Sales royalties represent a percentage of a CD's sale price. Songwriters get publishing royalties when a song is recorded. Commercial royalties come from the use of songs in commercials or in commercial activities. Artists need royalties not just to pay their bills but to repay record companies for advances on their CD contracts. And they must pay off advances before they see a paycheck.
Some artists never realize any earnings for their work in the studio.
It was a modest sum by many standards in the industry, but a new high for the band. One of those downloads got the attention of a producer from the Sci-Fi Channel. All the band had to do was upload the music. The site created a CD and takes half the proceeds from sales. Belville isn't troubled by Napster.