If there's one question I get asked perhaps more than any other question, it's regarding what exactly a music publisher does in the context of the music licensing business. Technically, the moment you write a song you are the song's publisher, unless you assign the right to market your song to someone else. Think of the actual writing of the song as an art form, which of course it is, and the act of publishing and marketing the song as the business of turning your art into something that makes money.
As most songwriters have probably learned by now, there is no guarantee that simply writing a great song will generate money. The song needs to be properly exploited in order to bring the songwriter any income.
Established publishers have established relationships with many different music supervisors and they are able to successfully connect songwriters with music supervisors and get their songs placed in order to generate revenue for both the songwriter and the music publisher.
Of course, when you place your music via a music publisher you typically give up all or a portion of your publishing income for the placements your publisher secures. But you typically still retain ownership of your songs and if the deal you sign is non exclusive you're still able to shop your songs on your own.
A songwriter could hypothetically contact music supervisors directly and initiate contact that way, and in fact the
TV/Film directory I offer lists both supervisors and publishers, but it's easier to break into the business if you have someone who already has an "in" so to speak, as many publishers do.
It really boils down to how much time and energy you have to market your own music. Do you have several hours a day to chase down leads and contact supervisors cold? If so, by all means do so. But the advantage of an establisehd publisher is that they have established relationships with music supervisors already.
For an in depth education on how to navigate your way through the music licensing business and start generating money with your music, check out my program "
The A-Z Of Music Licensing". It's the most comprehensive program I offer and explains very clearly EVERYTHING you need to know to start licensing your music either via a publisher or on your own. I also offer the program
with one on one coaching where I work with your directly to help you get started.
