Here’s a practical, step-by-step guide to find and collect unclaimed music royalties — focused on what to do, what to check, and what documents you’ll need.

1. Make an inventory of your works and recordings

• Create a spreadsheet with: song title, writers, publisher(s), performer/artist name, release date, label/distributor, album title, ISRC (recording code), ISWC (composition code, if known), UPC, and any known splits/percentages.
• Include links or copies of digital release pages (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube) and evidence of release (store pages, metadata screenshots).

2. Register / confirm registrations (most common U.S. steps)

• Performing rights (writer/publisher performance royalties): Join or confirm registration with a PRO (ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC in the U.S.). Make sure each composition is registered with the correct writer and publisher splits.
• Mechanical royalties (U.S. digital mechanicals): Ensure compositions are registered with The MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective) if you’re the songwriter/publisher or that your publisher has registered them.
• Sound recording digital performance royalties (non-interactive; U.S.): Register recordings with SoundExchange as the recording owner and, if applicable, as a featured performer/featured artist so performer payments aren’t missed.
• Digital distributors / aggregators: Confirm that your distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, etc.) has correct metadata and is claiming royalties on your behalf where applicable. Some distributors can collect certain usages or YouTube royalties — check their dashboards.

3. Search collection society/agency databases for unclaimed funds

• Check your PRO member portal and statements for “unmatched” or “unallocated” uses; search by song title and writer name.
• Search SoundExchange’s database and its unclaimed royalties page (search by artist/label).
• If your music has been used internationally, check major foreign CMOs where it might have generated earnings: PRS (UK), GEMA (Germany), SACEM (France), SOCAN (Canada), APRA AMCOS (Australia/NZ), etc. Their websites often let you search for works and unclaimed distributions.
• Check YouTube/Content ID: look for videos using your song you didn’t monetize; if your rights aren’t claimed, you may be owed revenue.

4. Fix metadata and ownership/split mismatches

• Most unclaimed royalties are caused by wrong or inconsistent metadata (misspelled names, wrong splits, missing ISRC/ISWC). Correct registrations across PROs, The MLC, SoundExchange, distributor dashboards, and content ID systems.
• If co-writers/publishers didn’t register consistent splits, get written split agreements from collaborators and update registrations.

5. File claims and provide required documentation

• When you find unpaid or unmatched royalties, submit a claim via the society’s claim process. Typical required docs:
  • Proof of authorship/ownership (copyright registration if available, ISWC/ISRC, release pages).
  • A written split agreement or co-writer confirmation if there are co-writers.
  • Proof of distribution/usage (links, screenshots, ISRC/UPC).
  • Government ID and payment details for payout (for organizations that require verification).
• Keep detailed records of your submissions (ticket numbers, dates, contact person).

6. Use a rights administration service if you prefer to outsource

• If you have many works or international claims, consider a reputable publishing administrator or rights-management service (examples: Songtrust, Audiam, Sentric, etc.) — they can register works worldwide and chase royalties for a fee/percentage. Compare terms, fees, and contract length carefully.
• For YouTube and digital-specific claims, services like Audiam (or a distributor with Content ID) can help claim and collect YouTube mechanical and performance-related revenue.

7. If large sums are involved, consider legal help

• For significant unclaimed amounts, or disputes over splits/ownership, consult a music attorney or an experienced publishing administrator. They can help prepare evidence and negotiate claims.

8. Prevent future unclaimed royalties (best practices)

• Always register new works immediately with your PRO, The MLC (or local mechanical agency), and distributor.
• Assign and record ISRCs at release time; ensure ISWC and songwriting splits are correct and consistent across all platforms.
• Keep an organized master spreadsheet and regularly check PRO and SoundExchange statements (quarterly is common).

9. Beware of scams and bad deals

• Don’t sign away rights unless you fully understand the contract. Avoid services that require giving up publishing rights for collection only.
• Vet any 3rd-party collector: check reviews, ask for references, read the fine print (commission rates, exclusivity, duration).

Sample short claim email (adapt as needed)

• Subject: Claim of unpaid royalties — [Song Title] — [ISRC/ISWC]
• Body: Identify yourself, state the work(s) and identifiers (ISRC/ISWC/UPC), explain the usage and where you found evidence (link/date), attach proof of ownership and split agreement, and request next steps/timeline and any claim/ticket number.

Where to start right now (minimal immediate actions)

• Build that inventory spreadsheet.
• Log into your PRO and SoundExchange accounts and search for your works and “unmatched”/“unidentified” lists.
• If you use a distributor, check its royalty dashboard and YouTube Content ID status.
• If you prefer, pick one unidentified/unpaid song to resolve first and use that process as a template for the rest.

If you want, I can:

• provide a tailored email template with the exact fields for a specific organization (ASCAP/BMI/SoundExchange/The MLC); or
• help format a spreadsheet template for your catalog; or
• walk through what documentation you’ll need to file a specific claim.

Which of those (if any) would you like me to do next?