how savvy we are with technology. Our comprehensive systems analyze very large volumes of data, including over 20 billion streams per month of reporting, processed and reviewed as needed for the largest services and the largest audits, so we can look for potential underreported royalties at full scale.
Who we examine
The services that report to you.
We perform examinations of digital service providers on behalf of record companies, music publishers, book publishers, game companies and film & television studios.
Download companies
Streaming media companies
Subscription services
Aggregators
Mobile carriers
Webcasters
Record companies and performing rights societies (for artists, producers and licensors)
Music publishers (for songwriters, publishers and administrators)
Start with a conversation
Wondering if you’re being underpaid?
Tell us which services report to you and the years in question. With a limited amount of information we can prepare a fee estimate for an audit.
FAQ
We thought you might ask
What is a royalty audit?
A royalty audit is typically an examination of the books and records of the licensee or distributor of intellectual property to determine if there were any payment miscalculations or underreporting of transactions related to the statements rendered and the royalties paid.
Why do I need to perform a royalty audit?
The primary purpose of a royalty audit is to verify the payments and amounts otherwise payable by an authorized distributor in connection with the transactions of intellectual property, such as music, movies, TV programs, books and video games. A royalty audit is performed on behalf of the owner of the intellectual property. There are a number of reasons why a royalty audit could determine that your royalties were underpaid, such as reporting errors, interpretation of contract terms, the implementation of workflows & software and the accounting of complex royalty terms. If no reporting and accounting errors are found, you have the comfort that you are being paid properly.
For what kind of companies do you perform royalty audits?
The list of royalty examinations we have performed is unparalleled. Royalty Review Council performs examinations of digital service providers on behalf of record companies, music publishers, book publishers, game companies and film & television studios. We also review record companies and performing rights societies on behalf of recording artists, producers, publishers and licensors, and music publishing companies on behalf of songwriters, publishers, and administrators.
Why do you call yourselves an “independent” royalty auditor?
Few royalty auditing firms are truly independent. The obvious concern in an audit is that a conflict of interest could be a reason to challenge the credibility of the review. Our company’s strategy is to avoid situations where we are performing royalty audits on the same companies on whose behalf we audit. Since we avoid conflicts of interest, our objectivity provides comfort to our clients.
What do you mean by Digital Service Provider audit?
Royalty Review Council is the premier digital service provider auditing firm in the world. We pioneered the procedures for examining digital services, including setting the procedures for SoundExchange’s audits of webcasters over 25 years ago. We have reviewed download companies, streaming media companies, subscription services, aggregators, mobile carriers and other DSPs delivering music, films, television programs, audio books and games.
How much does a royalty audit cost?
To determine the fees for any royalty audit, we first need to understand the scope of the project (for example, the number of years to review, the frequency of royalty statements and payments, how many products, etc.). With a limited amount of information concerning a potential audit we can prepare a fee estimate for you.