RE: Monsieur Publisher 101

I have always had the mantra that I want to write such good songs and music that a Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley or any artist for that matter could NOT afford to NOT cut my song. I wanted the song to speak for itself, stand up on its own, be a billboard soundwave that needs no explaining and just requires ears to feel its sonic power and pull. I wanted my song to be a KING.

In writing good songs and sharpening my craft there does come a point though where it seems I may have to spend more time on promoting or marketing myself and my music or it may sit on my digital mantle (a.k.a iMAC computer) and gather dust forever.

With the current times of music streaming, home recording and YouTube the music industry is more saturated than ever and it is tough to be a signal within all the noise. Even if a song is “top shelf” good it still requires being in the right place at the right time, some luck and some good old sweat and tears to get it noticed and realize its true value and potential. A person or company that can help us musicians and creators with this aspect of the business is a MUSIC PUBLISHER.

So what do publishers do? Well here is a list of just some of their talents:

1. In the music industry, first and foremost a music publisher (or publishing company) is responsible for ensuring the songwriters and composers receive payment when their compositions are used commercially. Through an agreement called a publishing contract, a songwriter or composer "assigns" the copyright of their composition to a publishing company. In return, the company licenses compositions, helps monitor where compositions are used, collects royalties and distributes them to the composers. They also secure commissions for music and promote existing compositions to recording artists, film and television. The copyrights owned and administered by publishing companies are one of the most important forms of intellectual property in the music industry. The harder a publisher works to get your songs played the more money both you and them can make.

2. A publisher can also help connect writers to artists or other songwriters to each other where there would be complimentary skills to develop new works under their publishing company.

3. Publishers can also be into artist or songwriter development and have a “publishing house” where they have creators on site and on salary that develop creative works for the publishing house. A publisher will then exploit those assets and put them to work, make them grow and ultimately make money for the creator and the publisher.

Right now I am currently "self-publishing” my songs as they really are not “out there”, although they are registered with SOCAN, which is a publishing rights organization or P.R.O. Eventually I plan to connect with a publisher who thinks my songs are “worldwide bangers” and are ready to change the musicverse! Ha ha….but until then I will keep woodchopping on my songwriting craft.