Welcome back to SoundByte! 2025 was definitely one for the record books, and we're looking forward to doing even more in 2026. In this issue, we're sharing a brief recap of the epic strides we made with AMFA, sharing important info regarding tax season, our progress in the neighboring rights space, the latest SoundExchange news, where you can find us soon, and so much more.
In 2025, SoundExchange helped drive meaningful momentum behind the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA), continuing the push to close a 100-year loophole that allows AM/FM radio to play music without paying performers. With AMFA reintroduced in Congress, artists and advocates showed up in powerful ways to demand fair pay and made it harder than ever for lawmakers to ignore.
One of the most visible moments came when Boyz II Men traveled to Capitol Hill, delivering a letter urging passage of AMFA signed by more than 300 recording artists. Their visit sparked national attention, fueled widespread media coverage, and helped elevate the fight for artist compensation far beyond Washington.
That momentum was reinforced later in the year, when rock legend Gene Simmons joined SoundExchange President and CEO Michael Huppe to testifybefore the U.S. Senate this past December. Speaking candidly before lawmakers, Simmons called out the injustice of a system that generates billions in radio revenue while paying artists nothing for their work. Huppe underscored the urgent need for Congress to modernize copyright law, noting that the lack of a U.S. terrestrial performance right not only harms artists at home, but costs them hundreds of millions of dollars internationally each year.
Throughout our history, artists across genres—R&B, hip-hop, rock, country, and beyond—have lent their voices to the fight for AMFA. Together, these moments helped build a stronger, more visible case for fairness and reinforced why the issue matters to creators at every stage of their careers.
As we move forward, SoundExchange remains committed to building on this progress and continuing to advocate for policies that ensure artists are paid when their music is played. Thanks to all of you for standing with us and helping keep the moment going.
Your 2025 1099 is available to view in the Annual Tax Documentssection of your SX Direct account! Physical copies were mailed on January 30. Please note, if you have not yet opted in to paperless delivery, you will still receive a copy of your tax documents in the mail.
If you’d like to opt-in to receive future tax documents electronically, just log in to your SoundExchange Direct account, select Annual Tax Documents from the My Registrants drop-down menu and opt-in for individual registrants or click “opt-in all” to enroll all registrants you represent.
In 2025, SoundExchange reached 16 new agreements with collective management organizations (CMOs) around the world, bringing SoundExchange’s total to more than 90 agreements and expanding coverage of the global neighboring rights market to over 90%.
That total now includes new agreements in India, Switzerland, and Paraguay. In addition, through our new partnership with Music Nation in the UAE, we are now collecting and distributing neighboring rights royalties on behalf of sound recording owners, producers, and recording artists in the region. To ensure you’re maximizing your royalty potential, follow this guideto upgrade your account for international collections.
Upcoming International Webinar - Save the Date! Our next webinar, Collecting International Royalties – What You Need to Know, will be held Thursday, February 12 at 1 P.M. EST. The session will provide information on how international collections work and so much more. Click below to learn more and to register.
We’re gearing up for an exciting 2026 at SoundExchange, with conferences, festivals, and fresh franchise content on the horizon – all to serve the needs of creators.
SXSW (March 12-18) We’ll be on the ground in Austin, TX meeting creators and dropping gems during two panels:
On March 14 at 10 a.m. CST, you can catch Disha Singh (Associate Director, Communications & Content Strategy) on the panel,The Playbook: Viral Hits to Loyal Fandoms!This sessions will break down how artist teams use fan signals from short-form content to build brands that outlast trends.
Also, on March 14 at 11:30 a.m., Kathleen Strouse (Senior Vice President, Operations) will be sharing knowledge during the panel, Streaming, Shorts & AI: Where Are Your Royalties Going?This session will unpack where the biggest royalty “black holes” are hiding now, why legacy collection models can’t keep up, and how collective and direct licensing, better data, and new tech are helping close the gap.
MusicPro '26(March 27-29, 2026) SoundExchange is among the sponsors of the MusicPro ’26 emerging artists conference, set for March 27-29 in Hollywood.
- Singer-songwriter Noah Kahan, recognizing his breakout single, “Stick Season”
- Comedian, actor, producer, and NYT bestselling author Nate Bargatze
- Latin music legend Celia Cruz, honoring her 100th birthday
We will continue to honor creators for being some of the most streamed artists in SoundExchange’s 20-plus year history and for their advocacy work within the music industry.
Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Alex Warren is SoundExchange's 2025 Breakout Artist! Announced in December, the honor recognizes the success he has enjoyed in 2025, starting with his global smash hit, “Ordinary,” and continuing with “Bloodline” (with Jellyroll) and “Eternity,” all from his full-length debut album, You’ll Be Alright, Kid. Learn more here.
Did you know we have aplaylist available on our YouTube channel dedicated to all things SX Direct? We created these helpful how-to videos with you in mind so you can easily navigate understanding and getting the most out of your SoundExchange membership.
Click the thumbnails below to check out some of our most recent videos!
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