How Music Publishing Royalties Actually Work
Streaming royalties get most of the attention, but they're only half of what a song can earn. Publishing royalties — paid to songwriters and composers, separately from recording owners — are often left uncollected simply because artists never registered for them. Here's what they are and how to make sure you're not leaving money behind.
Every song has two copyrights
A recorded track carries two separate copyrights: the sound recording (the specific recorded performance) and the composition (the underlying melody and lyrics). Distribution royalties pay the owner of the sound recording. Publishing royalties pay the owner of the composition — usually the songwriter. If you wrote and recorded your own song, you're owed both, but you have to register for each separately.
The four types of publishing royalties
Mechanical royalties
Paid whenever your composition is reproduced — including streams, downloads, and physical copies. On streaming platforms, mechanical royalties are typically collected through a mechanical rights organization.
Performance royalties
Paid when your composition is performed publicly — streamed, broadcast on radio or TV, or played in a public venue. These are collected by Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) around the world.
Sync licensing
Paid when your composition is licensed for use alongside visual media — a film, TV show, advertisement, or video game. Sync fees are negotiated per use and can be substantial even for a single placement.
Neighboring rights
Paid to performers and recording owners (not just songwriters) when a recording is broadcast or played publicly, common in many countries outside the United States.
Why royalties go uncollected
Collection societies can only pay royalties to works that are properly registered with accurate ownership splits. If a song isn't registered — or is registered incorrectly — the royalties it generates often sit unclaimed rather than being automatically routed to the right person. This is especially common for independent songwriters who release their own music without separately handling publishing.
Getting registered correctly
Registration requires listing every songwriter and their ownership percentage, along with the recording's ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code). Publishing administration services handle this registration across multiple territories and collection societies on your behalf, so you don't need a direct relationship with every society worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I collect publishing royalties without a distributor?
Yes, publishing registration is independent of distribution — you can register your compositions even if you distribute elsewhere.
What if I sample or cover another artist's song?
You will typically need a license from the original composition's rights holder before commercially releasing a cover or sample.
How are royalties split between co-writers?
Splits are agreed upon by the writers themselves and registered accordingly — there is no default split without an agreement.