< back

“What is music publishing?”

The business of music publishing is concerned with developing, protecting and valuing music.

Music publishers require a variety of skills, from the ability to spot good songwriting that is likely to appeal to an audience to ensuring that the music they represent is properly licensed and paid for.

The first thing is for us is to find the songwriter. We do this by going to gigs, listening to demo submissions and also by having people recommend songwriters to us.

If we like what we hear then we sign the writer(s). This relationship between us and a songwriter/composer is supported by a publishing contract setting out the rights and obligations of each to the other. Under these contracts songwriters and composers assign the copyright in their music to the music publisher in return for a commitment to promote, exploit and protect that music. The publisher agrees to pay the songwriter/composer a percentage of any income earned from such exploitation as royalties.

Once the writer is signed we will promote their compositions to record companies, producers, managers and recording artists. We look to secure our writers compositions with named artists for commercial release, or in the case of a performing artist, secure a deal for them with best record company possible.

“The role of a music publisher involves:”

• Registering the works of a songwriter with all appropriate collecting societies and agencies, such as ASCAP and BMI among others.
• Accounting to the writers on a scheduled basis, and continuing to promote and protect their work.
• Producing performance materials (score and parts) and demonstration recordings;
• Producing and licensing the production of printed music;
• Preparing promotional materials, including sampler CDs, study scores, etc;
• Promoting composers and songwriters to performers, broadcasters, record companies and others who use music on a commercial basis;
• Licensing the use of music;
• Monitoring and tracking the use of the music they own and ensuring that proper payment is made for all licensed uses;
• Making royalty payments to songwriters and composers in respect of the usage of their music;
• Taking appropriate action against anyone using music without the necessary license;
• The business of music publishing is dependent upon there being a strong copyright framework in place. The control of copyright enables a publisher to recover the investment made in songwriters and composers and to ensure that they are rewarded for their creative work. Without copyright there would be no financial incentive for music publishers to invest in composers and musical works. This would be to the detriment of composers who depend upon publishers to manage the business of exploiting musical works and administering royalty payments.
• The relationship between a music publisher and a songwriter/composer is supported by a publishing contract setting out the rights and obligations of each to the other. Under these contracts songwriters and composers assign the copyright in their music to the music publisher in return for a commitment to promote, exploit and protect that music. The publisher agrees to pay the songwriter/composer a percentage of any income earned from such exploitation as royalties.