The Music Publishing Business
Expert-defined terms from the Global Certificate in Music Publishing: Next-Gen course at UK School of Management. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
**Advance** #
A sum of money paid to a songwriter or composer in advance of royalties earned from the use of their musical works. Related terms: Royalties, Music Publishing, Songwriter, Composer.
An advance is a payment made to a songwriter or composer by a music publisher in… #
The advance is an advance against future earnings, meaning that the songwriter or composer will not receive any additional royalties until the advance has been recouped. Advances can vary widely depending on the popularity and success of the songwriter or composer, the terms of the publishing deal, and other factors.
**Catalog** #
A collection of musical works owned or controlled by a music publisher. Related terms: Music Publishing, Musical Work, Copyright.
A catalog is a collection of musical works that have been registered with a perf… #
The catalog is an important asset for music publishers, as it represents a source of revenue through the licensing of the musical works it contains. Music publishers work to build and maintain their catalogs through the acquisition of new works and the signing of new songwriters and composers.
**Copyright** #
The legal right to reproduce, distribute, and publicly perform a musical work. Related terms: Musical Work, Publishing, Royalties.
Copyright is a legal right that gives the owner of a musical work the exclusive… #
Copyright protection is granted to musical works as soon as they are fixed in a tangible form, such as on paper or in a digital file. Music publishers play an important role in the protection and enforcement of copyrights, as they work to ensure that songwriters and composers are fairly compensated for the use of their musical works.
**Mechanical License** #
A license granted by a music publisher that allows a record company to reproduce and distribute a musical work on a physical or digital format. Related terms: Music Publishing, Royalties, Copyright.
A mechanical license is a license granted by a music publisher that allows a rec… #
The license is called a "mechanical" license because it covers the mechanical reproduction of the musical work. Mechanical licenses are typically granted in exchange for a royalty fee, which is a percentage of the wholesale price of the product.
**Performance Rights Organization (PRO)** #
An organization that collects and distributes royalties to songwriters and composers for the public performance of their musical works. Related terms: Music Publishing, Royalties, Copyright.
A performance rights organization (PRO) is an organization that collects and dis… #
PROs, such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC in the United States, represent a large number of songwriters and composers and license their musical works to music users, such as radio stations, television networks, and live venues. PROs then distribute the royalties collected from these music users to the songwriters and composers whose works have been performed.
**Publishing Administration** #
The process of administering and exploiting a music publisher's catalog of musical works. Related terms: Music Publishing, Catalog, Royalties.
Publishing administration is the process of administering and exploiting a music… #
This includes tasks such as registering musical works with PROs, collecting and distributing royalties, and licensing musical works for use in various media. Music publishers may handle publishing administration in-house or they may outsource this task to a third-party administrator.
**Royalties** #
Payments made to a songwriter or composer for the use of their musical works. Related terms: Music Publishing, Copyright, Advance.
Royalties are payments made to a songwriter or composer for the use of their mus… #
Royalties can be generated through various forms of exploitation, such as the licensing of musical works for use in films, television shows, and commercials, or the sale of physical or digital recordings of the musical works. Royalties are typically paid as a percentage of the revenue generated by the exploitation of the musical works.
**Synchronization License** #
A license granted by a music publisher that allows a music user to synchronize a musical work with visual images, such as in a film, television show, or commercial. Related terms: Music Publishing, Royalties, Copyright.
A synchronization license is a license granted by a music publisher that allows… #
The license is called a "synchronization" license because it covers the synchronization of the musical work with the visual images. Synchronization licenses are typically granted in exchange for a royalty fee, which is a percentage of the budget for the film, television show, or commercial.
**Term Sheet** #
A document outlining the terms and conditions of a proposed music publishing deal. Related terms: Music Publishing, Advance, Royalties.
A term sheet is a document outlining the terms and conditions of a proposed musi… #
The term sheet typically includes information about the advance, the royalty rate, the duration of the deal, and other important terms. The term sheet is used as a starting point for negotiations between the music publisher and the songwriter or composer, and it is not legally binding until a formal agreement is signed.
**Work for Hire** #
A musical work created by an employee in the course of their employment, in which case the employer is considered the author and owner of the copyright. Related terms: Copyright, Music Publishing, Songwriter.
Work for hire is a legal concept that applies to musical works created by an emp… #
In this case, the employer is considered the author and owner of the copyright, rather than the songwriter. This means that the employer has the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and publicly perform the musical work. Work for hire agreements are commonly used in the music industry, particularly in the context of film and television music.