If you’re an artist or a songwriter, you surely have some questions about what is Music Publishing, or what music publishers do. Don’t worry, we’re going to explain the topic !
In short, through a publishing deal, the music publisher is responsible for ensuring the songwriters and composers receive payment when their compositions are used commercially. He will manage your songs and make sure that all of the royalties to which you are entitled are being collected, secure commissions for music or also promote existing compositions to recording artists, film and television. Thanks to them, you will earn money (with more royalties), leaving you time for your music !
There are several types of royalties, divided between the music publisher and the artist :
- Mechanical royalties, from the sale of recorded music, CDs, streaming or digital downloads.
- Performance royalties, collected by Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) such as SACEM, BMI or PRS. They monitor the broadcasting of all music, including live performances, and collect royalties from broadcasters and venues that present music to the public (radio stations for example). Once the PROs collect these royalties, they distribute money based on the number of plays tracked on all different forms of performance and broadcasting.
- Synchronization royalties, when a composition is used in a film or television soundtrack.
Specifically to Electronic Music...
For more informations, if you’re an artist or a publisher too, you can check Electronic Music Factory‘s website (which is an initiative of SACEM) to have quick information and practical tools to guide you at every stage of your project. Whether you are a label, booker, club, festival or publisher, you will find an ergonomic interface to guide you in a few clicks to useful explanations and suggestions. Other initiative to note about publishing: SACEM installed in partnership with DJ Monitor, the global pioneer and market leader in music identification, monitoring boxes that identify the tracks played in Electronic Music clubs and festivals; the goal is to distribute the collected copyrights as fairly as possible.
About music publishers, you can find different styles of companies, from independents to majors. Sidekick Music suggests you 10 Electronic Music Publishers to promote your music, on different levels.
10 Electronic Music Publishers to promote your music
1. KAA Production
Skilled in the Electronic Music’s arena, KAA Production are working with DJs, Producers, Songwriters and Rightholders of all genres. Through synchronisation and personalised collection of digital, broadcast or also Live Performance royalties, they make creations rewarding and find opportunities for your music, in complete transparency.
2. District 6
District 6 Music Publishing is an independent international music publishing company, with offices in London and Paris.
3. Write Here Music
WHM offers a tailored approach to worldwide administration of Publishing Rights, and places proactivity, transparency and assertiveness at the forefront of its methodology.
4. Ultra Music Publishing
Ultra International Music Publishing (UIMP) is the music publishing arm of Ultra Music that represents artists, songwriters, producers and other publishing rights holders from around the world.
5. MusicAllStars
MusicAllStars Publishing started in 1998 as a boutique music publishing company. Having built an extensive international network over the years, the Dutch company has now become a key independent player in the industry.
6. Downtown
Downtown is a leading music rights management company based in New York City, with offices in the world’s major media centers.
7. Budde Music
Over the last 60 years, Budde has become one of the most successful independent publishers in Europe. It is distinguished by its administration, superb licensing combined with an active A&R team.
8. Pulse Music Group
Founded in 2007 by record producer Josh Abraham and songwriters Scott Cutler and Anne Preven, Pulse is a music publishing, management and music services company that is home to a talent roster credited with more than 100 million units of recorded music sales.
9. Kobalt Music Group
Willard Ahdritz founded Kobalt in 2000 with a mission: Making the music industry more fair and rewarding for creators. They are trusted by some of the world’s greatest artists, and they represent more than 40% of the top 100 songs and albums in the U.S. and U.K.
10. BMG
BMG offers a new digital-age service alternative to songwriters, artists and rights owners in the music industry. It is a rights management company equally representing music publishing and recording rights.