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Glossary · Publishing

Music publisher

By Boboy Watson·Last verified August 31, 2026·Also called Publishing company, Publisher, Song publisher

A music publisher takes an ownership interest in songs and works them. The traditional deal gives the publisher the publisher share — 50% of a composition's income — and in a full publishing deal, ownership of the copyright itself for a term. In exchange the publisher registers the work with The MLC, with ASCAP or BMI, and with societies in every territory it operates in; chases and audits income; licenses synchronisation; and in the classic model actively pitches songs to artists, films and advertising.

The distinction that matters most to an independent artist is publisher versus administrator. A publisher takes ownership. A publishing administrator — Songtrust, DistroKid Publishing, CD Baby's publishing service — performs the collection functions for a commission and leaves the copyright with you. Between them sits the co-publishing deal, where you keep part of the publisher share and the publisher takes the rest.

There is also the self-publishing option, which most independent artists should understand before signing anything. You register your own publisher entity with your PRO — $50 at ASCAP, $175 for an individual publisher at BMI, per their published fees in August 2026 — and collect both halves yourself.

The misunderstanding: that a publisher is a prerequisite for earning publishing income. It is not. What a publisher offers is reach and effort, particularly outside the United States and in sync. BMI's own guidance says creating a publishing company "will not mean that you receive more royalties" — the money exists either way. The question is only who collects it and what they take.

Practitioner notes from an independent artist; any actual deal deserves a music attorney.

Definitions on this site describe the United States system. I am an artist who has been through this, not a lawyer.