Please note: These articles provide a general overview to help you get started with understanding copyrights in the music industry. They’re just for informational purposes and not intended as legal advice.
What are publishing royalties and how are they generated?
On Bandcamp, there are two types of publishing royalties in relation to your compositions (which is the writing of the music and the lyrics): performance royalties and mechanical royalties. Performance royalty is money owed to the songwriter whenever the composition is used commercially. “Used commercially” on Bandcamp means a fan purchased a track or album.
The second type of publishing royalty on Bandcamp is mechanical royalties, which means money owed to the songwriter and/or publisher for the right to reproduce the music physically or digitally. On Bandcamp, this is owed when a fan purchases a digital track or album and certain types of merchandise.
Who collects publishing royalties?
Publishing royalties may be collected by:
- The artist themselves (if they are the songwriter and self-published)
- A publisher who has a direct contract with the songwriter and assists in marketing and licensing their work
- A Performance Rights Organization (PRO), such as ASCAP (US) or PRS (UK)
- A Collective Management Organization (CMO), such as the Harry Fox Agency (US), GEMA (Germany), or SACEM (France), PRS for Music (UK)
What are exclusive rights for songwriters?
As a songwriter (or composer), you have an ‘exclusive’ right to the performing rights of your song. This means you will generally receive a share of the performing rights directly from your performing rights society, even if you are also signed with a publisher who handles other publishing rights.
What is the process for registering a song with a society and why is it important?
If you are a member of a PRO, CMO, or collection society, it's crucial to register your work with that society every time you compose a song. This involves informing the society about who contributed to the song and the extent of each person's contribution. If you’re signed to a publisher, they will handle this process for you. However, as the original creator, you have the most accurate information on the song’s contributors to ensure correct registration. Accurate registration of your contributions is essential so that the metadata (all the information about your song) is complete, enabling the appropriate amount of royalties to be paid to the right people each time a song generates a mechanical or performing royalty.
Where can I find more information on music publishing rights and royalties?
For more detailed information, you can refer to the following trusted resources:
U.S.:
- U.S. Copyright Office - How Songwriters, Composers, and Performers Get Paid
- U.S. Copyright Office - What Musicians Should Know about Copyright
- ASCAP - Royalties and Payment
- How Does ASCAP Pay Royalties? | ASCAP Explained (Video)
- BMI - How We Pay Royalties
- BMI - Publishing FAQs
- BMI - Royalties FAQs
UK: