Notes.fm, a music technology platform, has helped artists including Zach Bryan, Mt. Joy and James Blake identify unclaimed royalties from their recorded work. The service is designed to address a persistent problem in the music industry, where money generated by streaming and other uses sits uncollected because of incomplete data or administrative gaps.
The platform works by analysing royalty statements and metadata across streaming services, publishers and collection societies. It cross-references this information to flag payments that have not reached the artist, often because of mismatched song credits, missing international collections or errors in digital distribution records. Once discrepancies are identified, the platform guides artists through the process of claiming the funds.
Unclaimed royalties are a well-known issue across the music business. Industry estimates have long suggested that significant sums go unpaid each year, particularly in areas such as neighbouring rights, where performers are entitled to payment for broadcasts and public performances, and in international markets where tracking is less transparent. For independent artists and smaller acts, the administrative burden of chasing these payments often outweighs the perceived benefit, leaving money stranded in the system.
Notes.fm has positioned itself as a practical tool for musicians rather than a financial services firm. Its founders have described the platform as a way to bring transparency to royalty accounting, giving artists a clearer picture of what they are owed and helping them recover funds that would otherwise remain with intermediaries. The company has not disclosed the total value of royalties identified to date, but the involvement of high-profile artists such as Zach Bryan and James Blake has drawn attention to the scale of the problem.
The service arrives at a time when the economics of music streaming remain a point of contention. Artists and songwriters have repeatedly criticised the payout structures of major platforms, arguing that the current model fails to compensate creators fairly. While Notes.fm does not address those broader debates about streaming rates, it does tackle a more immediate issue: ensuring that whatever money is due actually reaches the right people.
For the artists named by the company, the discovery of unclaimed funds is likely to be a modest but welcome correction. For the wider industry, the platform highlights how data fragmentation continues to cost musicians real income. As streaming catalogues grow and rights change hands more frequently, the need for tools that can reconcile royalty payments is becoming more pressing.
Notes.fm is not the only company attempting to solve this problem, but its focus on direct artist engagement and its use of prominent case studies have given it visibility in a crowded market. The platform's growth will depend on whether it can demonstrate consistent results for a broad range of musicians, from major-label acts to independent artists with smaller catalogues.