Songwriters always stop earning money on their songs when they sell them to a music publisher.

Songwriters always stop earning money on their songs when they sell them to a music publisher.

• A. True
• B. Sometimes
• C. Depends on contract
• D. False

Answer: (D)

Publishing deals separate ownership of the composition from how its revenue is earned. Even after a songwriter sells the publishing rights to a publisher, they typically don’t stop earning money. Royalties are split into a writer’s share and a publisher’s share, and the writer usually continues to receive the writer’s portion (via performance royalties through PROs and the writer’s share of mechanical royalties), while the publisher collects the publisher’s share. Some contracts even let the writer keep a portion of the publisher’s share in co-publishing arrangements. So the idea that selling publishing rights ends all earnings isn’t correct in general; the exact outcome depends on the contract, but continuing writer royalties is common.

Publishing deals separate ownership of the composition from how its revenue is earned. Even after a songwriter sells the publishing rights to a publisher, they typically don’t stop earning money. Royalties are split into a writer’s share and a publisher’s share, and the writer usually continues to receive the writer’s portion (via performance royalties through PROs and the writer’s share of mechanical royalties), while the publisher collects the publisher’s share. Some contracts even let the writer keep a portion of the publisher’s share in co-publishing arrangements. So the idea that selling publishing rights ends all earnings isn’t correct in general; the exact outcome depends on the contract, but continuing writer royalties is common.