Understanding and Negotiating Publishing Deals
How do I Handle Music Publishing Agreements?
Music publishing is the right to collect income from your compositions. Publishers administer rights, collect royalties, and generally act as your agent. Understanding publishing agreements is essential because they determine who collects your income and how much you get paid.
Publisher Roles
A publisher collects performance royalties, mechanical royalties, and sync royalties on your behalf. They pitch your music for film and TV placements. They administer rights internationally. They take a percentage (usually 20-50%) of what they collect.
Co-Publishing Benefits
Co-publishing means you retain some ownership but the publisher administers it. Co-publishing is usually better for artists. You retain ownership and future income potential while the publisher handles administration. Make sure agreements include reversion rights: if the publisher stops actively working your music, rights revert to you.
Auf Wiedersehen, amigos.
