Find the royalties your musician left behind

Legato searches every royalty database and state fund for families of deceased independent musicians — then files the claims for you.

Over $160 million in unmatched royalties sits at The MLC right now — and starting in early 2027, it goes to major publishers instead of families.

Hands sorting a crate of vinyl records and royalty statements at a kitchen table.

The songs came to you. The money didn't.

His music still plays on Spotify and radio, but nobody can tell you where the royalty checks go.
The money is split across The MLC, SoundExchange, ASCAP or BMI, old publishers, and state unclaimed-property offices — each with its own forms, its own proof, its own deadline.
Entertainment lawyers quote $250 an hour and won't take a small estate on contingency.
So you search Reddit at midnight, piecing together what an executor is supposed to do — while the clock runs toward 2027.

Three steps from shoebox to check

Step 1

Free artist check

Give us the artist's name. We scan The MLC unmatched list, SoundExchange unclaimed accounts, PRO repertory, and state databases, and tell you whether money likely exists.

Step 2

Trace and price it

We map every song, locate where each dollar sits, and send you an itemized estimate with the exact documents each claim needs.

Step 3

We file, you collect

We prepare every claim, track each agency's status and deadlines, and redirect future payments to the estate. Our fee comes out of recovered money only.

Here's what a real trace report looks like for a typical estate.

Sample Trace: 1980s indie rock singer, 24 released songs, died 2019, no publisher.

The MLC (mechanical royalties)

MONEY FOUND

14 of 24 songs appear on the unmatched royalties list. Estimated $2,800–$3,600 in pre-2021 mechanicals. Redistribution to major publishers begins early 2027. Needs: letters testamentary, work registrations.

SoundExchange (digital performance)

MONEY FOUND

No account ever registered. Estimated $2,100–$2,600 across the 3-year claim window, based on ~$800/year typical for an indie catalog. Needs: estate ID, discography proof.

BMI (performance royalties)

FROZEN ACCOUNT

Writer account inactive since death; payments suspended. Estate transition filing required ($250 BMI fee, passed at cost).

Tennessee Unclaimed Property

MONEY FOUND

$612 remitted by a former publisher in 2021. State-capped finder fee applies (10%).

Distributor balances

NEEDS DOCUMENTS

Old CD Baby account likely holds a balance. Needs: any email or statement showing the account.

Estimated recoverable: $5,600 – $7,100. Legato's fee if all claims succeed: ~$870 — paid only from recovered money.

One search, every database

The MLC, SoundExchange, PROs, publishers, and all 50 states' unclaimed property — checked in one pass.

Paid only when you are

15% of what we recover from music organizations, 10% or your state's legal cap on state funds. No recovery, no fee.

Beat the 2027 clock

We prioritize claims against The MLC's redistribution deadline so your family's money doesn't default to major publishers.

The paperwork, handled

Death certificates, letters testamentary, work registrations — we prepare each organization's exact filing so you sign instead of decipher.

Future checks, redirected

Once claims close, ongoing royalties route to the estate — the catalog keeps paying the family.

Plain-English reporting

One dashboard shows every claim, its status, and what's been recovered. No industry jargon.

Pay from what we find — not before

Artist-Name Check

Free

Scan of MLC unmatched list, SoundExchange, and PRO repertory
Yes/no answer on whether money likely exists
No documents required

Best for: families who aren't sure there's anything to recover.

Recovery Analysis

$199 one-time

Full catalog map
Itemized estimate by organization
Claim plan with required documents and deadlines
Credited toward recovery fees if you proceed

Best for: executors who want a priced answer before committing.

Recommended

Full Recovery

15% of recovered funds

Everything in Analysis
Every claim prepared, filed, and tracked
State unclaimed-property claims at 10% or your state's legal cap
Future royalties redirected to the estate
Filing fees passed at cost

Best for: estates with a confirmed catalog and money on the table.

Is this available yet?

Legato is in early access. We're onboarding founding families now, in order of signup. Join the list and you'll get the free artist check first when the first batch opens — no charge and no commitment.

How do I know the money is real?

Every source we search is public. The MLC publishes its unmatched royalties list, SoundExchange publishes unclaimed accounts, and every state runs a searchable unclaimed-property site. The free check shows you what we found before you pay anything.

What does this actually cost?

The check is free. The optional analysis is $199, credited toward recovery. Recovery is 15% of what we collect from music organizations; state unclaimed-property claims are capped by law — usually 10% — and we honor every state's cap. If nothing comes back, you owe nothing.

Do I need a lawyer or finished probate?

No lawyer needed. You'll need proof you can act for the estate — typically letters testamentary or a small-estate affidavit. If probate isn't done, we'll tell you exactly which document your state requires before any claim is filed.

What if I barely have any paperwork?

Common. A death certificate, the artist's legal name, and a list of songs is enough to start the trace. We identify what each organization needs and help you request missing documents.

Is the 2027 deadline real?

Yes. The MLC has announced it will begin distributing unmatched royalties to registered publishers by market share in early 2027, starting with January 2021 usage. SoundExchange releases unclaimed accounts after three years. Unclaimed money doesn't sit forever.

Your family's catalog may be owed thousands across six different agencies — find out for free before the 2027 clock takes it. Founding families get the artist check free and first-in-line recovery when we open.