A music publisher should arrange the sale or exploitation of your pieces, for example, by licensing the recording rights to a record company. Music publishers usually ask for an assignment of the mechanical (recording) rights, synchronisation rights and print music rights. An agreed percentage of the income received by the publisher is then payable to the songwriter.

The benefits a music publisher can provide include:

• collection of income owed to the composer, e.g. from record companies or overseas collection agencies;

• promotion of the pieces to potential buyers such as record companies and film makers; and

• an advance on future royalties.

A composer who is offered a publishing contract needs to consider whether the benefits are worth it. If a composer performs their own songs, and already has a record deal, the publisher may have a limited role to play. This is particularly so if the publisher is connected to the record company. If you are offered a publishing contract, you will need legal advice about, for example: what the agreement means and how it will work; whether it is acceptable by current industry standards; and what aspects you should negotiate to change.