What does a music publisher actually do?
A Music publishers are your promotional vehicle for songs and instrumental themes if you are not retaining and exploiting your own copyrights. In some instances they will nurture and develop singer-songwriter-artistes to help them gain a record deal. Music publishers promote and exploit songs and instrumental themes which are signed to them under an assignment of rights publishing contract. Music publishers also register the copyrights as assigned to their catalogue with the relevant royalty collection organisations in the countries in which they operate. Music publishers take a percentage of the money being royalties that may be earned and these percentages are set out in the terms and conditions of the music publishing contract entered into with the songwriter, composer.
