What is music publishing?

Music publishing is the term used for professional music distribution. Publishers can be independent or might form a larger organisation, often specialising in one genre. In either case, publishers are authorised to license and collect royalties on copyright works.

How does music publishing make money?

Music publishers earn money through collecting secondary fees on original, copyrighted music. These are paid by third-party users including media companies, galleries and advertising agencies. Usually, the royalty payments are split with the original artist.

How do music publishing companies work?

Publishers work by representing songwriters, composers, producers and lyricists in the professional environment. Generally, music publishing companies wholly take on administrative responsibilities for licensing and collecting royalty payments. These payments are split between the publisher and the artist, usually according to a prior contract or agreement.

How does music publishing work?

In the professional music industry, publishers try to secure contracts with composers and songwriters from the earliest stages of their careers. All publishing companies seek the best talent, with the long-term goal of securing lucrative payments through royalties.

How to get a music publishing deal

Securing a publishing deal can depend on knowing the right people and networking successfully as a musician. However, certain habits can boost your chances. Try to produce and release high-quality music on a regular basis – and make sure you're sharing it far and wide.

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

Illustration of a yellow lightbulb with a green leaf inside representing ideas, against a turquoise grey background.

Writing for Change: How Songs Can Inspire Climate Action

Can music help tackle the climate crisis? Chris Hutchings, composer and MU Climate Emergency Action Group member, explores how songs can inspire action, build community and help people realise they're part of a much wider movement for change.

Published: 19 October 2026

Close up of person holding a pen and paper over a keyboard.

Have Your Say on Streaming: DCMS Launches Survey for Songwriters

If you have attended a songwriting session for a major label since September 2025, the DCMS wants to hear from you. Your feedback will help evaluate measures introduced following the UK streaming inquiry and strengthen the case for fair pay for music creators.

Published: 15 October 2026

Person sat in front of an open laptop wearing headphones and programming music.

MU to Host Sustainable Careers Roundtable at Sensoria Pro in Sheffield

The MU are hosting a roundtable discussion, ‘The Long Play: Building a Sustainable Career in Music’, at Sensoria Pro — a conference exploring innovation across music and the moving image — in Sheffield on Friday 23 October. Members can also receive a 25% discount on tickets.

Published: 15 October 2026

Hands typing on a laptop with multicoloured graphics of binary code and connected fibres over the top of the image.

MU Welcomes Liverpool City Region Music Board’s New AI Principles

The Musicians’ Union has welcomed the launch of new AI Principles from the Liverpool City Region Music Board, helping to establish a clear and creator focused framework for the responsible use of AI across the region's music sector.

Published: 06 October 2026

Person in shadow holding a pen and paper over a keyboard.

CMU x MU: Copyright for Songwriters and Composers Webinar

Catch up on our webinar with CMU’s Chris Cooke, exploring copyright, royalties, performers’ rights and what songwriters and composers need to know to protect their work and income. Available to members only – My MU login required.