Music Publishing Deals

Music publishers are always on the lookout for exceptionally talented songwriters, and you've got to find them instead of them finding you.

That's why it's important to get your songs out there, to knock on doors, make appoint- ments, and chase a music publishing deal. Oh, it's difficult alright, but it can be done.

Good music publishers can catapult your songwriting career into the stratosphere because they're connected with important industry people, they're experienced at placing songs with the right artists, and many are phenomenally talented at spotting true talent-YOU!

By signing a music publishing deal with a good music publisher your chances of getting your song commercially recorded go up dramatically as opposed to putting it out there yourself.

There are many different types of music publishing deals worked out with music publishers in the music biz and the following three are the most common:

1. Single Song Agreement

(this music publishing deal is also called Single Song Deal, Single Song Contract)

In this agreement, music publishers are interested in one or several songs and aren't ready or willing to commit to offering the songwriter an exclusive songwriter agreement. It could also be that the songwriter also is not interested in committing themselves to an exclusive songwriter agreement.

Typically, expect music publishers to offer small advances per song in the amount of $200-$500 per song, or no advance at all for these agreements.

In these deals, royalties are split 50/50 and songwriters assign 100% copyright ownership of the song(s) to the music publishers.

2. Exclusive Songwriter Agreement

(this music publishing deal is also known as Exclusive songwriter deal, Exclusive Songwriter Contract)

Music publishers offer this type of deal to songwriters with exceptional talent or potential to write songs which will be highly profitable.

This music publishing deal is similar to the single song agreement except music publishers will offer larger advances in the $20,000-$30,000 range and the contract is usually for 1 year with two option years.

Also, with this music publishing deal, songwriters must either recoup or show promise of recouping the advance, or their 2nd option year will not be exercised by music publishers.

Royalties are split 50/50 and songwriters assign 100% copyright ownership of the song(s) to the music publishers.

The songwriter usually agrees to submit 12-15 acceptable songs during each option year.

3. Co-publishing Agreement

(this music publishing deal is also called Co-Publishing Deal)

This deal is usually reserved for songwriters who have already had success and need help in administering all paperwork and records for their own music publishing companies, or for recording artists/songwriters signed to major labels because they want to retain a higher percentage of royalties and ownership of songs.

Royalties are usually split 75%(for songwriters)/25%(for music publishers). Also, songwriters usually assign only 50% of copyright ownership to music publishers.

******Once your signed to any type of music publishing deal, learn how to impress music publishers so you can have the best chance at building a strong, respectful business relationship.

*******If you're considering retaining all of the rights and royalties to your songs, read how to start a music publishing company to see if this is the right path for your career.

Other Music Publishing Articles

• How To Start A Music Publishing Company 
• How To Impress Your Music Publisher
• Music Business Contracts, The Inexpensive, Easy Way