Music Publishing and Copyright Issues

Understanding Music Publishing

Music publishing refers to the business of protecting and promoting a songwriter’s songs and collecting money for the usage of those songs.
A music publisher helps songwriters get their songs placed in films, television shows, commercials, video games, and other media.
Publishers can help songwriters get recording artists to perform and record their songs, exposing the songs to a larger audience.
In the realm of music publishing, copyright is the most essential aspect, as it grants legal ownership and control over a song or piece of music.

Copyright is a law that grants authors and artists the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, or license their work.
Immediately after a piece of work is created and fixed in a tangible medium (like a recording), it is copyrighted.
Copyrighted music can’t be used without permission from the copyright holder, usually the songwriter or their publisher.
Licenses must be granted to use copyrighted music, these may come with a fee known as royalties, which are then paid to the copyright holder.

Mechanical rights give the right to reproduce and distribute a song on media, including but not limited to records, tapes, and CDs. This right is often licensed to record labels.
Performance rights grant the right to perform a song publicly – for instance, in a live concert, background music in a restaurant, or broadcast on TV or radio.
Synchronization rights give permission to use a song in synchronisation with visual media like movies, TV shows, commercials, video games.
Print rights control the publishing of music in printed form, such as sheet music, and are often given to sheet music publishers.

Copyright infringements where the rights of the copyright owner are violated can lead to legal disputes.
Informing yourself and taking appropriate steps to protect your music can help prevent copyright infringement, loss of earnings and potential lawsuits.
Licensing agreements are particularly important as they serve as proof of granted permission by the copyright holder to use, reproduce or distribute music.
Assigning your copyright to a trusted and professional music publisher can ensure the effective administration and protection of your copyrights.

Music Publishing: The business side of music that deals with copyright protection, the promotion of songs and collection of respective royalties.
Music Publisher: An individual or company that takes responsibility for ensuring songwriters receive payment when their compositions are used.
Copyright: The exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, sell, or distribute the matter and form of something (such as a literary, musical, or artistic work).
Licenses: Legal permissions to do something with work that is under copyright, granted by the copyright holder.
Royalties: Recurring payments made by one party (the licensee) to another (the licensor/copyright owner) for the right to use their copyrighted work.
Mechanical Rights: The right to reproduce a piece of music onto CDs, DVDs, records or tapes.
Performance Rights: The right to perform music in public places.
Synchronization Rights: The rights to synchronize music with some kind of visual output.
Print Rights: Rights regarding the distribution of music in printed format usually through sheet music.
Licensing Agreement: A legal contract between two parties, in which the copyright holder grants the right to use or distribute the copyrighted work.