In the music industry, the path to success doesn't end with creating great songs—it extends into how you manage your music from a publishing perspective. Properly setting up your music for publishing success not only ensures you get paid for your work but also opens doors for placements, partnerships, and long-term revenue streams. Here’s a guide to getting your music ready for the big leagues.

1. Get a Placement

Music placements in films, TV shows, advertisements, or video games can provide a significant boost to your career and earnings. Additionally, you can work with established artists and create songs for their albums or you can release your own music.

• Create versatile tracks: Ensure your music can fit different moods, themes, and genres.

• Network with the right people: Build relationships with other musicians, artists, sync agents, and A&R professionals who actively seek music for placements.

2. Get a Split Sheet That Defines Clear Ownership

Ownership disputes can derail opportunities. A split sheet is a legal document that defines who owns what percentage of a song. Once you get a placement, you should work alongside any other collaborators to get a split sheet created and finalized.

• Why it’s important: It ensures everyone involved—songwriters, producers, and collaborators—agrees on their share of the song.

• When to create it: Ideally, draft the split sheet after the songwriting session or once the song is ready to be released. Some labels will handle split sheets after the music has already been released, but preferably aim to have the split sheet created earlier.

• What to include:

  • Full names of all contributors

  • Roles (e.g., producer, songwriter, lyricist)

  • Percentage splits for each contributor

  • Song title and date of creation

• Keep it professional: If disputes arise, a signed split sheet can protect your rights and simplify negotiations.

3. Join a Performance Rights Organization (PRO)

Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) ensure you get paid when your music is played publicly—whether on the radio, in a bar, or at a concert.

• What they do: PROs collect royalties for public performances and distribute them to their members.

• Popular PROs: ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC in the U.S.; PRS in the U.K.; and SOCAN in Canada.

• How to join: Visit the PRO’s website, register as a songwriter to start earning royalties.

• Why it’s vital: Without a PRO, you’re leaving money on the table every time your song gets played.

4. Partner with a Publishing Administration Company

Navigating the complexities of music publishing can be daunting. Partnering with a publishing administration company can simplify this process.

• What they do: Publishing admin companies register your songs with PROs, collect royalties from multiple sources (e.g., mechanical, sync, and international royalties), and help protect your rights. To fully collect your global publishing income, you will your songs registered with over 60 pay sources.

• Benefits of partnering:

  • Access to global royalty collection

  • Assistance with licensing and sync opportunities

  • Professional expertise to ensure no income is missed

• Why choose Elizabeth Music Group: Elizabeth Music Group focuses on transparency, education, and personalized service, making them an ideal partner for artists looking to maximize their publishing success. They offer a publishing administration agreement that allows you to maintain full ownership of your compositions and they only take a 15% commission on the publishing royalties they find which is much less than the standard 50/50 co-publishing agreements.

Final Thoughts

Setting up your music for publishing success takes time and effort, but it’s a crucial investment in your career. By landing placements, using split sheets to define ownership, joining a PRO, and partnering with a trusted publishing administration company like Elizabeth Music Group, you can set yourself up for long-term success and financial stability in the music industry.

Start today—protect your art, secure your royalties, and unlock opportunities to share your music with the world.