Royalty advances

Cash now.
Catalog
still yours.

Borrow against your streaming income, scored on your last two to three years. Your future royalties repay it automatically, then revert to you. No equity, no master grab.

See your offer How it works
Estimated advance Illustrative
$96k–$144k
2–3× your annual streaming income
Your annual streaming income $48,000
Cash now Paid upfront
Repaid From royalties
Reverts 100% back to you
Inquire about an advance

No credit check · scored on your catalog

Offers vary with each individual catalog and its specifics.

How it works

From statements to money in your account.

Most of the work is ours. You connect your distribution, accept the offer, and the money lands.

Step 01

Submit your details

Send your artist profile and details to our team. New to Unchained? Moving your catalog over is part of getting set up.

Step one

Step 02

Send your royalty statements

Share two to three years of royalty statements in CSV format. We score them against your recent earnings.

Step two

Step 03

Receive your offer

You get an advance offer based on your earnings, with the full breakdown in writing. Plain-language contract, no negotiation tax.

Step three

Step 04

Money lands

The advance is paid in full to your account. Your streaming royalties then automatically repay it until it's recouped, after which they revert to you.

Step four

How it stacks up

Cash without the catalog trade.

Three ways to get money up front. Only one keeps your masters and your decision-making intact.

 
Unchained
Advance
Major
Label deal
Other
Advance platforms
You keep your masters
✓
×
✓
How it's repaid
Future royalties
Then revert to you
Royalty split
Ongoing
Varies
By platform
Fee structure
Offered below projection
Full breakdown in your offer
Embedded
Royalty split
Tiered
Often opaque
You keep your copyright
✓
×
Sometimes
Advance range
$500–$600k
Varies
Varies

A structural comparison of how these options typically differ. Specific terms vary by deal. Your Unchained offer is always quoted and confirmed in writing before you accept.

Artist story
An advance lets you reinvest in the next release without giving up your masters or your catalog.
Real artist story to follow
A permissioned, verified case study is coming soon.
$500–$600k
Advance range
Auto
Repaid from royalties
100%
Masters retained
The full suite

The rest of the toolkit.

Every other tool Unchained runs, one card each. Take what the release needs and leave the rest.

Music Distribution 150+ platforms, checked by humans, live in 1 business day. Explore Mastering Preview the full master first, pay only when you download. Explore Promotion Run your own ads and pre-saves, or hand the campaign to our team. Explore Release Strategy Advertising, content, planning and design, run as one campaign. Explore Vinyl Pressing Configured online, pressed at our own UK and US factories. Explore Catalog Management Value your catalog, sell a share or all of it, or fractionalize the royalties. Explore Artist & Label Services A&R, services and infrastructure coordinated under one relationship, by application. Explore
Common questions

Before you apply.

Read the full FAQ
What does it actually cost?

Yes, there are fees, and you'll get a complete breakdown of them in your individual offer before you sign. The advance is offered below your projected earnings, for example $90,000 against a $100,000 projection. Unchained and its funding partner, RoyFi, earn the difference between projected and actual royalties, minus the interest on borrowing the capital (a cost of capital of, for example, around 5% per year).

What if my streams drop and I can't pay it back?

Repayment comes from your future royalties, not out of pocket. Your music is locked in with our system, and as it earns royalties we automatically apply those earnings to pay back the advance. If streams dip, recoupment simply takes longer, and there's no monthly bill to meet. Once the advance is repaid, all of your streaming royalties revert back to you.

Will my copyright be used as collateral?

No. You keep your copyright and your masters. What we take instead is a right to your royalties, but only until the advance is fully paid back. Once it's recouped, all of your streaming royalties revert to you.

Can I take a second advance later?

A further advance may be possible once your current one is on track to being repaid. Any new offer is scored fresh against your latest royalty statements. Talk to us about your situation and we'll let you know what's available.

Who's actually behind the money?

Unchained Music works with a funding partner, RoyFi, to provide the capital. We borrow the capital and offer your advance against your projected royalties; you deal with Unchained throughout, and your repayment comes from your future royalties rather than a separate bill.

Send your statements

Your offer is based on what you already earn.

Share two to three years of royalty statements and we'll project your earning potential. A real number, in writing. If you don't like it, walk. No obligation, no credit check.

Self-serve Start DIY

An advance is scored on a catalog we can already see, so the account comes first and the offer follows.

Start DIY
By application Artist & Label Services

For multi-release plans and label rosters, scoped with the services team before anything starts.

Apply for Artist & Label Services
See your offer Talk to underwriting