Mogul Platform Recovers $1.5 Billion for Artists, Secures $5 Million in New Funding

For musicians, untangling the web of royalty payments is a notorious headache. A startup founded by former SoundCloud executives is tackling that problem with data, and the results are striking. Mogul, launched last year by Jeff Ponchick and Joey Mason, announced Tuesday that its platform has identified $1.5 billion in previously lost royalties for artists.

The company also closed a $5 million funding round led by the Yamaha Music Innovations Fund, with support from Urban Innovation Fund, Mindset Ventures, and Fairway Capital Partners. Existing investors Amplify LA and Wonder Ventures also participated. Total funding now exceeds $6.3 million.

Andrew Kahn of Yamaha's fund pointed to the team's experience and Mogul's technical foundation. "Mogul has built the most comprehensive, first-party data pipeline for residual income earners," Kahn said. He explained that many competitors lack direct connections to payment sources, whereas Mogul's architecture prioritizes accuracy and speed.

Initially offering recommendations, Mogul now provides direct tools. It can spot discrepancies—like songs on Spotify missing from a SoundExchange account—and can even complete registrations for users. A new bulk registration tool handles large catalog updates. Ponchick says users typically see a 20% increase in royalty income.

Further features include a catalog valuation tool, breaking down worth by track and revenue source. The company has discontinued its free tier to focus on providing substantive value to working artists.

Looking ahead, Mogul is monitoring the emerging complexities of AI-generated music and its impact on royalty tracking. Kahn noted that high-volume, AI-created content could strain systems built for human creators. While regulatory clarity is pending, Ponchick believes Mogul's infrastructure is adaptable.

The six-person team plans to grow with the new capital, competing in a space that includes Notes.fm and Claimity, as the industry itself evolves to simplify royalty collection.

Source: TechCrunch