Music publishing is a great avenue for songwriters and artists to explore. It can help to maximize your potential, get your music heard by millions and score amazing deals for your music. It can seem a little overwhelming and confusing at first, so allow us to break it down for you.
What Is Music Publishing?
In short, music publishing companies manage your songs and royalties for you. This is in exchange for a fee or percentage. A music publisher’s role is to make deals with songwriters and promote their music to those who may want to use their songs. For example, for ads, movies, campaigns or videos. They license your music, and collect licensing fees which is referred to as administration.
When music is used commercially (by being sold, licensed, or performed), the songwriter and copyright owner earn royalties. Music publishing companies can offer multiple services for songwriters. As a ‘publishing administrator’, they administer the copyright. This protects the use of your songs as well as collecting royalties that you are owed. Other music publishers focus on the use and exploitation of the copyrights they administer by securing opportunities in the form of ‘sync licenses’. These licenses are for film, TV, ads and video games.
Different Styles
The styles of music publishing companies can differ – some get involved in the creative process and promote musician’s work heavily. They can provide feedback to songwriters and match them up with other artists for collaborative projects. Other companies simply evaluate work, decide on its potential and buy some royalties. They usually still handle the administration and respond to offers from songwriters.
Types Of Music Publishing Companies
There are different types of music publishing companies, the same way that there are different types of labels. They fall into four main categories:
- Major: These are large companies that are associated with big labels, such as Sony, Universal and Warner Music Group.
- Major Affiliated: These are independent publishing companies that have deals majors such as the above companies to handle their licensing administration.
- Independent: These companies handle their own administration, and are self-funded.
- Writer-Publishers: Some songwriters handle their own publishing. This may involved hiring someone to handle their music administration, but they are recognized as an employee of the songwriter.
How Do Music Publishing Companies Make Money?
Music publishing companies earn money through licensing fees and royalties. They receive a percentage stake in the track, which is usually 50%. This is because the original copyright owner (the songwriter) gives a portion of the song’s copyright to the publisher.
What’s Great About Having A Publisher?
Scoring a deal with a publishing company can increase a songwriter’s earning potential, and open up doors to various companies and projects. These projects may be inaccessible without the right contacts. If a song makes it into a large campaign, it is great exposure and can promote the song beyond artist’s wildest dreams.
Audiosocket Music Licensing
Audiosocket is a music licensing company that is always looking for new talent. You can submit your music here for consideration. We offer a non-exclusive contract, meaning that you can maximize your potential by licensing your music to other companies or projects, also. We commission 50% of the gross licensing fees and publishing royalties, but you keep 100% of the writer’s share.
Audiosocket have secured placements with giants such as HBO, Amazon, Hulu, Disney, HP and many more. We would love to hear your music, so what are you waiting for?
