WHO OWNS THE FILM SCORE?
Based on your negotiations with the film composer, your Composer Agreement will spell out who owns the filmscore (that is, who retains the publisher share of the music). This will either be the production company or the film composer. If the production company pays the appropriate composer’s fee up front, it usually retains the publisher share of the music while the composer retains the writer share. In this case, the production company will need to set up a publishing company through ASCAP. When you call us to do this, we can give you further detail. If the production company is unable to pay the composer an appropriate fee up front (as happens often with independent films but never with major releases), a composer will often negotiate to keep the publisher’s share of the music. Regardless, as a filmmaker, if your film will have a broader release than at film festivals, you need your Composer Agreement to give certain Broad Rights to the production company: these may include worldwide
