What is music publishing?

Music publishing, historically, began around the 19th century when a Music Publisher would print and sell sheet music and split the income with its respective creative musical artist(s).  A technological revolution (radio, television, records, CDs, DVDs, etc.) displaced sheet music by digital streaming downloads. 

Music publishing is the business of assisting creative musical artists by granting music licenses that give permission to sell and utilize their music for financial compensation.  A musical work is a copyright and is a form of intellectual property.  A creative musical artist owns a copyright as soon as that same musical artist's new and original music is composed whether registered or not.  

A registered musical copyright gives public notice that a musical artist owns a copyrighted work.  It allows the public to find the copyright ownership information. It enables a copyright owner to claim statutory damages, copyright infringement litigation representation, and attorney fees. It registers and records a nation's creativity.  A musical copyright (i.e. means a right to copy) music with a creative musical artist's legal consent.  https://songlief.com/copyright  

A Music Publisher grants licenses to prevent anyone from utilizing a musical composition without a musical artist's legal consent.   A Music Publisher can assist a songwriter to protect “moral rights” under a multi-national treaty designed to protect creative works, (i.e. the Berne Convention), to prevent or stop any substantial changes in a song, (i.e. music or lyrics).  They can also stop someone from falsely attributing one's work for someone else's (i.e. plagiarism and copyright infringement).  

Creative musical artists can self-publish and/or they can assign their musical copyright(s) to a Music Publisher.  A Music Publisher protects a musical artist's copyright(s) by granting licenses to purchase their music (i.e. music is purchased by film, television, advertising, video game, animation, record, etc. companies).   The music industry's standard practice and procedure is based on the terms and conditions of the license agreement(s) utilized.  

A Music Publisher, while under license agreement(s) for a specified duration with musical artist(s) or band, grants licenses to exploit their old and/or new song(s) in various ways.  For example, mechanical licenses are used for sound recordings.  Synchronization licenses are used for song synchronization or placement into media. Performance licenses are used for public performances of songs.

There are five (5) primary functions performed by music publishers:  

1. Acquisition
2. Exploitation
3. Administration
4. Collection
5. Protection

ACQUISITION

A Music Publisher can acquire or get and sign and license music from creative musical artists (i.e. songwriters, composers, or musicians, etc. etc.) on a developmental level who are indie (i.e. independent) with or without a music platform or who are new or unknown as well as from major celebrity A-list artists.  The rules of procedure or process (i.e. throughout the music industry in the United States) are the same and apply to all artists at any level depending on the service(s) requested. There are different levels or tiers for all creative musical artists to elevate based on the quality or merit of their work product, their fanbase, and other factors.  All musical artists, at any level or stage of creative development, can benefit from music publishing.  

EXPLOITATION

A Music Publisher can exploit music, while under license agreement(s) with a musical artist, and market and sell their music.  

ADMINISTRATION

A Music Publisher can administer legal documents and licenses to those who want to utilize a creative musical artist's music.  A Music Publisher can register music under the United States copyright office and the mechanical and performing rights societies (PROs) in the U.S.A. and in foreign countries to administer music royalties to respective creative musical artists for the use of their music.  For example:

1. The United States Copyright Office:  (Washington, D.C.)  https://www.copyright.gov/  
2. Harry Fox | MLC:  (New York, N.Y.)  https://www.harryfox.com/ and https://www.harryfox.com/hfa-and-the-mlc  
3. ASCAP:  (New York, N.Y.)  https://www.ascap.com/  
4. BMI:  (New York, N.Y.)  https://www.bmi.com/  
5. SESAC:  (New York, N.Y.)  https://www.sesac.com/  

COLLECTION

A Music Publisher can collect music royalties, music sales, etc. and distribute them to their respective creative musical artists (some performance societies - PROs will pay musical artists directly and deduct a Music Publisher's licensed share).  Musical compensation can also be provided by foreign sub-publishers, record, film, and television companies.  A Music Publisher can assist with this process to make it easier for creative musical artists to earn music compensation.

PROTECTION

A Music Publisher can protect a creative musical artist's music, copyright(s), and revenue.  For example, they can assist, provide and/or refer legal representation for copyright infringement, illegal downloading, or sampling that needs legal protection no matter the stage.