bmi

whats da difference between signing as a songwriter or publisher when it comes to royalties

WAVES wrote:whats da difference between signing as a songwriter or publisher when it comes to royalties

You get either or percentage based on title (and part played) and/or both if you are both.

register as both, write your hooks for your beats and get paid on both fronts.

Basically the publisher controls the copyright and usually is the person placing and administering the song.. i.e. negociating covers, collecting money from labels and TV cos. etc. that license the song and pays the writer.. you'll probably need to sign up as both.. think of it this way.. a song is 100% in profits. its often split between writer and publisher.. ASCAP/BMI pay the writer/publishers directly for their share of performance income.(radio/tv placements, concerts/bars). i.e ur writers share does NOT go to the publisher..unlike mechanicals ..where the label will pay the publisher and they dole the money out to the writers. Clear as mud? GOOD! Remember if you are the publisher and writer.. you are responsible for finding yo Cheese and handling all the business.. as well as registering any songs that are about to be placed with BMI/ASCAP..

If it's your own music, the songwriter contract takes care of the publishing. You only need a publishing contract if you plan to publish music for other artists. You would then be a publishing company.

BMI actually has this cool thing called 100-200% writers. Which basically means that you dont have to pay the fee for registering a publisher account, which you wont really need anyway if you're just producing. ie Not acting as a publisher for other artists. I worked on a score for the show desperate houswives and me and my partner just split up the points as we saw fit. 100% for him and 100% for me = 200% writers.....
ONLY BMI BABY....

yo Absoul

what's the difference with 50/50 ?

I don't get it

BBoy2005 wrote:yo Absoul

what's the difference with 50/50 ?

I don't get it

Fill in plz..I'm also curious.

You cannot just register to have your own Publishing Company via BMI or ASCAP, you must have a proven song in a TV or Film or Radio show that has earned income in a society (Societies are BMI, ASCAP for USA GEMA for GERMANY PRS/MCPS for UK etc.. etc..)
A writer will earn 1/2 of his money and call it 50% or 100% or 200% it will still be HALF of what he would get UNLESS HE OWNED HIS OWN PUBLISHING COMPANY. Now usually what happens is a label will handle publishing for the artist and have a signed contract with the producer or artist and then split say 60/40 or 50/50 with said artist. To get 100% of your publishing means you MUST have your own company.
I was with BMG for 10 years before I got allowed to get out of the deal and start my own Publishing company.
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