Music Publishing Made Simple: How to Get Paid for Your Songs (Worldwide)
If you're a songwriter, producer, or indie artist, there's something you need to know:
Music publishing is one major revenue stream that allows you to make money from your songs—and most musicians leave money behind because they don’t understand how it works.
This guide will break it all down—easy to understand—so you can make sure you're collecting everything you’re owed, from the U.S. to everywhere else your music might be played.
What Is Music Publishing?
Music publishing is about owning and managing the rights to your songs—specifically, the composition (the melody + lyrics), not the recording.
Every time your song is:
Played on the radio
Streamed on Spotify
Used in a YouTube video
Downloaded on iTunes
Played in a café in another country
...you should be getting paid. These payments are called royalties.
The Two Sides of a Song
Every song has two main copyrights:
Composition copyright – belongs to the songwriter(s) and publisher
Sound recording copyright – belongs to whoever owns the master (often the label or artist)
Music publishing focuses on the composition side.
💰 The 4 Main Types of Publishing Royalties
To make sure you’re collecting everything, you need to know where the money comes from:
1. Performance Royalties
Earned when your song is played in public—radio, live shows, streaming, etc.
🔁 Collected by: PROs
2. Mechanical Royalties
Earned when your song is reproduced—downloads, CDs, and streams.
3. Sync Licensing Fees
Earned when your song is used in TV, film, ads, games, etc.
🔁 These are often one-time fees and negotiated directly or through a sync agent/music publisher.
4. International Royalties
If your music is streamed or played overseas, you’re owed royalties from those countries.
🔁 Collected by local PROs & mechanical societies abroad—but only if you’re registered or using a global publisher like ELIZABETH MUSIC GROUP.
🌍 Why You Might Be Missing Out
Even if you’ve signed up with a PRO like ASCAP or BMI, you’re not collecting everything. That’s just one piece of the puzzle.
You may be missing:
Mechanical royalties from streams and downloads
International payments
Sync licensing income
Digital royalties from platforms
What You Need to Do (The Basics)
✅ 1. Register with a PRO
ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC (if you’re in the U.S.) to collect performance royalties.
✅ 2. Use a Publishing Admin (like Elizabeth Music Group)
They’ll register your songs with royalty collection societies around the world and collect on your behalf.
📦 Optional (But Smart) Moves
Get a sync agent if you want your music in film, ads, or games.
Pro tip: Work with a music publishing administrator like Elizabeth Music Group that has sync experience and opportunities available.
Release music consistently to build your catalog and income
Keep track of your song registrations to avoid duplicates or missing payments
Final Thoughts
Music publishing doesn’t have to be scary. Once you understand the basics and get your songs registered properly, your music can start earning—locally and globally.
The sooner you take control, the sooner your music starts working for you.
Let Elizabeth Music Group administer your catalog so you can receive more of your global publishing royalties.
