The 2 Copyrights in a Song (And How To Make More Money From Them)
Many artists I work with have a tough time understanding the different copyrights in a song. The revenue streams that flow from them. I don’t blame them. Our copyright system has developed in bits and pieces over decades, so there are layers of complexity at play here. In every recorded song there exists two main […]
Should You Sign a Music Publishing Deal?
If you write your own songs, at some point in your career you will want to consider whether signing with a music publishing company makes sense. Music publishers are sort of like record labels, but for your compositions rather than your master recordings which embody your compositions. The right music publisher can take your […]
Should Musicians Self-Publish?
As a songwriter, you have likely heard talk of self-publishing your compositions. You’ve likely noticed, while perusing the fine print in the liner notes of your favorite albums, that nearly all major artists have created their own publishing company. This means that they’ve incorporated a publishing company, through which the publisher’s share of income flows. The […]
The 3 Types of Music Publishing Agreements (and why they’re important)
If you write your own songs, either with a band or on your own, or co-write with others, developing an understanding of music publishing is probably the most important thing you can do for your career. That being said, music publishing is the most confusing aspect of the music business. The number of blank stares […]
What Rights Do You Have As a Song Co-Writer?
If you are a song co-writer, you have certain rights. But so does the other song co-writer. What rights do each of you have in the co-written song? Can you make further changes to the song without the co-writer’s consent, or sign off on the use of that song in film or television? Can […]