In this episode, host Max Bernstein sits down with Jamie Dee Hart founder of Hart & Songs, a music rights management expert who helps artists, writers, and management teams clean up registrations and collect the royalties they’re owed. Jamie breaks down the real-world consequences of skipping “boring admin” from unclaimed royalties that can expire after a limited retroactive window to situations where someone else claims your work in YouTube Content ID.

Together, they walk through what actually needs to happen once a song is finished and released, collecting writer info and IPI numbers, locking in splits, registering songs with PROs and the MLC, setting up YouTube publishing monetization, and making sure sound recording royalties like SoundExchange aren’t missed. They also discuss how independent artists and managers can keep their catalog clean, avoid royalty delays, and be better positioned when opportunities and deals come along.

Key Takeaways:

1. Unregistered songs can forfeit past royalties after a limited retroactive window
2. Split discrepancies can pause payouts until all parties agree to amendments
3. Pub admins help collect key royalties you can’t easily collect yourself (incl. YouTube publishing-side)
4. Proper metadata (IPI, publisher info, ISRC) is essential for tracking and matching
5. Manager checklist: PRO + pub admin + YouTube/Content ID coverage + SoundExchange performer setup

Key Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Jamie’s background in rights management

00:04:57 - What artists lose when they don’t register

00:07:10 - The retroactive window (why older streams can be gone)

00:10:54 - Why a publishing admin is critical

00:17:47 - Top-to-bottom workflow: splits, PRO, admin, ISRC

00:21:06 - How split disputes delay royalties

00:32:35 - YouTube, Music Reports/Peloton, SoundExchange, neighboring rights

58:08:07 - Jamie’s 3-month cleanup + training approach

01:01:00 - notes.fm and the “catalog health check” idea

Follow our guest, Jamie Dee Hart:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiedhart/
2. Hart & Songs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hart-and-songs/
3. Hart & Songs Website: https://www.hartandsongs.com/
4. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiedeehart/?hl=en

Follow the Host Max Bernstein:

1. LinkedIn: