Publishing deals
The short answer
Your songs earn money separately from the recordings. That income is split into a writer's share and a publisher's share. You can keep both and pay someone only to administer them, share the publisher's side in a co-publishing deal in exchange for an advance, or sell your publishing outright. Each option pays differently today and leaves you with a different share of future income, so we compare them with your real numbers before you sign.
Writer's share, publisher's share and what a publisher does
Every time a song is streamed, broadcast, performed live, copied or used in a film or advert, it generates publishing royalties. Collecting societies and publishers collect them and split them into two halves: the writer's share, which is paid to the songwriters, and the publisher's share, which is paid to whoever owns or controls the publishing rights.
If you have never signed a publishing deal, you may be entitled to both shares but not collecting all of them. A publisher registers your songs, collects worldwide, pitches them for sync and, in some deals, pays you an advance. The main deal types are:
- Administration deal: the publisher registers and collects for a fee, often a percentage of income, for a fixed term. You keep ownership of the copyrights.
- Co-publishing deal: you transfer part of the publisher's share, usually in exchange for an advance, and keep your writer's share and the rest of the publisher's share.
- Full sale: you sell the copyrights, or your share of them, and the buyer collects the income going forward. The writer's share paid through societies may stay with you depending on the contract and territory.
- Publisher advance: an upfront payment in an admin or co-publishing deal, recouped from your future royalties. It is not a loan you repay from your pocket, but you receive less until it is recouped.
Reversion is the other key term. Many publishing deals return the rights to you after a set period or once the advance is recouped. We negotiate reversion and the advance together.
How we handle a publishing deal or sale
- Confidential call. We talk about your songs, your co-writers and any publishing or society agreements you already have. NDA available from the start.
- Rights audit. We check your split sheets, society registrations and existing agreements to see what you own, what is being collected and what may be missing.
- Options and range. We compare an admin deal, a co-publishing deal with an advance and a full or partial sale, with a realistic range for each. Never a guaranteed figure.
- Preparation. We organise your song list with ISWC codes, splits and income history into a clear package for publishers and buyers.
- Market process. We approach suitable publishers and buyers from our network, collect offers and compare advances, fees, terms and reversion side by side.
- Negotiation and closing. We negotiate the deal you choose, work with your lawyer on the contract and coordinate registrations so income flows to the right party.
Admin, co-publishing, sale or keep
| Admin deal | Co-publishing deal | Sale | Keep | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership of copyrights | Stays with you | Part of publisher's share transferred | Transferred to the buyer | Stays with you |
| Cash today | Usually none or small | An advance, recouped from royalties | A purchase price | None |
| Future income | You keep most, minus the admin fee | Shared on the publisher's side | Goes to the buyer for the rights sold | Yours, if fully collected |
| Term | Fixed, often a few years | Fixed, with reversion terms | Usually permanent | Not applicable |
| Best for | Writers who want to keep everything | Writers who want cash and support | Owners ready to exit | Writers already collecting well |
Fees, advances and terms vary widely between publishers. We only give you a range after reviewing your songs, splits and income history.
Who this fits
- Songwriters and artist-writers who have never had a publisher and may not be collecting all of their royalties.
- Writers coming to the end of a publishing term who want better terms or their rights back.
- Writers with a steady income from a group of songs who want an advance or a sale.
- Producers with writing credits who want to organise and monetise their share.
It may not be a fit yet if your splits are not agreed or your songs are not registered. We can help you put that in order first.
What we review
- Split sheets and co-writer agreements for every song.
- Registrations with your collecting society and any foreign societies, including ISWC codes.
- Existing publishing, admin or co-publishing agreements, with terms and reversion clauses.
- Royalty statements from societies and publishers for the last two to three years.
- Sync licences and any other deals that affect the songs.
Related structures and guides
Publishing is one part of your catalog. These pages cover the other options we compare for writers and rights owners.
- Royalty advances Get an advance against future publishing or recording income and keep your rights.
- Sell your masters Sell or license your master recordings in full or in part.
- Distribution licence advance An advance for licensing older recordings for a fixed term.
- Sell your music catalog: the complete guide The full process from preparation to closing, step by step.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an admin deal and a co-publishing deal?
In an admin deal you keep ownership and pay the publisher a fee to register and collect. In a co-publishing deal you transfer part of the publisher's share, usually in exchange for an advance and more active support.
Will I lose my writer's share if I sell my publishing?
Not necessarily. Many sales cover the publisher's share only, and the writer's share paid by societies can stay with you. It depends on the contract and the territory, so we check exactly what each offer includes.
Do I have to pay back a publisher advance?
Not from your own pocket. The advance is recouped from your future royalties, so you receive less until it is covered. If the deal ends before recoupment, the contract says what happens, which is why we review it carefully.
Can I get my publishing rights back?
Often yes, if the contract has a reversion clause. Rights may return after a fixed term or once the advance is recouped. We negotiate reversion terms as part of any deal.
How long does a publishing deal take?
An admin or co-publishing deal can close in a few weeks if your splits and registrations are in order. A sale usually takes two to four months. Missing registrations or disputed splits take longer.
Who handles your case
Andrés Pesqueira López, Co-Founder. In the music business since 2017, he has negotiated deals with Universal, Sony Music and Ultra Music. BeatBridge has advised on more than $28M in catalog value and works with 40+ buyers and capital partners in 15 countries.
Tell us about your songs
Share the basics and we will reply within 24 to 48 hours. Success-fee only, no upfront costs.
Compare your publishing options
A 30-minute confidential call. Bring your split sheets and latest statements and we will tell you which deal makes sense for your songs.
This page is general information and not legal, tax or financial advice. Every structure depends on your contracts and a review of your catalog.