Navigating Music Publishing Deals: Finding the Perfect Fit for Your Creative Journey.
Music publishing is one of the most important yet often misunderstood and overlooked aspects of the music industry. At its core, publishing involves the management and monetization of the composition—the underlying musical work that exists beyond the sound recording. Publishing ensures that songwriters and composers earn from the use of their songs, whether they are performed at shows, featured in films, included in advertisements, or used in video games. When properly administered, publishing provides financial stability and opens doors to opportunities such as synchronization deals, songwriting camps, and co-writing sessions. Unfortunately, many artists tend to overlook publishing and focus primarily on their sound recordings, especially because they are often drawn to the short-term goals of securing advances or getting their songs trending on Digital Service Providers (DSPs). However, a well-managed catalog has the potential to generate continuous, long-term income. This article aims to break down the different types of publishing deals and highlight key terms every songwriter should understand.
Understanding Music Composition and Publishing
To fully grasp publishing, it is essential to understand the two key elements that make up music: the sound recording and the composition.The sound recording, also known as the master, is the final, recorded version of the song consumed by the public. It is the version distributed on streaming platforms, CDs, or other formats and captures the artist’s performance in its final form.On the other hand, the composition, often referred to as the musical work, consists of the melody, lyrics, harmony, and overall structure of the song. To illustrate this, imagine baking a cake — the flour, sugar, butter, and flavoring represent the composition, while the finished cake is the sound recording.It is also important to note that sound recordings are typically owned by record labels, artists, or management, while the composition belongs to the songwriters or composers. Consequently, the responsibility often lies with the songwriters or their appointed publishers to ensure that their publishing rights are protected, properly registered, and adequately exploited.
Types of Rights in Music Publishing
Music publishing encompasses various types of rights, including:
- Performance Rights – Earned when a song is played on radio, television, streaming platforms, or performed live.
- Mechanical Rights – Paid when a song is reproduced or distributed, such as through CD sales or DSPs.
- Synchronization (Sync) Rights – Earned when a song is licensed for use in films, television, commercials, or video games
- Print Rights – Relate to the use of sheet music or printed lyrics.
Breaking Down Publishing Deals
Before understanding the different types of publishing deals, it is essential to first grasp how publishing income is divided. In music publishing, the composition is generally split into two equal parts: the songwriter’s share and the publisher’s share. Each side represents 50%, making a total of 100%, though in some agreements or royalty statements, this is simply expressed as 100/100. To visualize this, picture a circle divided into two halves — the left half represents the songwriter’s share, while the right half represents the publisher’s share. Regardless of whether the income is expressed as 200% or 100%, the principle remains: the income is equally divided between the songwriter and the publisher.
1. Administrative Publishing Deal
As the name suggests, an administrative deal involves a songwriter hiring a publisher to handle the administrative aspects of their publishing rights. This includes tasks such as registering songs, maintaining accurate metadata, collecting royalties, registering split sheets, and conducting royalty audits.
Unlike more comprehensive deals, an administration deal does not require the publisher to actively seek creative opportunities such as synchronization placements or co-writing sessions. The publisher also has no creative control over the works.Importantly, the songwriter retains full ownership and control of their publishing rights. In exchange for their services, the publisher typically receives a small percentage from the publisher’s share, usually between 10% and 15%. This type of deal is often best suited for A-list artists or established songwriters who already have networks and exposure but require administrative support.
2. Co-Publishing Deal
A co-publishing deal is a collaborative agreement where both the publisher and the songwriter share ownership and income derived from the composition. Typically, the publisher retains 50% of the publisher’s share, while the songwriter retains their full writer’s share and also receives a portion of the publisher’s share, giving them more overall income.Since both parties have a vested interest in the success of the catalog, there is often a collective effort to exploit the songs effectively. This includes promotional support, synchronization pitching, and creative opportunities such as songwriting camps and co-writing sessions. Independent artists or songwriters looking for both creative and administrative support often find co-publishing deals attractive.
3. Full Publishing Deal
In a full publishing deal, the publisher owns and controls 100% of the publisher’s share, while the songwriter retains only their writer’s share, which is typically 50% of the total income. Under this arrangement, the songwriter does not receive any portion of the publisher’s share. One of the main features of a full publishing deal is the provision of a significant advance to the songwriter. In addition to administrative services, the publisher provides extensive creative and promotional support, including pitching songs for synchronization opportunities, organizing writing sessions, and actively promoting the catalog. However, this type of deal has become less common and is generally only recommended when the publisher offers a substantial advance and has a proven track record of delivering beneficial opportunities for songwriters. Songwriters must also carefully consider the potential long-term value of their catalog, as songs can gain popularity unexpectedly, resulting in the publisher earning significantly more than the initial advance paid.
Choosing the Right Publishing Deal
Selecting the right publishing deal depends on your career stage and specific needs:
- Independent Songwriters often prefer co-publishing deals, which offer both administrative and creative support while allowing them to retain a fair share of income.
- A-list or Established Artists generally lean towards administrative deals, as they already have industry leverage and need only administrative support to manage their catalog and royalties.
- Songwriters Seeking Advances may opt for a full publishing deal, though this requires careful consideration due to the long-term implications on ownership and control.
Publishing are often compared to the stock market unpredictable and capable of increasing in value over time. Therefore, understanding the structure and long term consequences of each deal is crucial.
Why It’s Never Too Late to Get Your Publishing in Order
One of the most fascinating aspects of music publishing is that it’s never too late to organize your catalog. In recent years, there has been a surge in the sampling of classic songs by contemporary artists, reviving older hits and generating new revenue streams. Artists such as Bright Chimezie and Sunny Neji have benefited from this trend, regaining recognition and income from their older works. Increased awareness around publishing has also encouraged many legendary artists to engage professional publishers to manage and exploit their catalogs properly.
Music publishing truly is the gift that keeps on giving. A perfect example is Seyi Sodimu, whose classic hit Love Me Jeje, written years ago, earned him a credit on Tems’ Grammy award-winning song of the same title. Not only did this bring him recognition and income, but because he had a publisher managing his catalog, his splits were properly registered, and his royalties were efficiently collected.
Conclusion
With the right knowledge and professional support, songwriters can confidently navigate the world of music publishing. Understanding the different deal structures, protecting your ownership, and properly managing your catalog can ensure both creative freedom and financial success throughout your career.
