If you write songs, produce tracks, or run a small publishing catalog, there’s a good chance some of your money is still sitting on the table—especially your US digital mechanical royalties. Metadata gets messy, splits change, and matching can fail. The result? Royalties go unclaimed. That’s exactly the problem handa aims to solve. In this review, I’ll walk you through what handa does, its key features, what to expect on pricing, who it’s best for, and how it stacks up against top alternatives so you can decide if it’s the right fit for you or your team.
handa finds and recovers unclaimed US mechanical royalties from streaming for songwriters, producers, and publishers. You can run a free audit to see what you’re owed, and there are no upfront fees to recover the money.
Here’s a clear look at what you can expect when you use handa.
handa starts with a no-cost audit. You can quickly check if there’s outstanding money linked to your songs from US digital streaming services. This gives you a straightforward snapshot of whether it’s worth taking the next step. If you’ve never claimed US mechanicals or you’re unsure whether your works are matched correctly, the audit is a simple way to find out.
Mechanical royalties from on-demand streaming in the US can slip through the cracks when song data is incomplete, mismatched, or not registered properly. handa focuses specifically on these unclaimed or underpaid mechanicals tied to US streaming. That focus matters: by keeping the scope tight, the service is built to find and fix the most common issues that stop your money from getting to you.
To perform a deeper check beyond the quick audit, you can provide your song information (titles, writers, splits, ISWC/ISRC where available) so handa can match your catalog against relevant datasets. The more complete your metadata, the better the results. If you only have partial info, they can still move forward and help you identify problem areas that may need cleanup.
Finding the money is just the beginning. handa’s core value is the heavy lifting of recovering it. That means preparing and submitting claims, helping align your composition data with the correct recordings, addressing disputes when necessary, and navigating the process until your funds are secured. If you’ve ever tried to chase these royalties yourself, you know that this part can consume time and energy—handa steps in to do it for you.
If you’re a co-writer or a producer with songwriting points, you’re only owed your portion of a composition. handa’s work takes splits into account. That helps ensure payouts line up with the shares you actually control, rather than over- or under-claiming, which can delay payments or trigger disputes.
Many creators have years of streaming activity behind them. If those plays weren’t matched correctly on the composition side, there could be a pool of older unpaid mechanicals waiting to be claimed. handa looks for those back royalties tied to US streaming so they don’t stay trapped in limbo. This is especially helpful if your catalog moved distributors, your splits changed over time, or your metadata improved only recently.
One of the main reasons royalties go unclaimed is bad or missing metadata. handa helps you see what’s missing or mismatched, and what needs to be updated to move your claims forward. You’ll get clarity on things like title alignment, writer names, shares, and identifiers like ISWC and ISRC. The end result is cleaner data and a more reliable pipeline for future royalties.
As your recovery moves through the pipeline, you want to know where things stand. handa’s process emphasizes visibility—what they think is owed, what’s been filed, and how recovery is progressing—so you can track progress without chasing status updates yourself.
Even after an initial recovery, your catalog keeps streaming. handa can continue to monitor your works, look for new mismatches, and flag any emerging issues that might hold up future payments. That way you’re not starting from zero the next time something goes wrong with your data.
From the start, handa is clear about one thing: you can run a free lookup and there are no upfront fees to get going. That’s good news if you’re unsure how much you’re actually owed and don’t want to risk money just to find out.
handa offers a free audit and charges no upfront fees. In practice, recovery services like this usually work on a success-based (contingency) model, where a percentage is taken only from money they actually recover. handa does not publicly list a fee structure on its site, so if you want specifics, the best move is to contact them directly through handa.app. That way you can understand the exact terms for your catalog size, expected recovery, and any ongoing monitoring you might want.
What matters most is the alignment: you don’t pay unless money is recovered. That makes the decision straightforward if your audit shows a meaningful amount of unclaimed royalties.
Here’s a quick, honest look at the trade-offs so you can decide faster.
Pros:
Cons:
If you’re evaluating handa, you’re likely also thinking about other ways to collect mechanical royalties or clean up your catalog. Here are the most relevant alternatives and how they compare.
What it is: The MLC is the non-profit organization designated to collect and distribute US digital mechanical royalties from services like Spotify, Apple Music, and others, for eligible rightsholders.
Best for: Songwriters and publishers who want to self-serve the US digital mechanical pipeline directly and have the time to manage their registrations and claims.
How it compares: Joining the MLC is free. You can register your works, review data, and submit claims yourself. If you’re comfortable doing the administration and troubleshooting, this can work well. handa is a service layer on top of this landscape—if you don’t want to handle the grunt work or you suspect there’s a lot of unclaimed money you’re not seeing, handa can be a practical shortcut.
What it is: A royalty collection and rights administration service known for focusing on mechanical royalties and identifying underpayments for publishers and songwriters.
Best for: Catalogs that want hands-on help with mechanical collections and possible audits, especially if there’s a belief that substantial money is missing.
How it compares: Audiam provides broader administration services beyond just unclaimed royalty recovery. handa is narrower and centered on auditing and recovering unclaimed US streaming mechanicals with no upfront fees, making it a targeted option if that’s your main need.
What it is: A global publishing administration platform that registers your compositions, collects mechanical and performance royalties worldwide, and simplifies songwriter onboarding.
Best for: Independent songwriters and small publishers who want a one-stop publishing admin solution across multiple territories and royalty types.
How it compares: Songtrust handles global collections (mechanical and performance) once your works are registered. It’s broader in scope but not aimed specifically at forensic recovery of unclaimed US streaming mechanicals. If your main problem is unclaimed US mechanicals from past activity, handa’s focused audit and recovery may be faster. If you need full global admin for the future, a service like Songtrust can complement recovery work.
What it is: Publishing administration for songwriters who often distribute through CD Baby, handling global collections including mechanicals and performance royalties.
Best for: DIY artists releasing through CD Baby who want a simple way to collect publishing royalties worldwide.
How it compares: CD Baby Pro is a streamlined option tied closely to your distribution workflow. It’s convenient for future royalties, but it’s not designed as a dedicated recovery service for unclaimed US streaming mechanicals. handa can be a smart add-on if you suspect back royalties are sitting unclaimed.
What it is: Global publishing administration that registers compositions, tracks down royalties internationally, and pays out to songwriters and publishers.
Best for: Artists and writers within the TuneCore ecosystem who want an all-in-one solution for ongoing publishing collections.
How it compares: Similar to CD Baby Pro Publishing and Songtrust in scope. It’s aimed at ongoing global collections, not just unclaimed US streaming mechanical recovery. handa is complementary if your immediate priority is to identify and recover money from past US streams that never reached you.
What it is: A publishing administration company serving independent songwriters, producers, and catalogs, offering global registrations and royalty collection.
Best for: Writers and small catalogs who want flexible admin with international reach.
How it compares: Sentric focuses on ongoing registrations and collections across territories. handa’s value is in specialized US streaming mechanical audits and recoveries. Depending on your needs, you might use Sentric (or any admin service) for forward-looking collections and handa for a one-time or periodic recovery push in the US.
What it is: Kobalt’s publishing administration paired with AMRA for direct digital collections in multiple territories. Typically geared toward larger or fast-growing catalogs.
Best for: More established writers, producers, and publishers who want sophisticated, scalable administration worldwide.
How it compares: Kobalt/AMRA is a comprehensive global solution for ongoing collections. If you already work with a major admin partner, you might still consider a recovery-focused service like handa to investigate potential unclaimed US streaming mechanicals—especially for legacy data or pre-admin periods.
It depends on your goal:
Unclaimed US mechanical royalties are more common than most songwriters, producers, and small publishers realize. Simple metadata gaps—missing splits, variant titles, missing ISWC/ISRC links—can stop money from reaching you. And even when you do everything “right,” matching can still fail. That’s why a quick diagnostic and a focused recovery effort are worth your attention.
handa is built for this exact problem. You can run a free audit, see what you’re likely owed from US digital streaming, and decide from there—no upfront fees. If your catalog shows clear signs of unclaimed money, letting a specialist team file claims and resolve disputes can save you months of back-and-forth and help you capture funds you might not get on your own.
Here’s a simple way to move forward today:
If you only do one thing this week, make it the audit. It’s fast, it’s free, and it could uncover money you’ve already earned. And if handa recovers it, you’ll have turned a common industry headache into a win—for you, your team, and your catalog.
Learn more or start your lookup at handa.app.
