Navigating the world of music publishing can be tricky, especially with so many industry-specific terms. Understanding these key concepts is crucial for every songwriter and artist. Below, we’ve simplified 20 basic music publishing terms you need to know, presented by Harmitone.
Music Publishing
Music publishing refers to the management of rights and royalties for the songs you write. Whenever your song is performed, reproduced, or streamed, you’re owed royalties. Music publishing ensures you understand your rights, know where your songs generate income, and how to collect it.
Royalties
Royalties are payments made to songwriters and artists when their work is used. These can come from compositions (the song’s music and lyrics) or sound recordings (the actual recording of the song). Composers collect royalties through PROs and publishing administrators, while recording royalties typically come through a distributor or record label.
Performance Royalties
When your song is played publicly—be it live, on the radio, or streamed online—performance royalties are generated. Whether a DJ spins your track at a club or it’s streamed on Spotify, you’re entitled to these royalties.
Mechanical Royalties
Mechanical royalties are earned whenever your song is reproduced digitally or physically. This includes streams on platforms like Spotify, downloads from iTunes, and physical sales like CDs or vinyl. TikTok videos and YouTube also generate these royalties.
Interactive vs Non-Interactive Streams
When listeners choose specific songs on platforms like Spotify, it’s called an interactive stream, which generates both performance and mechanical royalties. Non-interactive streams, where the platform selects the songs for the listener (like Pandora’s radio function), only generate performance royalties.
Copyright
Copyright grants you, the songwriter, exclusive rights to your music. It protects your work and ensures that you control how it’s used and by whom.
Performance Rights Organization (PRO)
PROs, such as ASCAP and BMI, collect performance royalties for songwriters when their music is publicly played or broadcast. They also issue licenses to businesses, ensuring that songwriters get paid when their music is used.
Composer vs. Lyricist
A composer creates the music, while a lyricist writes the lyrics. Both roles contribute to the songwriting process, and both are entitled to royalties.
Songwriter
A songwriter is anyone who writes or co-writes music or lyrics. Your work generates royalties whenever it’s used in a commercial setting.
Music Catalog
Your music catalog is a collection of all the songs you’ve written or own a part of. Keeping track of your catalog is essential for ensuring you receive all the royalties you’re owed.
Sound Recording/Master Recording
A sound recording, or master recording, is the recorded version of a song. For instance, while Dolly Parton owns the composition of “I Will Always Love You,” Whitney Houston’s version of the song is a separate sound recording owned by her label.
Publishing Administrator
A publishing administrator handles the registration, licensing, and royalty collection for your songs. Harmitone acts as a publishing administrator, managing your catalog and ensuring you receive your royalties.
Letter of Direction (LOD)
An LOD is a notice you send to collection societies, authorizing your publishing administrator to manage your songs and collect royalties on your behalf. This document does not transfer ownership of your songs, just the management rights.
Split Sheet
A split sheet is an agreement among co-writers that details the ownership percentage of each writer in a song. This document is essential for protecting your share of the song and avoiding disputes.
Work-for-Hire
In a work-for-hire arrangement, a songwriter is hired to create music for a one-time fee and does not retain ownership of the song. The hiring entity owns the copyright and controls the song.
Composition
A composition is the underlying music and lyrics that make up a song. Multiple recordings can be made of a single composition, but the composition itself remains the same.
Cover
A cover is when an artist performs another songwriter’s composition. The original songwriter earns royalties from any covers of their work.
Sample
A sample involves using a portion of an existing recording in a new song. Permission must be obtained from the original recording’s owner before using a sample.
Interpolation
Interpolation refers to re-recording a portion of an existing composition for use in a new song. Unlike sampling, it doesn’t involve using the original recording, but permission from the original songwriter is still required.
Blanket License
A blanket license allows businesses or broadcasters to use a PRO’s entire catalog of songs. This ensures that songwriters are paid for the use of their music in various commercial settings.
Public Domain
Songs in the public domain are no longer protected by copyright, meaning they can be freely used by anyone. In the U.S., copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years.
Share
Your share is the percentage of a song you own. If you wrote the entire song yourself, you own 100%. If you co-wrote it, your share corresponds to the agreed-upon split.
Sync License
A sync license allows a song to be used in visual media, like TV shows, movies, or commercials. Both the sound recording and composition owners must grant permission for this usage.
Understanding these terms is crucial for navigating the music publishing world. At Harmitone, we’re here to help you manage your music career, ensuring you get the recognition and royalties you deserve.
