The Songwriter's Index: How Behind-the-Scenes Talent Gets Credit

TMI's songwriter registry is changing how the music industry credits and compensates the people behind the songs

By TMI Music Editor · May 25, 2026

Every song performed on TMI can be registered with its songwriter data — the names, splits, and publishing information for everyone who contributed to its creation.

This isn't a royalty system — TMI doesn't collect or distribute mechanical royalties. What it does is create a permanent, searchable record that connects every live performance back to its creative origins.

Why This Matters

The music industry has a credit problem. Songs have been recorded, licensed, and performed for decades with songwriter information trapped in label databases that don't talk to each other. TMI's public songwriter registry changes the discovery direction — fans who love a performance can now find every other song the songwriter ever wrote.

"I wrote a song that became a hit. Nobody knew it was mine until it showed up on TMI with my name on it." — Nashville songwriter