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How to Monetize Your Music Globally: Lessons from Kobalt’s Expansion Into South Asia

hhollywoods

2026-01-28

9 min read

A practical guide for indie musicians to capture global publishing and royalty income using Kobalt–Madverse-style partnerships and DIY strategies.

Struggling to get paid worldwide? Here’s a fast, practical path forward.

Independent musicians and DIY teams often face the same pain: great songs, scattered income, and a maze of international rules that make royalty collection feel impossible. The recent Kobalt–Madverse partnership that launched in January 2026 creates a new, practical blueprint for indie creators to build reliable global income without surrendering control.

Under the agreement, Madverse’s community of independent songwriters, composers and producers will gain access to Kobalt’s publishing administration network — offering royalty collection in more than 40 countries and a streamlined publishing administration service.

Why this matters right now (2026 trends you need to know)

Global streaming and short-form platforms expanded rapidly through late 2025 and into 2026, especially across South Asia. More listeners means more pockets of royalty income — but only if you capture them. Major trends shaping this moment:

Regional streaming growth: South Asian platforms and regional catalogs are now high-volume sources of mechanical and performance revenue.
More rights monetized: DSPs, social platforms and broadcasters are tightening up reporting, but you still need correct metadata and rightsholder registrations to collect.
Partnership models: Global administrators (like Kobalt) partnering with local networks (like Madverse) are lowering friction for indie creators to access foreign collection systems.
New revenue types: Short-form UGC, UGC monetization, and neighboring rights enforcement are becoming major revenue streams for indies in 2026.

The headline: How Kobalt–Madverse helps indie monetization

In plain terms, this kind of partnership can be a shortcut to collect money you’re already owed in foreign territories. For many DIY musicians, the barrier isn’t talent — it’s access. Kobalt brings a global publishing administration engine; Madverse brings a local artist network, regional expertise and distribution channels. Together they enable global publishing and faster royalty collection for creators working out of South Asia or collaborating with that market.

What you actually get (practical benefits)

Access to a global publishing admin that files registrations with collecting societies and DSPs.
Faster registration across South Asian CMOs and reciprocal societies.
Better metadata cleanup and ISWC/ISRC mapping — meaning fewer missed royalties.
Local market knowledge for sync placement and playlist pitching in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and adjacent markets.

Step-by-step: A DIY musician’s playbook to monetize globally using partnerships

Use this checklist as a practical action plan. You don’t need a major deal — you need an organized process.

1) Audit your catalog and metadata (Day 0–7)

Start with your own house in order. Most missed royalties come from bad metadata.

Export a master list of all songs: titles, writer splits, ISRCs (recording IDs), ISWCs (work IDs), publisher names, and release dates.
Confirm writer splits in writing (co-writer agreements) and store PDFs in one folder.
Flag missing ISRCs/ISWCs — you’ll need those for registering with publishers and PROs.

2) Register with your domestic and key foreign PROs/CMOs (Week 1–3)

Even with global admin partners, direct registrations help claim digital and performance revenue faster.

Sign up with your local PRO (BMI, ASCAP, PRS, IMI/ICRA, etc.).
If you have significant plays or audiences in South Asia, ensure registration with relevant CMOs — or work with a partner who will do it for you.
Register works with the mechanical rights body in your country if applicable.

3) Choose the right publishing administration partner (Weeks 2–6)

Not all publishers are equal. Look for a partner that balances technology, transparency and local reach.

Tech and reporting: Monthly online statements, API access, and clear breakdowns of collections.
Fee structure: Admin fees range widely. Compare net percentage, minimums, and contract length.
Local presence: If your music gets plays in South Asia, a partner with local ties (like Madverse) or a global admin with local partners (like Kobalt) will reduce friction.

4) Register everywhere your music can be played (Ongoing)

Think beyond Spotify. YouTube, JioSaavn, local radio, TV, and nightclub/restaurant collections all create income.

Claim your YouTube Content ID and link it to your publisher admin or distributor.
Register for neighboring rights where applicable — this captures revenue from broadcast/performance of recordings.
For social platforms, ensure distribution metadata is correct so UGC monetization funnels back to you.

5) Use partnerships strategically — what to outsource versus keep control of

Partnerships like Kobalt–Madverse offer scale. Adopt a hybrid approach:

Outsource: global royalty collection, foreign registrations, reciprocal society claims, and complex account reconciliation.
Keep control of: writer splits, sync approvals, direct licensing for film/TV (unless you opt into exclusive admin), and local marketing strategies.

Practical checklist: What to ask a publishing admin or local partner

When you speak with an admin, use this checklist to compare offers and avoid hidden traps.

Which territories do you have direct collection vs. sub-publisher arrangements in?
How often do you deliver statements and payments?
What are your fees, recoupment policies, and minimum contract length?
Do you provide metadata cleanup and ID assignment (ISWC, ISRC)?
How do you handle disputes and unclaimed monies?
Can I opt out of certain rights (e.g., direct sync licensing)?

Case study: A Mumbai indie producer’s path to unlocking South Asian royalties (practical example)

Rahul is an independent producer in Mumbai with a catalog of 120 tracks used by local playlists, YouTube creators and a few regional films. He had only domestic registrations and saw modest Spotify income. After onboarding with Madverse and being routed through Kobalt’s publishing admin, here’s what changed:

Madverse ensured all 120 tracks had correct ISRCs and ISWCs, and pushed registrations to regional CMOs in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Kobalt’s administration flagged previously unclaimed performance royalties in Latin America and Southeast Asia due to reciprocal reporting — money Rahul didn’t know existed.
Within six months, Rahul’s international royalty remittances rose by an estimated 40% (combined neighboring rights, mechanical and YouTube collections).
Rahul retained sync approval rights and used Madverse’s local team to pitch music supervisors for Bollywood and streaming series, landing two paid syncs.

Pricing realities and what to expect in statements

Be realistic about timing: international collections can take months to surface. Here’s how to interpret what you’ll see:

Lag time: Some territories pay quarterly or annually, so statements will be uneven.
Upfront vs ongoing: Distributors pay recording royalties; publishers collect composition income — make sure both sides are registered.
Fees: Admin fees typically range 10–20% for publishing administrators; local partners may take an additional cut for sub-publishing functions.

Advanced strategies for maximizing international revenue (2026-forward)

These are higher-leverage moves you can adopt once basic registration and admin are in place.

1) Localize metadata and marketing for regional playlists

Make it easy for local curators to find you: translate keywords, provide lyric translations, and tag regional genres and moods. Partnerships with local distributors or networks like Madverse can accelerate playlist traction.

2) Monetize UGC with rights-forward strategies

Work with publishers and distributors that actively claim music across social platforms. In 2026, short-form UGC is a major source of recurring revenue when claimed correctly.

3) Proactively pitch for micro-syncs in mobile games and apps

Micro-sync opportunities (apps, games, local TV ads) are often underserved. A partner with regional contacts can place tracks quickly for flat fees plus backend royalties.

4) Use a revenue audit to identify missed overseas collections

Ask a publisher or specialist to run a rights & royalty audit — they can often find orphan works, mis-allocated splits, or unclaimed neighboring rights.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Blindly signing away rights: Avoid exclusive long-term deals for publishing if you want flexibility. Understand what “admin” means in the contract.
Poor metadata: Even top publishers can’t collect for works without correct IDs and splits. Invest time in cleanup.
Assuming collection is automatic: Having music live on DSPs doesn’t guarantee you’ll be paid unless works are registered correctly across PROs and local CMOs.
Ignoring accounting: Monitor statements monthly and reconcile with your own play reports (Spotify for Artists, YouTube Analytics, etc.).

Checklist: 30-day action plan

Export a master metadata sheet and confirm writer splits.
Register with your local PRO and a neighboring rights society if eligible.
Get ISRCs for all recordings and apply for ISWCs for compositions.
Decide on a publishing admin — interview at least two and use the checklist above.
Claim YouTube Content ID and connect to your publisher/distributor.
Request an initial audit from a publishing partner to find unclaimed royalties.

Final thoughts: Why partnerships like Kobalt–Madverse shift the power balance

For many DIY musicians, the missing piece has never been talent — it’s access to systems. In 2026, the most important competitive advantage is not a viral moment but consistent, global revenue capture. Partnerships that combine global admin platforms with local expertise are a practical lever: they convert plays in far-flung markets into cash in your account.

Use them wisely. Keep control of creative rights, demand transparency in statements, and stay proactive about metadata and registrations. When you execute this playbook, even small catalogs start producing meaningful, predictable income from around the world.

Actionable takeaways

Audit metadata today — clean ISRCs/ISWCs and confirm writer splits.
Register with local and key foreign PROs/CMOs — or use a publisher with those connections.
Choose a publishing admin that offers transparent reporting, local partnerships, and proactive claims on social platforms.
Run a rights & royalty audit to find missed international money.
Negotiate contracts: keep sync control and avoid unnecessary exclusivity.

Ready to start capturing global royalties?

If you have a catalog, don’t wait for the next viral moment — start the metadata cleanup, request a publishing audit, and explore local-global partnerships. Export your catalog now, use the 30-day checklist above, and reach out to a publishing admin or local partner for an audit. Small, consistent steps convert fans into sustained income.

Join our indie creator community to get monthly audit templates, contract checklists and interviews with publishing experts who can review your options — and see how Kobalt–Madverse–style partnerships can work for your catalog.

hollywoods

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.