Do I Keep 100% of My Song if I Self-Publish?

 What Does Self-Publishing Mean?

• You own all the rights to your composition (lyrics and music).
• You handle registration with PROs, the MLC, and other royalty collection agencies yourself or via admin services.
• You don’t sign away any publishing rights to a third-party publisher.

 Financial Implications

• You receive both halves of all royalties (performance, mechanical, sync, print).
• You keep 100% of income but are responsible for:
• Registering and tracking your songs
• Collecting worldwide royalties (can be complex)
• Marketing and pitching your songs for placements

 How to Self-Publish Effectively

• Register as both a writer and publisher with your PRO (e.g., ASCAP, BMI).
• Register your works with the MLC and SoundExchange (if applicable).
• Use an admin publishing service like Songtrust or TuneCore Publishing to help with global collections.
• Keep accurate metadata and use split sheets if co-writing.

 Pros of Self-Publishing

• Full control and ownership of your songs
• Keep 100% of all royalties
• Flexibility to negotiate your own deals or sync licenses

 Cons of Self-Publishing

• Administrative burden of collecting royalties globally
• Limited access to traditional publishing advances and placements
• You must actively pitch and promote your own songs

 Pro Tips

• Consider admin publishing services if you want help without giving up ownership.
• If you grow your catalog and career, you can always partner with a publisher later.
• Keep detailed records and regularly check royalty statements.

Bottom Line:
Self-publishing means you keep full ownership and all income, but you’re responsible for the business side of royalty collection and promotion.