Music credits are the roadmap for royalties. If you see “Administered By“, it means the songwriter owns the copyright, but a company handles the paperwork. If you see Multiple Publishers, it means the song had multiple co-writers. If you see ASCAP/BMI, those are the societies tracking the money. Understanding these terms is the difference between getting paid and getting lost in the system.
Have you ever clicked “Show Credits” on Spotify or looked at the liner notes of your favorite album and felt like you were reading a legal contract?
You might see a phrase like:
© 2025 Songwriter Name, Administered by Audiobulb Music.
Or a list of five different companies for one 3-minute song.
Here is the plain-English translation of the most confusing terms in music publishing.
1. What Does “Administered By” Mean?
This is the most common credit you will see for independent artists.
- The Meaning: The songwriter retains 100% ownership of the copyright. They have hired a company (the Administrator) to collect the money for them.
- The Analogy: Think of a landlord (the songwriter) and a Property Management Company (the Administrator). The Property Manager collects the rent and fixes the plumbing, but they do not own the building.
- Why you see it: It signals that the artist is independent but professional. They haven’t signed their rights away to a major label, but they are smart enough not to do the paperwork themselves.
2. Why Are There Multiple Publishers on One Song?
It is rare to see just one publisher listed on a modern hit song. You often see a list like:
- Sony/ATV Ballad
- Warner Chappell Music
- Kobalt Music
The Reason: Co-Writing. In music publishing, the copyright follows the writer.
- If Writer A (signed to Sony) and Writer B (signed to Warner) write a song together, the song doesn’t just have “one” publisher. It has two.
- Sony collects 50% for Writer A.
- Warner collects 50% for Writer B.
This “Split” is why accurate metadata is so important. If one writer claims 50% and the other claims 60%, the song goes into “Dispute” and nobody gets paid until it is fixed (total must equal 100%).
3. The Acronym Dictionary: Who is Who?
These are the PROs (Performing Rights Organizations). Their job is to track public performances (radio, live, TV) and pay the writers/publishers.
The acronym depends on which country the money is coming from.
The USA Big Three:
- ASCAP: American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. (Open to everyone, one-time fee).
- BMI: Broadcast Music, Inc. (Open to everyone, free to join for writers).
- SESAC: Society of European Stage Authors and Composers. (Invite-only, for established artists).
Note: You can only join ONE of these at a time as a writer.
The International Players:
- PRS: Performing Rights Society (United Kingdom).
- SOCAN: Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (Canada).
- IPRS: The Indian Performing Right Society (India).
- GEMA: Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs… (Germany).
- SAMRO: Southern African Music Rights Organisation (South Africa).
Why this matters: If you join BMI in the USA, BMI will partner with PRS (UK) and IPRS (India) to collect your money in those countries. You do not need to join all of them.
FAQ: Reading the Fine Print
What does “O/B/O” mean?
It stands for “On Behalf Of.”
- Example: “Audiobulb Music O/B/O John Doe.”
- Translation: Audiobulb is collecting this money on behalf of the writer John Doe.
What is the difference between © and ℗?
- © (C in a circle): Stands for Copyright. This refers to the Lyrics & Melody (Composition). This is the Publisher’s domain.
- ℗ (P in a circle): Stands for Phonogram. This refers to the Master Recording (Audio File). This is the Record Label/Distributor’s domain.
If I am independent, what should my credit look like?
If you use an admin service, your credit should look like:
[Your Name] Publishing, Administered by [Your Admin Service]
If you are totally DIY (not recommended for global collection), it would just be:
© 2025 [Your Name]
Summary
Credits aren’t just vanity; they are instructions for the bank. If your name isn’t spelled right, or your administrator isn’t listed, the money has nowhere to go.
Your Next Step: Go to Spotify, find your latest release, click the three dots (…), and select “Show Credits.” Does it say “Administered By”? If not, and you are just seeing your distributor’s name or a blank space, you might be missing out on publishing revenue. Contact Audiobulb to fix your credits today.