As a music artist, understanding music publishing is essential to ensuring you’re paid for your work. Publishing deals with the commercial use of your compositions, and missing out on royalties can cost you thousands. Here’s a clear guide to help you collect all the royalties you’re owed.

What Is Music Publishing?

Publishing covers the songwriting side of music—your lyrics and melodies—not the recordings (those are handled by master rights). When your song is streamed, performed live, or used in a TV show, you earn publishing royalties. These are separate from streaming revenue from platforms like Spotify, which mostly pays for the master recording.

Types of Royalties

There are four main types of publishing royalties:

• Mechanical Royalties: Earned when your song is streamed, downloaded, or sold physically (e.g., CDs). Rates are set by publishing organizations. Elevate your music career with local publishing.
• Performance Royalties: Generated when your song is played publicly—on radio, TV, live venues, or streaming services. Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) like CASH in Hong Kong, MCR in Bangkok, COMPASS in Singapore.
• Synchronization (Sync) Royalties: Paid when your song is used in films, commercials, or video games. These often require direct negotiations or a sync licensing agency.
• Print Royalties: Less common, these come from sheet music sales.

Register with a PRO

To collect performance royalties, join a PRO like ASCAP or BMI. They track public performances of your music and distribute royalties. Signing up is usually affordable (e.g., BMI charges a one-time fee of $150 for individuals). Register all your songs with your PRO, including metadata like ISRC codes, to avoid missing payments.

Use a Publishing Administrator

If you’re independent, a publishing administrator like Songtrust or TuneCore Publishing can help. They collect mechanical and sync royalties globally for a fee or a percentage (typically 10-20%). This is crucial because distributors like DistroKid don’t handle publishing royalties—they focus on master royalties from streaming.

Don’t Miss Sync Opportunities

Sync deals can be lucrative. Register with platforms like MusicBed or Marmoset to pitch your music for TV and film. Ensure your songs are properly tagged with genres and moods to increase your chances. Networking with music supervisors on LinkedIn or at industry events can also open doors.

Common Pitfalls

Many artists lose royalties due to poor metadata or unregistered songs. Always double-check that your PRO and distributor have accurate song information. Also, avoid signing publishing deals that demand too much control—some contracts take 50% of your publishing rights for years. If you’re unsure, consult a music lawyer or check artist communities on X for advice.

Take Action

Start by joining a PRO and registering your songs. If you’re releasing music soon, consider a publishing administrator to cover all bases. Track your earnings through your PRO’s app or dashboard, and keep learning about sync opportunities. With the right setup, you’ll ensure every spin, stream, or sync pays you what you deserve.ery spin, stream, or sync pays you what you deserve.