Publishing Rights: How Do They Get Split?
Many independent artists focus heavily on recording songs, promoting releases, and growing their streams. But there is one area of the music business that quietly generates huge income for songwriters - music publishing.
The surprising truth is that many artists lose money simply because they do not understand how publishing rights work.
You could write a song, watch it gain thousands of streams, hear it on the radio, or see it used in social media videos, yet still miss out on part of the revenue if your publishing rights are not properly organized.
In this guide, we will break down how music publishing rights work, how royalties are split between songwriters, and how you can collect your full share of publishing income.
What Are Music Publishing Rights?
Music publishing refers to the ownership and control of a song’s composition.
A composition includes two main elements:
- The lyrics
- The melody
This is different from the sound recording, which refers to the recorded version of the song that listeners hear on streaming platforms.
Whenever a song is played, performed publicly, streamed, or licensed for film or television, the songwriters and publishers are entitled to publishing royalties.
If you wrote the song and have not signed any publishing agreement, you are automatically considered both the songwriter and the publisher.
This means you are entitled to collect 100% of your publishing income.
How Publishing Royalties Get Splitw
Publishing royalties are generally divided into two equal parts.
- 50% Songwriter’s Share
- 50% Publisher’s Share
The songwriter’s share always belongs to the person who wrote the song.
The publisher’s share usually belongs to a publishing company that manages the song and collects royalties on behalf of the songwriter.
However, if you have not signed a publishing deal, you effectively act as your own publisher and can receive the entire 100% of the publishing royalties.
How Songwriting Splits Work With Co-Writers
Not every song is written by one person. Many songs are created through collaboration between multiple writers.
When that happens, the publishing royalties must be divided based on the agreed songwriting split.
For example:
- If two writers contributed equally, they might split the song 50/50.
- If one writer created most of the song and another contributed a small part, they might agree on a 70/30 split.
These percentages determine how publishing royalties will be distributed when the song generates income.
The most important rule in songwriting collaborations is simple:
Agree on the splits early and document them before the song is released.
Failing to do this can lead to disputes later, especially if the song becomes successful
Do Producers and Beatmakers Get Publishing?
This topic often causes confusion in the studio.
Under traditional copyright law, only the lyrics and melody are considered part of the composition.
This means technically:
- A drum pattern alone is not considered a composition.
- A beat alone is not considered a composition.
- Instrumental production elements may not automatically qualify for publishing ownership.
However, in modern music genres such as Afrobeats, hip-hop, and electronic music, producers often play a major creative role in shaping the final song.
Because of this, many producers negotiate a percentage of the publishing rights, especially if the instrumental or beat forms a major part of the song’s identity.
This is why many producers request a small publishing percentage in addition to their production fee.
Again, the best practice is to discuss and document this before releasing the song.
How Songwriters Collect Publishing Royalties
Understanding publishing rights is only the first step. You must also ensure your royalties are properly tracked and collected.
Step 1: Register with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO)
Performing Rights Organizations collect performance royalties when songs are played on radio, television, live venues, or public spaces.
Examples include:
- Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) – Nigeria
- ASCAP – United States
- Broadcast Music, Inc. – United States
- SESAC – United States
- PRS for Music – United Kingdom
- Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) – Africa
Registering your songs with a PRO ensures that your performance royalties are tracked and paid to you.
Step 2: Use a Publishing Administrator
Publishing administrators help songwriters collect publishing royalties worldwide.
They register your songs in international royalty databases and ensure that you receive income from different countries.
A popular publishing administration platform used by many independent artists is Songtrust.
Using a publishing administrator can significantly increase the royalties you collect globally.
Step 3: Always Create a Song Split Sheet
Before leaving the studio, make sure everyone involved agrees on the songwriting percentages.
A split sheet should clearly state:
- The names of all writers
- Each writer’s percentage share
- Who controls the publishing
- Contact information for all contributors
Once a song becomes successful, changing ownership details becomes extremely difficult.
Why Music Publishing Is So Important for Artists
For many successful songwriters, publishing income eventually becomes more valuable than streaming revenue.
Publishing royalties can come from many sources, including:
- Streaming platforms
- Radio airplay
- Live performances
- Film and television placements
- Commercial advertisements
- Social media content usage
Because of this, understanding publishing rights is one of the most important business skills an artist can learn.
Final Thoughts
If you are serious about building a sustainable career in music, you cannot ignore music publishing.
Every songwriter should make sure they:
Register their songs properly
Agree on songwriting splits early
Track their royalties globally
Protect their ownership rights
Your music is intellectual property, and intellectual property generates long-term income when managed correctly.
Make sure you claim every royalty your work deserves.
#MusicPublishing #SongwritersMoney #SecureTheBag
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