What Is Music Publishing?
Every recorded song has two parts: the song itself, meaning the words and melody, and the recording of it, called the master. Publishing looks after the song, so the people who wrote it get paid when it is used. The master earns separately, often for different people.
How does a song make money?
A song earns a performance royalty when it is played in public, on radio, on TV, in streams or at gigs, and a mechanical royalty when it is copied, as a stream, download or CD. It can also earn a sync fee when it is used in a film, advert or game. The money is split between a writer’s share and a publisher’s share.
How a song gets paid
- Your song
In the UK, a song is protected by copyright as soon as it is written down or recorded, with nothing to register first. The composition is the lyrics and melody. If you write with others, agree each writer’s share early, ideally on a split sheet.
- Registered works
The song is registered with PRS for Music and MCPS, listing its writers, their splits and any publisher, and it receives an ISWC, the song’s own code. That lets each use be matched to the right people. An unregistered song can earn money that never reaches you.
- Royalties collected
Performance royalties from radio, TV, live shows and streams are collected by PRS for Music. Mechanical royalties from streams, downloads, CDs and vinyl are collected by MCPS. Sync fees are agreed directly, and partner societies collect for your songs abroad.
- Songwriter paid
The societies pay writers and publishers according to the registered splits, with statements showing what each use earned. If you have a publisher, it pays you your share of what it collects under the terms of your deal.
Who collects the money?
In the UK, PRS for Music collects performance royalties and MCPS collects mechanical royalties, then they pay the writers and publishers they have on record. A song only gets paid if it is registered with the right writers and splits, so agree a split sheet when you write it.
What does a music publisher do?
A publisher registers your songs, collects the royalties and checks the money arrives. In an admin deal you keep your copyright and the administrator takes a share of what it collects. In a full or co-publishing deal, the publisher owns part of the songs, usually for a set time.
More guides: What Is Music Distribution? and Your music rights, explained.
Talk to us about your music
Want help with your songs? Our publishing administration page explains what we do. You can also send us a demo or get in touch.