Music Publisher – A music publisher is an individual or company that works with songwriters, composers, lyricists and producers, offering them numerous services with the goal of increasing the author’s revenue and protecting their rights. The services offered by publishers can include:
- copyright and royalties administration and tracking;
- registering their works;
- negotiating licences and representing the authors’ interests;
- finding opportunities for authors to develop their careers and catalogue through co-creation opportunities, such as co-writing sessions and songwriting camps;
- finding various outlets for monetising compositions such as music synchronisation or pitching an unreleased song to a different artist.
For their services publishers will typically take a share of income earned, which can range from 25% to 40%, although specific arrangements may vary. There are also flat fee agreements or combinations of both. The way a publisher is paid for their services and the specific percentages or amounts will be specified in a publishing agreement.
Sub-publishers represent the interests of the original publisher in foreign territories. They perform similar roles, including administration, licensing, and royalty collection, ensuring that the rights and revenues are managed effectively across different regions.
