The Beginner’s Guide to Publishing Admin Deals
If you're an artist, songwriter, or producer starting to build momentum, you’ve probably heard the term publishing administration thrown around. But what does it actually mean — and why is it essential to your career?
This guide will break down the basics of publishing admin deals in a clear, simple way — and help you understand when and why you should consider signing one.
What Is a Publishing Admin Deal?
A publishing administration (admin) deal is an agreement where a company helps you register your songs, collect your global royalties, and manage your publishing rights — without taking ownership of your copyrights.
In short:
✅ You keep 100% ownership of your songs.
✅ The admin company collects money you’ve earned and pays it to you (after taking a small fee).
The fee is usually around 20%–25% of the royalties collected — much lower than a traditional publishing deal where you might have to give up 50% of your rights (or more).
Why Do You Need Publishing Administration?
Every time your music is streamed, downloaded, performed live, broadcasted, or used commercially, it generates publishing royalties. But you don’t automatically get all of those royalties unless you have a system set up to claim them — especially outside your home country.
For example:
Spotify pays mechanical royalties.
Radio airplay generates performance royalties.
A YouTube video using your song might trigger micro sync royalties.
Without a publishing admin company, a lot of that money can go uncollected or even be lost.
How Does a Publishing Admin Deal Work?
Here’s a simple breakdown:
You sign an admin deal.
They register your songs with collection societies around the world.
They monitor, track, and collect all royalties you’re owed.
They pay you (after keeping their small administration fee).
You stay the owner of your compositions — it's your catalog, your control.
When Should You Get a Publishing Admin Deal?
You should consider getting an admin deal if:
You’ve started earning real streams, radio play, live performance income, or sync opportunities.
You want to ensure your royalties are being collected worldwide.
You want to keep ownership of your songs.
You want transparent reporting and better cash flow from your music.
Pro Tip: If you have over 5 million streams, or if your music is used in media (TV shows, commercials, YouTube channels), you’re almost certainly owed publishing royalties you aren’t collecting yet.
Choosing the Right Publishing Admin Company
Not all admin services are created equal! When choosing a company, look for:
Global reach: Do they collect in major territories (U.S., Europe, Asia, Latin America)?
Transparent fees: Are their terms simple and clearly explained?
Reporting tools: Can you easily see where your money is coming from?
Artist-friendly contracts: Short terms, low fees, and no hidden ownership transfers.
Companies like Elizabeth Music Group specialize in making publishing admin simple and powerful for independent and emerging artists.
Final Thoughts
If you’re serious about making music your career, publishing administration is not optional — it’s essential.
A good admin deal helps you:
Collect the money you’ve earned.
Protect your rights.
Stay focused on creating, not chasing paperwork across the globe.
Think of it this way: you already made the music — now make sure you’re getting every dollar it deserves.
Need help finding the right publishing administrator?
Reach out to Elizabeth Music Group and let them help you collect your global publishing royalties!
