New platform recovers lost royalties

Notes.fm, launched in 2024 by Stem co-founder Tim Luckow, scans streaming services and collection societies to find unclaimed royalties for artists. The platform has already recovered over $10 million for artists like James Blake, Zach Bryan, Mt. Joy and Girl In Red.

Raises $5M from music industry

Notes.fm secured $5 million in funding from artists and industry leaders including Benny Blanco, Zach Bryan, Ari Emanuel, Sam Hendel and Julie Greenwald. Additional investors include Tainy, Mt. Joy's Matt Quinn and management companies Foundations, Mick Management and Twenty Ten Management.

95% success rate finding money

Notes.fm has found money for 95% of users who access the platform. Founder Tim Luckow says investors backed the round because Notes actually recovered royalties for them personally.

“Everyone that is basically investing in this round is investing because we found them money.”

Three tools for artists

Notes offers Credits, a free database of 150 million song codes for organizing royalty data; Releases, a $5 monthly subscription combining distribution and publishing; and financial accounts powered by Stripe for collecting and managing payments.

Combines distribution and publishing

Luckow built Notes on the belief that artists need distribution and publishing combined to collect all royalties owed. The company will use funding to expand marketing and go international.

“Artists should be able to release music and collect every royalty from day one.”

Competing in crowded market

Notes faces competition from tech platforms and distributors, but Luckow's experience building Stem gives him an advantage. He aims to become the world's best music collection platform and help artists collect payments from day one.

“We want to become the best music collection royalty platform on the internet worldwide.”