Songwriters across the music industry are mobilizing for a landmark rally planned for early 2025, seeking fundamental changes to how creative partnerships are structured and compensated. The demonstration, scheduled to coincide with the annual Songwriters of North America (SONA) Warrior Awards on February 15, 2025, in Los Angeles, will address longstanding grievances about streaming royalties, revenue splits, and credit allocation in collaborative works.
The movement emerges against a backdrop of significant industry transformation, as streaming platforms experiment with new payment models while traditional revenue streams for songwriters continue to diminish. Unlike performing artists who can supplement their income through touring and merchandise, songwriters often rely exclusively on royalties from their compositions, making equitable partnerships essential to their financial survival.
Industry data reveals concerning disparities, with public performance revenue for sound recordings climbing 5.9% to $2.9 billion in 2024, while songwriter compensation remains disproportionately low. “We’re not seeking charity—just fair business practices that recognize our vital creative contribution,” explains veteran songwriter Maria Gonzalez, who helped organize the rally. Many artists are now turning to distribution services to maintain greater control over their music and maximize their earnings across multiple platforms.
Many songwriters have already begun reinventing their business models, diversifying into production, performance, and direct-to-fan platforms to reduce dependency on traditional royalty structures. With an average annual income of $25,400, full-time songwriters increasingly struggle to maintain sustainable careers without expanding their professional roles. Collaboration scenarios—whether producer-artist partnerships, featured artist arrangements, or pure songwriting teams—typically feature split agreements ranging from 50/50 to 60/40, depending on contribution levels and negotiation leverage. The rise of modern split management platforms has provided some relief by offering automation and real-time transparency for collaborators.
Publishers, who increasingly function as talent scouts and business partners, have expanded their role in managing creative processes and advocating for fair deals. “The relationship between the songwriter and publisher has evolved beyond simple rights management into true creative partnership,” notes industry analyst Jordan Kim.
The rally organizers are calling for transparent accounting practices, clearer contracts, and equitable splits that acknowledge songwriters’ foundational role in music creation. Some progressive songwriters are exploring sync deals as alternative revenue sources, licensing their compositions for use in films, commercials, and video games.
With artist revenue share reaching 34.8% in 2023, songwriters argue that industry growth should benefit all creative contributors, not just performing artists and platforms.
