Publishing Admin FAQ

Who can sign up for UnitedMasters' publishing administration service?
Our publishing administration service is currently invite-only. If we'd like to work with you for publishing administration, our team will get in touch with you directly.

What is Publishing Administration?

Music publishing administration refers to the business of collecting money for the musical compositions that you write. When music is used commercially, the songwriter(s) and copyright owner(s) of the composition are owed royalties. 

This is a different royalty than what is paid for the stream or purchase of a sound recording, which is an entirely separate copyright and income stream. 

Under a publishing administration agreement, the songwriter retains 100% ownership and complete control of their compositions. As your Music Publishing Administrator, UnitedMasters will administer your compositions by licensing, registering and collecting royalties on behalf of your compositions, ensuring that you are not leaving any money on the table. This is an additional revenue source to the revenue UnitedMasters pays you from the distribution of your records.

What is the difference between a musical composition and a sound recording?

A composition is a musical work, with or without lyrics, that has been created by a songwriter/composer. A sound recording, often also referred to as a "master”, is the recording of a performance of the underlying composition using technology.

For example, take the song ‘All Along the Watchtower’ by the recording artist Jimi Hendrix. Though Jimi is the recording artist of the song, the writer of the composition (meaning he wrote the lyrics and melody) is Bob Dylan.

What is the difference between a Performer and a Songwriter?

Performer refers to the artist or band that is actually performing the song

Songwriter refers to the individual(s) who actually wrote the lyrics and melody

For example, when Johnny Cash sings a version of the song “Hurt”, Johnny Cash is the performer, but Trent Reznor is the songwriter and each of them have separate rights and separate royalty streams.

What are the different types of royalties I can earn as a songwriter?

Revenue can be categorized into five distinct groups:

1. Mechanical Royalties - On demand streaming, digital downloads, physical products (Vinyl, cassette, CDs etc), ringtones.
2. Public Performance and Broadcast Royalties - interactive/on demand streaming, digital radio, radio, TV, live concert, bars, restaurants, gyms etc
3. Synchronization Licensing - TV, Film, Commercials, Video Games etc
4. Print Royalties - Sheet Music (online & physical), Songbooks
5. Grand Rights Royalties - The interpolation of a composition in a theatrical or dance performance

What are mechanical royalties?

A mechanical royalty is paid to the songwriter(s), and composer(s) of a composition every time your composition is reproduced. Simply put, every time your composition is streamed on an interactive streaming platform like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube, downloaded as a permanent mp3 in a store like iTunes or Amazon, or reproduced using technology and sold on a physical product like a vinyl record, cassette or CD, your composition has been reproduced and is due a mechanical royalty. This is a different royalty collected than what ASCAP or BMI would collect, which is known as a performance royalty.

What are performance royalties?

A performance royalty is paid to a songwriter when a composition is played publicly, such as on the radio, in a concert, in various places of commerce such as department stores, bars, and sports stadiums, or on a streaming service. These royalties are collected by Performance Rights Organizations like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. These are the three major United States organizations that will collect performance royalties on your behalf if your composition is performed within the United States. 

However, different countries have their own collection societies and will operate within the same frame as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. Different countries' societies can be found here. 

What is synchronization?

When a composer's music gets paired with visual media, like in movies, TV shows, or ads, that's called synchronization. For this, the composer earns a synchronization fee.

Where will the Publishing Administrator register my works?

Under our publishing administration service, we'll register your works with Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) such as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC in the USA. These PROs are responsible for collecting performance royalties whenever your music is played on the radio, TV, live venues, or streaming platforms. But that's not all; through publishing administration, we also ensure you collect mechanical royalties from sales, downloads, and streams by registering your works with mechanical collection societies (such as the MLC). By registering your works, you're securing all these different revenue streams, making sure you get every penny you deserve from your music's usage.

If I am under a Publishing Administration agreement, do I now own 100% of the composition, despite having collaborators?

No. Unless agreed upon between your co-writers, each composer should have their own share of the composition. Your co-writers could very well have their own publishing administration agreement or they could be self-administered. With this service, UnitedMasters administers your share of your compositions by licensing, registering, and collecting royalties on behalf of your compositions.

If my co-writer(s) are self-published, or lack a publishing entity, can they join UnitedMasters publishing administration service?

At this time our publishing administration service will only be for our distributed artists on our platform.

If we were a band, group or collective, composed of multiple writers on the UnitedMasters platform, can we all join UnitedMasters publishing administration service?
Yes, as a distributed artist or group on the UnitedMasters platform, we can represent all composition owners associated with your group. However, if any of your members already have their own publishing administration agreement, we would not represent them.

If I am a self-published composer with my own d/b/a entity name, will this need to be replaced if I join UnitedMasters publishing administration service?

We appreciate your due diligence and creativity in making your own d/b/a (doing business as) publishing entity. Just like ownership of your copyright, we do not want you to give up control of your own publishing name or royalties. 

Just like your artist name, your publishing entity name needs to represent your unique self through and through. Keep it, you can make it as simple or complex as you like, but make it meaningful.

An example would be the following:

 Jahan Lee d/b/a Abstract Genie Entertainment

Administered by UnitedMasters Publishing

How do I know whether or not my chosen publishing entity name already exists?

While it's important to think of a unique entity name, there is no sure fire way to determine if a publishing entity name already exists. We recommend going to a PRO such as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC and search their repertoire database to see if your proposed name exists already.

Will UnitedMasters own or copyright my music?

No, UnitedMasters does not register songs with the Copyright Office. YOU own your masters and compositions.

According to copyright law, the composer owns the copyright to a composition as soon as it is fixed in a tangible medium (written down or recorded)

Pursuant to the US copyright act, once a work is in a fixed form i.e. recorded to mp3 or CD, or written down, you are protected under copyright laws. However, registering your copyright with the Library of Congress makes this ownership part of the public record. This formal record affords the composer/author additional benefits. In other words, if a work is registered with the copyright office the author/composer has a stronger claim against infringements and better damage compensation as a result of infringement. 

You may complete the registration process online at https://www.copyright.gov/registration/ 

The PA form (Work of the Performing Arts) is the form used to register a composition (lyrics and music)

The SR form (Sound Recording) is the form used to register the master or audio/sound recording only

When do I get paid for publishing royalties?

UnitedMasters will follow and adhere to Sentric’s royalty payment schedule. These can vary from society to society but typically the standard society schedule works on a quarterly basis. As a result, UnitedMasters receives, processes, and pays out royalties 45 days following the end of each calendar quarter on the following basis:

• Q1 = January – March (payout will occur in mid-May)
• Q2 = April – June (payout will occur in mid-August)
• Q3 = July – September (payout will occur in mid-November)
• Q4 = October – December (payout will occur in mid-February of the following year)

Do I keep 100% of the publishing royalties?

No, you will receive 80% of gross receipts, with 20% being retained by the service providers. With respect to broadcast performance royalties that are generated from sync placements procured by UnitedMasters, your royalty split is 50%.

What are the terms when it comes to UnitedMasters Publishing Administration?
When you enter into UnitedMasters Publishing Administration, the terms are as follows:

• Exclusive representation of your publishing administration on a rolling basis
• You may cancel or opt-out of the service but the changes will take effect on a per quarter basis
  • Q1 = January – March 
  • Q2 = April – June 
  • Q3 = July – September 
  • Q4 = October – December 
• Once your agreement is terminated, UnitedMasters will implement a 1 year post collection period of your royalties. 

Can I sign up for UnitedMasters Publishing Administration even if I am already a member of a performing rights society (ASCAP / SOCAN / APRA / SIAE etc)?

Yes.  We are not replacing what your performing rights society collects for you as a songwriter. With Sentric acting as your Publishing Administrator, we work with them (along with the digital sources) to ensure your compositions are registered correctly.  You can be a member of a performing rights society and have UnitedMasters via Sentric Music perform its Publishing Administration service as well.

Can I submit a work that contains a sample, or interpolation, of a copyrighted composition?

Yes, only if you have obtained the proper license for your use. This can include a mechanical license, sample license or a beat license. In most instances you are required to contact the original publisher, or copyright holder, to be granted use of the copyrighted work. See below for the different considerations:

1. Mechanical License
   1. This needs to be requested when you are covering a work or re-recording and distributing someone else’s copyright. You can obtain the pertinent license via tunelicense.com. We will not be able to administer the publishing for any cover recordings, since the publishing rights will be retained by the original publisher.
   2. In order to research who controls the original composition rights, you can use the public repertories at songfile.com, songdex.com or the public repertory of ASCAP, BMI & SESAC.
2. Sample License
   1. Depending on whether you interpolate/re-record or sample the actual recording of the other composition you may need to procure a sample license from both the master owner and owner/publisher of the composition.
   2. If you re-record, you only need a sample license for the composition which you would clear from the original publisher(s).
   3. In order to research who controls the original composition the rights you can use the public repertories at HFA, SongDex or the public repertory of ASCAP or BMI. 
3. Beat Licenses
   1. Beats licensed from platforms such as BeatStars, Beat Exchange, Airbit and Soundee may be eligible for publishing administration.
   2. We strongly advise that you check the terms of the license agreement and distinguish whether the license is exclusive or non-exclusive.
   3. Certain licenses enforce usage restrictions on term, number of plays, views and streams. Copyright ownership will likely need to be credited to the original publisher.
4. Royalty-Free Sample Loops
   1. Generally speaking, writers are free to register a work containing a copyright-free sample or loop from platforms such as Splice, Logic and Garageband etc.
   2. We strongly advise writers to consult the terms and conditions of the specific platform from which they are taking a sample before doing so. 
   3. Writers are unable to register a stand alone loop or sample as an original and individual song. The loop must be contained as part of a new song.