How ANote Music works: a complete guide for investors

Music is everywhere in our lives, whether it’s streaming, playing in a café, or being performed live. But behind every song, there’s a business that generates music royalties. Until recently, access to those royalties was limited to big labels, publishers, or a small circle of insiders.

ANote Music changes that. We’ve built an application where anyone can buy shares of music catalogues and earn a portion of the royalties they generate. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how ANote Music works, why people are joining, and what you can expect when investing in music royalties.

Table of contents: 

• Why ANote Music
• What ANote Music offers
  
  • Key features
• How ANote Music works: a complete guide for investors
  
  • How ANote Music platform works - step by step
• Security and transparency - is ANote Music safe?
  
  • Funds & payments
  • Investor Protection Programme (IPP)
  • Verified data & catalogue transparency
• How do I earn from music royalties?
  
  • When are music royalties paid?
• What other investors say
• FAQs
• In summary

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Why ANote Music

ANote Music makes music royalties available to everyday investors. Why does this matter? Because music is an asset class that behaves differently from traditional markets, it’s not directly tied to stock market swings or political changes. While global events can affect financial markets, people still stream their favorite songs, go to concerts, and watch shows featuring music.

In fact, according to the latest IFPI global music report for 2024, revenues from streaming continue to grow and have surpassed US$20 billion for the first time. Until recently, these revenues flowed almost entirely to the music industry itself or large financial institutions. With ANote Music, that opportunity is now more accessible than ever.

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What ANote Music offers

ANote Music works similar to a stock exchange, but for music rights. By buying shares in catalogues, you can:

• Earn potential passive income from royalties.
  
• Diversify your portfolio with an alternative asset.
  
• Take part in an industry that’s cultural and emotional as well as financial.

Key features

Here’s what you’ll find on the ANote Music platform:

• Marketplace: Browse live auctions and explore available music catalogues. Not sure where to start? Check the bundles, packages with pre-selected shares from the top-performing catalogues.

• My Portfolio: Track catalogues you own, monitor performance, and check your royalty earnings.

• Backstage Pass: ANote Music’s loyalty programme. It offers investors exclusive offers, rewards for their activity on the platform and premium perks. Once you invest €200 or more, you can activate your Blue Pass and start enjoying the benefits. Find all the details about the Backstage Pass and how to join in our dedicated section on the Support Centre.

• Referral Programme: Invite friends and help grow the community. You both earn a referral bonus when they invest. Learn how the referral programme works and its conditions in the Support Centre.

• ANote Music app: Download the app for iOS or Android and buy, sell, and track your portfolio from your phone.

• Dedicated Customer Support team: our Support team is available to help you with your questions and guide you during the process, from setting up your account to placing trades. Contact us directly through our live chat, email us at support@anotemusic.com or browse our Support Centre.  

• Music Page: Listen to songs from each catalogue and even add playlists to your streaming platforms.

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How ANote Music platform works - step by step

Getting started takes just a few steps:

1. Sign up and verify your account

Create your free account here and complete your profile in minutes. Upload your ID for compliance verification so you’re ready to invest.

2. Add funds

Choose from several payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, PayPal and cryptocurrency). Funds go into a secure wallet managed by our partner, Mangopay.

3. Choose your catalogue shares

Explore over 30 catalogues listed on the platform. Each catalogue page includes:

• Historical royalty data and returns: we calculate historical returns using the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) method, based on the past three years of royalties.
  Note: These returns help you compare catalogues, but they don’t guarantee future performance.
• Listing terms (how long the catalogue remains available on the platform).
  
• Royalties distribution schedule (monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual).
  
• Order book with current buy and sell activity.
  

Apart from buying catalogue shares individually, you can also invest through bundles, curated selections of catalogues designed to help investors diversify more easily.

We also offer seasonal bundles, which feature not only the top-performing catalogues but also those that distribute royalties during specific periods such as Christmas or summer.

5. Join auctions

Whenever a new catalogue is introduced, it enters through an auction that typically lasts a couple of weeks. Auctions let investors acquire shares at entry price before trading begins in the secondary market.

6. Start earning royalties

Receive royalties directly on your ANote Music account: royalties are distributed to your account proportionally to the number of shares you own. Payments go directly to your ANote account as funds available.

7. Trade on the secondary market

You can choose to hold catalogues long-term or sell your shares to other investors. This creates liquidity and flexibility, similar to how traditional markets operate.

8. Fees

The only fees ANote Music applies are distribution fees when royalties are paid:

• 4% for shares bought at auction.
• 8% for shares bought in the secondary market.
  Fees are capped at 0.5% of the catalogue market capitalisation at the moment of distribution.

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Security and transparency- Is ANote Music Safe?

Security and transparency are at the core of how ANote Music operates. While investing in music royalties - like any investment - carries certain risks, we’ve built the platform to give you the tools, protections, and transparency needed to make confident, informed decisions.

Here’s how we help protect your funds and support smarter investing:

Funds & payments

All payments and transactions are managed by Mangopay, a regulated financial institution based in Luxembourg and supervised by the CSSF (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier).

When you create your ANote Music account, a personal e-wallet is opened in the Mangopay system. Your funds and royalties earned are securely held in this wallet, completely segregated from ANote Music’s own assets. This setup ensures clear ownership and full traceability of your funds at all times.

Investor Protection Programme (IPP)

Our Investor Protection Programme is a built-in feature designed to help you navigate market dynamics confidently.

It monitors key factors like liquidity or price volatility, and provides alerts if an order could lead to historically low or negative returns.

This way, you’re empowered with the same data the platform uses. You’ll always be informed before confirming any trade. Learn more about how the IPP works in our Support Centre.

Verified data & catalogue transparency

Every catalogue listed on ANote Music includes:

• Verified royalty history
• Detailed financials
• Performance metrics over time

This allows you to review and compare catalogues based on real historical data before making a decision.

In short: Yes, ANote Music is built with security and legitimacy in mind, from how your funds are handled, to how investment data is presented, to how the platform helps you assess risk.

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How do I earn from music royalties?

Music royalties are recurring payments made to artists, songwriters, publishers, labels, and other rights holders in exchange for the licensed use of their music. These earnings are generated every time a song is streamed, broadcast, performed live, or used commercially — on platforms, radio, TV, public spaces, and more.

If you're new to the topic, we recommend reading our guide to music royalties to better understand what they are and how they work.

‍What do I earn when I own catalogue shares?

When you own shares in a catalogue, you're entitled to receive a proportional share of the royalties it generates over time. Your earnings depend on:

• How many shares you hold, and
• How much the catalogue earns during a given royalty period.

Example:
If a catalogue has 10,000 shares and distributes €10,000 in royalties, owning 10 shares means you’d earn €10 gross (before fees).

The more shares you own, the higher your payout.

When are music royalties paid?

Royalty payments are made on a monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual basis, depending on the catalogue. On average, ANote Music processes royalty distributions every few days, as each catalogue follows its own reporting cycle.

Whenever royalties are paid out for a catalogue you’ve invested in, your share is automatically credited to your ANote Music account as funds available.

You can:

• Reinvest those funds into new catalogue shares, or
• Accumulate and withdraw them to your bank account.

Note: Royalties are based on past usage and distribution data. Catalogue performance can vary, and there are no guaranteed returns.

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What other investors say - feedback and reviews

Investors from all over the world are already discovering the potential of music royalties. Here’s what one of them shared:

“I am really grateful and honored to be part of this amazing opportunity. You can choose to invest in catalogues you like and earn royalties while listening to your favorite music.”

This is just one example of a satisfied investor, and there are many more. Feel free to check more reviews directly on Trustpilot and Google.

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FAQs

How much do I need to start?
The minimum is the price of one share, which varies by catalogue. By buying one share, you already own a percentage of the catalogue and receive proportional royalties.

What are the fees?
We only charge distribution fees when royalties are paid:

• 4% for shares bought at auction.
• 8% for shares bought in the secondary market.

Fees are capped at 0.5% of the catalogue market capitalisation at the moment of distribution.

Is it risky?
As with any investment, there are risks. It’s important to do your own research, including reviewing royalty histories, catalogue terms, and market conditions. Some of the key risks include:

• Past performance is not a guarantee: even strong catalogues may underperform in the future.
• Fluctuations in music consumption: royalties depend on how often songs are streamed, performed, or licensed. A change in trends or demand can affect payouts.
• Market conditions: while music is less correlated with stock markets, it can still be influenced by broader economic or industry shifts.
• Liquidity risk: while you can sell your shares on the secondary market, demand may vary depending on catalogue popularity.

Can I exit anytime?
Yes. You can sell your shares on the secondary market whenever you want. Your account stays open and free, so you can return anytime.

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In summary:

ANote Music provides a platform where investors can buy shares of music catalogues and receive a portion of the royalties they generate. 

The platform works similar to a stock exchange, with options to join auctions, trade on the secondary market, and monitor the performance of your owned catalogues. With clear data access, secure payment handling, and different catalogue options, ANote Music helps make music royalties an accessible alternative asset for a wider range of investors.

Sign up today and discover how you can start building your music portfolio.

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* Disclaimer: Historical data does not guarantee future returns and should not be considered financial advice. Like all financial opportunities, music royalties carry risk. Catalogue performance can vary, and there are no guaranteed returns. Always review historical data and platform information carefully.