Music Publishing 101
When And What Licensing Organization Should I Join?
You should join a licensing organization when it appears someone is going to record your song; not before. As with starting your own publishing company, the licensing organizations have better things to do than try and track a song that isn't getting airplay anywhere. Think publishing only when there is a viable potential for income. There are different protocols to all the licensing organizations, and they use different formulas for computing royalties, so you should shop around. Fortunately, you won't have to shop long, because there are only three. Ask other songwrites which organization they belong to, and how they feel they are being treated. Are they getting paid; does the organization help with career advice? Remember too that your friends may not know anything much about the licensing organizations that they are not members of, so advice from them may be simply hearsay or conjecture. This is a decision you will have to make on your own, and it will affect you for years to come. If you join and decide later that you chose poorly, fear not: the first year of membership is generally considered a trial period, and you can usually switch over without too much trouble (unless of course you are cursed with success). Look at it on the brighter side; in terms of Writer earnings, these organizations are all about on par with each other; licensing organizations can be viewed somewhat like apples versus oranges.
What Can I Do To Protect Myself From A Publisher On A Single Song Deal?
Obtain a reversion clause when dealing with a single song and Publisher new to you. This will make all the rights to the song revert to you should the Publisher not place the song for commercial exploitation (better get used to the word "exploit") within a certain time period.
Be flexible on the amount of time you give the Publisher to place the song. After all, it probably took you a while to get the song to him
Be flexible on the amount of time you give the Publisher to place the song. After all, it probably took you a while to get the song to him; imagine how long it takes the Publisher to get the composition to Suzi Dahling's producer. Anywhere between six months and two years is not uncommon.
Again, I would like to emphasize that unless your song catalog is producing income, don't bother to form a publishing company. In the case of a new artist, if possible, assign your first few tunes to publishers with a reversion clause. After you have attained a degree of commercial success, you may then and only then consider starting your own publishing company.
Keep in mind that chasing down the royalties due you worldwide is not an easy task, and you might be
better off, even as a successful Writer, in retaining a Publisher with the infrastructure in place to
pursue your royalties for you. If you have attained commercial success, your bargaining position
with an established Publisher will be all the more stronger, and the Publisher will probably be
more flexible with a Writer that has a good track record.
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Copyright 2008 Greg Forest and licensed to Rain Computers, Inc. All rights reserved.