Music publishing is a vital part of any musician’s business. It enables artists to monetize their work and reap the rewards of their creativity. In order to understand how music publishing works, it’s important to know exactly what it is and how you can make use of it.
Music publishing defines who owns the rights to a song and outlines how those rights are used—including when, where, and how songs are used in movies, advertisements, or even on streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music. Publishing companies handle the legal aspects of music distribution for musicians; they negotiate licensing fees for the commercial use of songs, register copyrights with appropriate organizations, collect royalties from royalty-bearing sources (like those aforementioned streaming services), and ensure artists are properly credited when their songs are used.
Musicians can also benefit from music publishing by taking advantage of the resources – such as support staff, marketing, and promotion – that a publisher provides. Music publishers typically partner musicians with other industry professionals who can help them further their career and build a fanbase. These professionals may include publicists, radio promoters, or even booking agents that artists wouldn’t otherwise have access to on their own.
Ultimately, musicians should understand what music publishing is and how it works in order to maximize the potential opportunities for their music career. It offers the chance for you to make money off of royalties and earn recognition beyond just recording an album.
Publishing companies handle the legal aspects of distribution. They negotiate licensing fees, register copyrights, collect royalties, and ensure artists are credited when their songs are used. Additionally, musicians can benefit from the resources offered by publishers such as marketing and promotion support staff, publicists, radio promoters or booking agents that allow artists to further their careers and build a fanbase.
References:
1. https://www.ascap.com/en/about/music-publishing
2. https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2009/09/what-is-music-publishing-and-how-does-it-work-.html
3. https://www.grammypro.com/thegrammys/adviceforartists/2020/what-is-music–publishing–and–why–do–i–