A plain-language guide to how songwriters earn money and why publishing administration matters.
When you write a song, you automatically own the copyright to that composition. Music publishing is the business of managing and monetizing those copyrights.
A publishing administrator registers your songs with collection societies around the world, tracks where your music is being used, and makes sure you get paid for it.
Without publishing administration, royalties owed to you can go uncollected, sometimes permanently.
There are three main ways songwriters earn money from their compositions.
Earned every time your song is reproduced: streamed on Spotify, downloaded on iTunes, or pressed onto a CD. These are collected by mechanical rights organizations.
Earned when your song is performed publicly: played on the radio, streamed, performed live, or played in a venue. Collected by PROs like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.
Earned when your song is licensed for use in film, TV, commercials, video games, or other visual media. These are negotiated on a per-use basis.
If you don't have a publishing administrator, royalties from your music could be sitting uncollected at societies around the world. This is sometimes called 'black box' money.
The global music publishing market collects billions each year. Without proper registration and administration, songwriters miss out on earnings they've already earned.
Even if you're registered with a PRO domestically, international royalties require separate registrations that most songwriters don't handle on their own.
We're a publishing administrator, not a publisher. Here's the difference.
Yes. Your PRO (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) only collects performance royalties in your home territory. A publishing administrator like JukeHouse collects mechanical royalties, international performance royalties, and other income streams your PRO doesn't cover.
No. JukeHouse is an administrator, not a traditional publisher. You retain 100% ownership of your copyrights. We work on your behalf to register and collect, but your songs remain yours.
Once you register your songs with JukeHouse, we begin submitting registrations to global societies immediately. Collection timelines vary by society, but most domestic royalties start flowing within 1-3 months. International collections can take 3-6 months.
A traditional publisher typically takes ownership of (or co-owns) your copyrights and takes a larger share of royalties in exchange for creative services like pitching your songs. An administrator handles registration and collection without taking ownership, usually for a smaller fee or flat rate.
Yes. We don't lock you into long-term contracts. You can leave with your catalog and copyrights intact. We believe in earning your business, not trapping it.
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