Royalty Management Information:
Software, Resources, & More
Royalty Information & Resources
With over 25 years of royalty management experience, MetaComet® Systems has mastered the science of calculating, paying, and reporting on royalties. We’ve compiled these resources to help you do the same.
How Are Royalties Calculated? Assessment & Reporting Tips
Royalties are a crucial aspect of financial management in various industries, particularly in publishing, biotechnology, franchising, and natural resources. Here’s a detailed overview of how royalties are calculated, when they are paid, typical percentages, and related concepts.
Rights and Royalties Definitions – Glossary of Terms
This glossary defines many of the commonly used terms related to royalties, rights, and royalty management software.
Case Study: Royalty Tracker® and Sales Aggregator Scale Up Painlessly
The largest private audiobook production company in the US radically upgraded its royalty management process using MetaComet® software. By adopting Royalty Tracker® and Sales Aggregator, John Marshall Media and Lantern Audio Distribution saved multiple days of work per quarter, eliminated errors in calculations, and streamlined the payment process.
Paying Royalties | Meaning, Tips & Tracking Solutions
Royalty payments are a key instrument in book publishing, biotechnology, and other industries that rely on the licensing and transfer of intellectual property. If your business is paying royalties to more than a handful of recipients in each royalty period, you may benefit from a software system that automates that process for you.
Publishing Industry Solutions for Royalty Management Chaos
A November 21 article from The Bookseller reports on the publishing industry’s “hidden epidemic” of chaotic royalty management, payments, and communication. (Heloise Wood, “Royalties survey sparks calls for change as Society of Authors reveals ‘increased reliance on hardship grants.’”)
Webinar: Royalty Automation for University Presses
In this video we look at exactly how automated royalty management systems work, walking through real-world royalty processing scenarios. We demonstrate how to use an automated system to record contract terms, process disparate sales files, perform calculations, and generate and transmit royalty statements, reports, and payment files. We also review the implementation process and discuss best practices for a smooth and painless transition to automation.
Royalties in Business | Definition & Tracking Solutions
Authors, illustrators, inventors, and developers — these diverse types of professionals are among the many who create intellectual property and rely on royalty payments to support their work.
Publishing Royalties | What They Are & How to Calculate Them
Royalties are a common payment framework for many different kinds of business agreements, and are especially prevalent in book publishing deals.
Royalty Reporting | Definition, Tips & Recommendations
In royalty-based industries such as publishing, gaming, and pharmaceuticals, one of the most crucial yet complex aspects of financial management is royalty reporting. Ensuring that licensors and other stakeholders receive accurate, timely payments is essential for maintaining trust and fostering long-term relationships.
Frequently Asked Royalty Information Questions
What are royalties and how are they paid?
A royalty is a payment made by one party (the licensee) to another (the licensor) for the ongoing use of an asset, commonly a piece of intellectual property. Payment methods and frequency are established in a royalty licensing agreement between the two parties. For more details, see our article entitled, “How Do Royalties Work?”
How much is the average royalty check?
Royalty payments vary widely across different industries and within industries as well, depending on the value of the asset being licensed, the sales volume within the royalty period, and many other factors. So, there is no such thing as an average, normal, or typical royalty check. To learn more about the elements that affect a royalty check, see our article, “How Are Royalties Calculated?”
How do I calculate my royalties?
Royalties are calculated based on a percentage of sales revenue or a flat fee per unit sold. The percentage or fee is agreed upon in a royalty licensing agreement between the licensor and licensee. The agreement will also outline other variables that will affect royalty payments. For more information, read our post, “How Are Royalties Calculated?”
Who receives royalty payments?
Royalty recipients include copyright holders (like writers, illustrators, and composers), patent owners (such as inventors), natural resource owners, and franchisors, among others. See our article, “What Are Royalties in Business?” for further examples of people and companies that receive royalty payments.
What types of royalties exist?
Common types of royalties include book publishing royalties, music royalties, patent royalties, franchise fees, and oil and gas royalties. Our blog post, “Different Types of Royalties,” goes into more detail about the various types of royalties you may encounter.
How often are royalties paid out?
Payments are typically made quarterly or annually, and sometimes monthly or semiannually, depending on the terms of the royalty agreement.
What is included in a royalty agreement?
A royalty licensing agreement will include, at a minimum, a definition of the rights granted, usage conditions, and payment terms. Our article about “How Do Royalties Work?” delves into the deeper details of royalty agreements.
Are royalties taxed?
Yes, royalty payments are taxed as income.