A Songwriter’s Guide to Unlocking Global Royalties: 12 Must-Know Tips
Music publishing plays a critical role in a songwriter’s long-term earnings but can often feel overwhelming. Here's a simplified guide to help you set up your publishing and ensure you're collecting every royalty owed to you worldwide.
1. Understand the Two Sides of a Song
Every song has two components: the recording and the composition (lyrics and melody). Each earns its own types of royalties. On the recording side, you can earn royalties like recording royalties and digital performance royalties. On the publishing side, the composition generates performance royalties, mechanical royalties, and micro-sync royalties (like YouTube revenue).
Performance royalties are split into the writer’s share and the publisher’s share. Many artists focus on recording deals or distributors first, leaving publishing royalties uncollected—don't let this happen to you.
2. Choose a Distributor
Your music needs to be heard to earn revenue. Select a distributor that suits your needs to release your songs globally and connect with your audience.
3. Affiliate with a Collection Society
Every songwriter should join a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) or a Collective Management Organization (CMO) to collect performance royalties and participate in the publishing ecosystem. If you're in the U.S., you can affiliate with ASCAP, BMI, or, by invitation, SESAC or GMR.
4. Know That a PRO Alone Isn’t Enough
While PROs collect performance royalties, they usually focus only on their home territory. This means international performance royalties and mechanical royalties can go uncollected.
Working with a publisher or a publishing administrator ensures your songs are registered globally, so you can collect all available royalties.
5. Choose a Publishing Partner
Whether you're just starting out or exploring publishing options, partnering with a publishing administrator ensures you collect earnings in the meantime. Research your options and pick the partner that aligns with your goals.
6. Use a Split Sheet
When collaborating with co-writers, it's crucial to document each person’s share of a song. Using a split sheet template during your sessions prevents disputes later and provides clear evidence if conflicts arise.
7. Organize Your Song Metadata
To register your songs for publishing, gather key metadata, including:
Songwriter names and their split percentages.
IPI numbers (assigned by collection societies).
ISRC codes (assigned by your distributor or label).
Your tax ID for royalty payments.
Having this information ready simplifies the process.
8. Register Your Songs Promptly
Don’t delay registering your songs with your publisher or collection society. Make it a part of your release process to avoid missing out on royalties.
9. Ensure Global Royalty Collection
Your songs can earn royalties in countless ways across nearly 250 countries. Managing registrations globally is a massive task, but a publisher or administrator with an extensive network can make it seamless, ensuring you collect both domestic and international earnings.
10. Submit Your Setlists
If you perform live, submit your setlists to your collection society or publisher to collect performance royalties. Remember, there’s often a 6-month deadline for submitting setlists, so act quickly.
11. Consider Setting Up a Publishing Company
If you're managing multiple songwriters, creating a publishing company under your local PRO offers tax and liability benefits. Incorporating it as a separate business can further solidify your operations, but it’s not mandatory to start collecting royalties.
12. Keep Resources Handy
Music publishing is complex, but having a guide or trusted resource can simplify things. Start with tools like a Modern Guide to Music Publishing and build your knowledge as you go.
By following these steps, you can set up your publishing infrastructure, ensure global royalty collection, and maximize your earnings. The key is to be proactive and organized—your future self will thank you!
