Topic 09 of 16
Publishing & PROs
What Is Music Publishing?
Music publishing involves the licensing and exploitation of your compositions (songs) — not recordings. Publishing generates royalties when your songs are performed, streamed, broadcast, or reproduced. As a songwriter, you own 100% of your publishing rights unless you sign them away to a publisher.
What Are PROs?
A Performing Rights Organization (PRO) collects and distributes performance royalties on your behalf — money generated when your song is publicly performed (streamed, played on radio, broadcast on TV, performed live, etc.).
US PROs
| PRO | Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ASCAP | ascap.com | Membership fee; songwriter & publisher members; non-profit |
| BMI | bmi.com | Free to join; songwriter & publisher accounts; non-profit |
| SESAC | sesac.com | Invite-only; smaller but known for aggressive royalty collection |
| GMR | globalmusicrights.com | Invite-only; premium royalty rates for top songwriters |
International PROs
| Country | PRO |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | PRS for Music |
| Canada | SOCAN |
| Australia | APRA AMCOS |
| Germany | GEMA |
| France | SACEM |
| Japan | JASRAC |
| Sweden | STIM |
Types of Publishing Royalties
- Performance royalties: Collected by PROs when music is publicly performed (streaming, radio, TV, live venues)
- Mechanical royalties: Paid when your composition is "mechanically reproduced" — on CDs, downloads, or interactive streaming. In the US, collected by the MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective)
- Sync licensing fees: Paid when your song is licensed for use in film, TV, ads, or games
- Print royalties: Paid for printed sheet music or lyric licenses
The MLC (US)
Since 2021, the Mechanical Licensing Collective (themlc.com) administers mechanical royalties from digital services in the US. Register your songs at themlc.com to claim your mechanicals from Spotify, Apple Music, and other interactive streaming services.
Do You Need a Music Publisher?
As an independent artist, you can be your own publisher. You keep 100% of your publishing rights. However, a music publisher can add value by:
- Actively pitching your songs for sync placements
- Administering your catalog globally
- Registering your works with international societies
- Pursuing unauthorized uses
If you want to administer your own publishing without giving up rights, consider a publishing administrator like Songtrust ($20/yr + 15% commission), which registers your works globally and collects royalties from 60+ countries.
Publishing deals
If a traditional publisher offers you a deal, understand the difference between a co-publishing deal (you retain some ownership), an administration deal (they administer, you own 100%), and a full publishing deal (they own part or all of your copyrights).
This information is provided for educational purposes only and is based on official sources when available. We are not affiliated with any government or legal organization. This is not legal advice.