Music Publishing If you write music, you can earn money from your songs without needing to sign with a music publisher. At the MU, we're here to help show you how. This resource points you in the right direction for signing with a music publisher and explains how to publish your own music. Last updated: 03 October 2023 Find out about: Signing with a music publisher Music self publishing If one of your songs is commercially released and you do not have a publisher, then your name should appear under the title of the song. Underneath your name should be the words ‘Copyright Control’ or ‘PRS for Music’ if you are a PRS member. This will tell others that you are the copyright owner of the song and have not assigned it to any music publisher. Signing with a music publisher Many composers and songwriters choose to sign with a music publisher to benefit from their services and in exchange give up a portion of their royalties by doing so. There is a number of benefits to a music publishing contract, including: Advances based on future royalties Administration deals, where a writer has set up their own publishing company and uses a larger corporate publisher to administer catalogue and collect royalties Promotional assistance - the chance to get music placed with major recording artists Free demo time and help securing a record deal A good music publisher will also aggressively promote your compositions to film makers, television production companies and advertisers. What is negotiable in a publishing deal Length of contract How long a publisher holds the copyright to your songs Royalties and advances Accounting statements and your right of audit, so that you can accurately check statements Copyright and your moral rights, which allow you to claim ownership of your work and object to any distortion or modification to it How damages from copyright infringements are split, and reversion and determination clauses if the music publisher fails to exploit a song or goes bankrupt. Always seek advice from the MU before signing a music publishing contract to ensure that the agreement on offer is fair and comprehensive. For advice on negotiating the best deal for you, please contact you Regional Office. Self publishing At a certain point in your career, including at the early stages when you cannot secure representation, you may wish to look after your own catalogue of works and receive all publishing income directly. To protect your work, we encourage you to view our Copyright for Songwriters and Composers page and to apply for music writer membership of PRS for Music. You may wish to set up a publishing company, although this is not always necessary and you should seek advice from the MU before doing so. However, it is advisable to go down this route if you are representing other songwriters and composers, as well as looking after your own works. If you set up a publishing company you will need to join PRS for Music as a publisher member and pay a higher membership fee. For additional advice and support, MU members should contact their Regional Office. Contact the Musicians' Union today The MU has a network of experienced teams available to help musicians in all areas of the industry. If you have any questions about our services, membership or how the MU could help you, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Contact the MU Latest news and features MU Sponsors Black Welsh Music Awards 2025 The MU is proud to sponsor the 2025 Black Welsh Music Awards (BWMA), which will take place on Saturday 4 October at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) in Cardiff. Published: 03 September 2025 Read more about MU Sponsors Black Welsh Music Awards 2025 New Chairing Team Elected for MU Music Writers’ Committee The latest meeting of the MU Music Writers’ Committee saw a new chairing team elected to help steer its work on issues affecting the composer and songwriting community. Published: 01 August 2025 Read more about New Chairing Team Elected for MU Music Writers’ Committee Fix Streaming: Government Announces New Measures for Legacy Artists, Songwriters and Session Musicians Government recently announced a package of principles and commitments that they say will better remunerate musicians and music creators. Published: 31 July 2025 Read more about Fix Streaming: Government Announces New Measures for Legacy Artists, Songwriters and Session Musicians Musicians' Union Reacts to Government and Record Labels’ Announcement The Government and record labels, including the three major labels, have announced a package of principles and commitments, which they say will better remunerate creators in the streaming era. Published: 22 July 2025 Read more about Musicians' Union Reacts to Government and Record Labels’ Announcement MU Delegate Conference is Underway in Liverpool Violinist and Chair of the Executive Committee, Alex Gascoine, opens MU Delegate Conference 2025. Published: 22 July 2025 Read more about MU Delegate Conference is Underway in Liverpool Read more
MU Sponsors Black Welsh Music Awards 2025 The MU is proud to sponsor the 2025 Black Welsh Music Awards (BWMA), which will take place on Saturday 4 October at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) in Cardiff. Published: 03 September 2025 Read more about MU Sponsors Black Welsh Music Awards 2025
New Chairing Team Elected for MU Music Writers’ Committee The latest meeting of the MU Music Writers’ Committee saw a new chairing team elected to help steer its work on issues affecting the composer and songwriting community. Published: 01 August 2025 Read more about New Chairing Team Elected for MU Music Writers’ Committee
Fix Streaming: Government Announces New Measures for Legacy Artists, Songwriters and Session Musicians Government recently announced a package of principles and commitments that they say will better remunerate musicians and music creators. Published: 31 July 2025 Read more about Fix Streaming: Government Announces New Measures for Legacy Artists, Songwriters and Session Musicians
Musicians' Union Reacts to Government and Record Labels’ Announcement The Government and record labels, including the three major labels, have announced a package of principles and commitments, which they say will better remunerate creators in the streaming era. Published: 22 July 2025 Read more about Musicians' Union Reacts to Government and Record Labels’ Announcement
MU Delegate Conference is Underway in Liverpool Violinist and Chair of the Executive Committee, Alex Gascoine, opens MU Delegate Conference 2025. Published: 22 July 2025 Read more about MU Delegate Conference is Underway in Liverpool