What Are Publishing Rights and Why Do They Matter for Songwriters?

Two Main Types of Music Rights

Right Type	What It Covers	Who Earns From It
Publishing Rights	The composition (lyrics + melody)	Songwriters and publishers
Master Rights	The actual sound recording	Artists, producers, or labels

As a songwriter, publishing rights are your primary source of royalties.

 What Publishing Rights Control

• Who can license your song (for films, ads, covers, etc.)
• Who gets paid for streaming, performance, and sync uses
• Who collects mechanical and performance royalties
• How your music is administered globally

 How Publishing Rights Are Typically Divided

Role	Share of Income	Description
Writer’s Share	50%	Always yours—cannot be given away
Publisher’s Share	50%	Can be retained, assigned, or administered

If you don’t have a publisher, you own 100%—but still need to administer and register everything yourself.

 Ways to Manage Publishing Rights

• Self-Publish (do it all yourself)
• Use a publishing administrator (e.g., Songtrust, Sentric)
• Sign with a publishing company (they may take part ownership but offer advances and opportunities)

 Pro Tips

• Register all songs with a PRO and The MLC to collect what you’re owed
• If you self-release, create your own publisher name with your PRO
• Don’t give away your publishing rights in a deal unless you understand the tradeoff
• Publishing rights generate long-term, recurring income—they’re your music business foundation

Bottom Line:
Publishing rights are the core of a songwriter’s income. They control how your songs are used and monetized. Protecting and properly managing them ensures you get paid every time your music is played, licensed, or sold.