Navigating the world of music publishing and licensing
Music publishing and licensing might seem hard to grasp, especially for budding musicians and songwriters. However, they are crucial parts of the music industry that can heavily influence your career. Whether you aim to license your music for movies and TV, or want to ensure you’re getting paid for your work through music publishing, understanding how it all works is key.
Why are music publishing and licensing important?
Music publishing and licensing are vital because they let artists earn money from their music. Music publishing involves managing and making money from a songwriter’s songs, like collecting royalties and licensing fees. Meanwhile, music licensing is about using songs in different forms of media like films, TV, advertisements, and video games. Without these, musicians can’t make a living from their music.
What are music copyrights?
Before we go further, it’s important to know about music copyrights. There are two main types: the copyright in the musical composition and the copyright in the sound recording.
The first one protects the actual song, including the melody, lyrics, and chords.
