Music rights and royalties are complex, requiring artists to keep data updated across platforms to maximize earnings, adding strain to their creative processes. Mogul, founded by former SoundCloud execs Jeff Ponchick and Joey Mason, has helped artists track $1.5 billion in lost royalties since its launch last year. The startup announced $5 million in new funding from Yamaha Music Innovations Fund and others, totaling over $6.3 million to date. With a six-person team, Mogul plans to expand with this investment.
Andrew Kahn from Yamaha Music Innovations Fund praises the team’s ability to offer robust data tools for musicians, highlighting Mogul’s comprehensive data pipeline, which ensures accurate and speedy royalty tracking. Originally providing catalog recommendations, Mogul now offers actionable insights and cross-platform data corrections. An example includes the platform’s ability to identify missing tracks in services like Sound Exchange.
Mogul has introduced tools for bulk data registration and catalog valuation, claiming users typically see a 20% increase in royalty revenues. The firm removed its unsustainable free tier to focus on providing more value, particularly to higher-earning artists. Additionally, Mogul is tackling AI-generated music challenges in royalty tracking, with potential complexities in attribution and ownership.
Despite competitors like Notes.fm and Claimity, and regulatory evolution in royalty collection, Mogul remains well-positioned. The U.S. body AllTrack also introduced a new division for performance and mechanical royalties in one place in 2024, signaling industry changes.