Do I need a music publisher?

Not necessarily. Self-publishing is viable if you register with a PRO, the MLC, and handle administration yourself. However, a publisher can significantly increase your sync licensing income and ensure comprehensive global royalty collection. The right publisher for ambient/meditation music is one with active sync relationships in the wellness space.

What is the difference between a publisher and a distributor?

A distributor handles the delivery and collection for your sound recordings (masters). A publisher handles the administration and collection for your compositions (publishing). They deal with different rights, different collection organizations, and different revenue streams.

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Music Publisher

A company that manages, promotes, and administers the rights to musical compositions on behalf of songwriters.

What it means

A music publisher is a company or entity that handles the business side of musical compositions on behalf of songwriters and composers. The publisher's role encompasses several key functions: administration (registering compositions with collection societies, issuing licenses, collecting royalties), creative development (helping songwriters improve their craft and connect with collaborators), synchronization (pitching compositions for placement in films, TV, ads, and other media), and exploitation (finding new revenue opportunities for the catalog). In exchange for these services, the publisher typically receives a share of the publishing income — the publisher's share — which is usually 50% of total publishing revenue in a traditional co-publishing deal, though this can vary. Publishing deals come in several forms: traditional publishing deals (where the publisher takes ownership of the compositions for a set term or permanently), co-publishing deals (where ownership is shared), administration deals (where the songwriter retains ownership and the publisher provides administrative services for a lower fee of 10-20%), and single-song agreements. For ambient and meditation music creators, a publisher with experience in sync licensing for the wellness and mindfulness sector can be particularly valuable. These publishers have relationships with music supervisors at meditation apps, wellness brands, documentary filmmakers, and other potential licensees that independent artists might not be able to reach on their own.

Technical details

Music publishers operate within a complex web of rights and collection systems. They register works with PROs (for performance royalties), the MLC (for streaming mechanical royalties), and foreign sub-publishers or collection societies (for international royalties). Publisher revenue splits are typically expressed relative to the total composition income: in a 50/50 co-publishing deal, the writer receives 75% of total income (100% writer's share + 50% of publisher's share) and the publisher receives 25% (50% of publisher's share). In a standard publishing deal, the writer receives 50% (writer's share only) and the publisher receives 50% (full publisher's share). Administration deals typically charge 10-25% of gross collections. Publishers may also provide creative advances, demo funding, and co-writing session opportunities. Major publishers include Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony Music Publishing, and Warner Chappell Music. Independent publishers and administration services like Kobalt, Songtrust, and CD Baby Publishing serve the independent market.

Frequently asked questions

Where to go next

Guide: next steps Genre landing Self-Publishing vs. Publishing Deal: Managing Your Composition Rights Catalog Value Calculator

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