Question 1

Can I publish my own music?

Tom Stein · Accepted Answer

Yes, it is possible to self-publish your music. It’s not at all difficult or expensive to set up a publishing company, as outlined in this article. Having your own publishing company is considered the gold standard among professional Songwriters and Music Supervisors.
Setting up your publishing arm allows you to affiliate with a PRO (Performance Rights Organization) such as ASCAP or BMI which can then collect and administer royalties on your behalf. You can also co-publish with others and collaborate with Music Supervisors to get songs placed in films, TV shows, video games, or other visual media.
Most artists and writers either hire an administrator or independent publishing company to handle the drudgery of paperwork involved with registering copyrights and collecting royalties, for which they pay a small commission (more on this later).
Having a deal with a major publishing company can lead to more lucrative placements and career opportunities but might not be realistic at first for most DIYers. You might not need a big publishing deal. Many artists sign distribution only deals, or use a platform such as CD Baby or Songtrust to distribute their music while holding onto the publishing rights.

Question 2

What does it mean to own music publishing?

Tom Stein · Accepted Answer

Owning your publishing means you control all the rights to your music. The term “rights” refers mainly to revenue streams (i.e., income, money) generated from the use of your music. Whoever owns the rights to your music has the opportunity to benefit from payments made for its use. Publishing generally refers to the song or composition and not a specific recording of it. The latter are called “master rights” and are separate from the publishing rights. (More on this below.)
Publishing rights can be bought and sold. Whoever owns the publishing can also control what the music is used for. For example, if you didn’t want your music used in advertising, you could prohibit that. Lately, we’ve seen some major artists selling the rights to their songs for exorbitant prices. Even if you publish with another Publisher, you may retain some rights to the publishing.

Question 3

How does a Music Publisher get paid?

Tom Stein · Accepted Answer

Publishers earn royalties (sometimes called “residuals”, because they “reside” in the work) when their music is streamed, played on the radio, used for sporting events, and licensed for placement in advertisements, TV shows, movies, video games, or other media. The fees paid to the Publisher can be negotiated directly or through an agency or be generated automatically from the sources of distribution such as streaming services.
Contracts for music publishing can be quite complex and should always be reviewed by a qualified Attorney to make sure they are legal and fair to the Songwriter or Composer.

Question 4

How do I register a publishing company?

Alison Stolpa · Accepted Answer

To register your music publishing company, you first need to set yourself up as a business in your home state by registering with the Secretary of State. You can set up as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. Next, you need to submit your application as a Music Publisher to BMI or ASCAP. Once accepted, they’ll walk you through their registration process!

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