Songwriter
The creator of a musical composition — whether the melody, lyrics, or both. Songwriters own the initial copyright in their works and typically assign administration rights (or full ownership) to a publisher in exchange for advances, services, and a share of royalties.
Articles about Songwriter
Mistakes Songwriters Should Avoid During Song Registration
Mistakes songwriters should avoid during song registration determine whether you collect every dollar your music earns or leave thousands on the table. Registration errors fragment your catalog and break royalty matching across CMOs, DSPs, and mechanical licensing databases.
Amazon Music vs. Spotify: The Songwriter's Guide
Amazon Music vs. Spotify: Which Platform Matters More for Your Royalties? Countless articles debate Amazon Music vs. Spotify from a listener’s point of view, comparing audio quality, catalog size, and user interface.
Pandora vs. Spotify: A Songwriter's Guide to Royalties
Pandora vs. Spotify: The Comparison That Matters for Songwriters Countless articles compare Pandora and Spotify . They focus on music discovery, playlist curation, and the user experience.
10 Music Copyright Tips Every Songwriter Should Follow
Most independent songwriters lose income to registration mistakes, messy metadata, and unclear splits. These music copyright tips give ten practical, legally grounded steps to secure your compositions, maximize royalty collection, and stop avoidable revenue leakage.
How an Independent Songwriter Recovered $12,000 in Unclaimed Publishing Royalties
This music publishing company case study shows how an independent songwriter recovered $12,000 in unclaimed publishing royalties after a nine month audit and claims process. You will get a step by step playbook: how the audit uncovered unmatched mechanical and foreign distributions, which documents proved authorship, and exactly how claims were filed with The MLC, SoundExchange, and overseas collecting societies.
Songwriter vs Publisher Share: How Royalty Splits Are Calculated and Tracked
The practical distinction captured by songwriter vs publisher share determines how composition income is split, registered, and routed through PROs, mechanical hubs, and DSP reporting. This article gives the operational rules, required identifiers and metadata, and step-by-step calculations for performance and mechanical flows, including two worked examples and a reconciliation checklist you can implement.
The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) and Streaming Royalties for Songwriters
The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) and Streaming Royalties for Songwriters If you have songs on Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music in the U. S, you likely have mechanical royalties that the Mechanical Licensing Collective can pay.
Common Misconceptions in the World of Music Publishing: Tips for Songwriters and Publishers
1. Issues with Publishers One of the common issues faced by songwriters and artists in the music industry is poor communication with publishers.
Key Questions to Ask Before Signing a Publishing Deal as a Songwriter
As a songwriter navigating the music industry, signing a publishing deal is a significant step towards furthering your career goals. Before you sign a publishing contract, it is crucial to fully understand the terms, implications of the agreement, and what you need to know before signing.