This is the age-old question from writers. This week, the Nashville Tennessean wrote a long article about the publishing rights of songs being returned to writers. It caused a stir, but the story was aimed at writers who have really made a mark in the industry with hit songs by known artists. First off, if you are a novice writer, you do need a publisher. Even though publishers are often maligned, good music publishers do far more than just make money off songs and they do not cheat writers. In most cases, the good publisher will help a novice writer build song ideas into commercial offerings. When the song is ready to go to market, the publisher goes to producers and pushes them to record the material.

Ok…once that is accomplished, the publisher moves to help the label get airplay. Airplay is where the big money is. Not sales. The publisher gets the song registered with BMI, ASCAP or SESAC. These licensing firms pay the writer directly. They don’t pay writer’s shares to the publisher any longer. That used to be the case years ago. However, the record/CD/Internet mechanical payment does come to the publisher and it is his responsibility to split that check with the writer(s). This is basically the publisher/writer scene. After having said all that, all songwriters who are offered a single-song contract should read it over to see if there is a revision clause in the contract. If there isn’t a revision paragraph, don’t sign it until one is included or an addendum is written by the publisher.  If this publisher doesn’t get the song recorded, not in a demo session, after a period of 24 or 36 months, all rights should revert back to the writer. However, and I’ve had this happen to me, if the publisher has something cooking at the end of the time allotted, they should get back to the writer and explain the situation. At that time, the writer will usually go along with the publisher for a short extension.

To end this subject, please get your answers from someone who knows the business and is unbiased with an opinion. Fellow novice writers are your WORST source of information. They usually like to talk the game but they don’t really know the game. Just because a writer spends six months in Nashville and strikes out with his material, then catches the bus back home, does not make him an authority. If you need professional advice, get it from a professional. A call to NSAI is usually a good investment.