Catalog acquisition
The purchase of a music publishing catalog or a share thereof, typically by a publisher, investment fund, or streaming company. Acquisitions are valued using a multiple of the catalog's trailing twelve-month or average NPS, ranging from 10x to 30x+ depending on quality and growth trajectory.
Articles about Catalog acquisition
Music Publishing Administrator vs Full Publisher: Which Is Right for You?
Music publishing administrator vs publisher is the core decision that determines whether you keep copyright and pay an admin fee or trade a publisher share for advances, active exploitation, and broader pitching. This article breaks down the legal differences, typical fees and splits, who collects which royalties, and the contract red flags to watch so you can choose based on catalog size, career stage, and income goals.
Every Type of Music Publishing Deal Explained: Co-Pub, Admin, Full Publishing and More
Understanding music publishing deal types is the first step toward protecting your rights and maximizing income as a songwriter, producer, or independent label owner. This practical how-to breaks down co-publishing , administration, full publishing, sub-publishing and catalog buyouts, gives real numeric examples and typical fee ranges, and finishes with a negotiation checklist to help you compare offers and decide what to sign.
Copyright Chain of Title in Music: How to Establish and Verify Ownership
Proving who actually owns a song or master is rarely straightforward; missing split sheets, conflicting society entries, and legacy transfers create real operational risk. This guide lays out a step-by-step approach to build and verify a reliable copyright chain of title for both compositions and sound recordings, listing the exact documents, registry checks, APIs, and red flags you should use.
Master Recording Rights: Understanding Ownership and Royalty Distribution
Master Recording Rights: Ownership, Royalties, and How Master Income Is Collected Master recording rights determine who receives payment when a recording is streamed, licensed, broadcast, or used in audiovisual media. Despite their importance, these rights are often misunderstood or poorly documented across distribution systems.
Music Rights Clearance: A Step-by-Step Guide
Music Rights Clearance: The Complete Process for Legal Music Usage Music rights clearance is the operational process that untangles composition and master rights so you can legally use music in film, advertising, games, and digital products. This guide breaks the process into a repeatable workflow: who to contact, which licenses and permissions are required, the paperwork and metadata to assemble, negotiation levers, and realistic timelines and cost benchmarks.