Yes, you can switch publishers, but the change will not be reflected in your bank account immediately. Because royalty collection has a 6-to-12-month lag, there is always a transition period where your old publisher and new publisher “overlap.” Audiobulb makes this transition seamless by handling the Letter of Direction (LOD) for you and ensuring your metadata matches perfectly so that not a single penny is lost in the move.
1. The Three Key Terms You Need to Know
Before you send a termination notice, check your current contract for these three clauses:
- The Termination Window: Most publishing deals (like Songtrust or TuneCore) require a 30-to-90-day notice before the end of your current term. If you miss this window, you might be locked in for another year.
- The Retention Period: This is how long the publisher “owns” the rights to the songs you wrote while signed to them. In a standard admin deal, this typically occurs 0 days after termination; however, in some deals, it can range from 1 to 15 years.
- The Tail Period (Collection Period): Even after you leave, the old publisher usually has the right to collect royalties that were earned while you were with them. This “tail” usually lasts 6 to 18 months.
2. The “Moving Truck” of Publishing: The Letter of Direction (LOD)
When you switch to a new administrator like Audiobulb, we provide you with a Letter of Direction. This is a formal legal notice that we send to PROs (ASCAP/BMI) and mechanical societies (The MLC).
- It tells them: “As of [Date], Audiobulb is now the authorized administrator for this catalog. Please redirect all future payments to them.”
- Without an LOD, the societies won’t know you moved, and your money will keep flowing to your old, higher-commission publisher.
3. Step-by-Step: How to Switch Safely
To ensure zero royalty loss, follow this exact sequence:
- Audit Your Catalog: Download a full CSV of your ISRCs, ISWCs, and song titles from your current publisher.
- Send the Notice: Email your current publisher a formal “Notice of Non-Renewal” or “Termination.” Get a confirmation email back.
- Onboard with Audiobulb: Join Audiobulb. Upload your metadata using the same ISRCs and titles.
- Sign the LOD: We will generate the Letter of Direction. Once you sign it, we notify the global societies.
- Monitor the Overlap: Keep your old account open for at least 12 months. You will receive “leftover” payments from the old publisher while the “new” money starts hitting your Audiobulb dashboard.
4. Why Metadata Matching is Everything
The biggest reason artists “lose” royalties during a switch is Metadata Mismatch.
- If your old publisher registered a song as “Love Song (feat. Artist X)” but you register it at Audiobulb as “Love Song”, the society will think they are two different songs.
- This creates a “Conflict,” and the society will hold the money in a frozen account until both publishers prove who is right.
- Audiobulb’s support team double-checks your data to ensure it matches the global registry exactly, avoiding these freezes.
5. Why Switch to Audiobulb?
Most artists move to Audiobulb to escape the “Percentage Tax” and get active support.
- 0% Commission: If you move from a publisher taking 15% to Audiobulb, you immediately “give yourself a 15% raise” on every dollar you earn.
- Active Sync Pitching: Unlike “passive” admins who just wait for royalties to arrive, we take your newly transferred catalog and start pitching it to our film/TV partners immediately.
- Flat Fee Transparency: For $19.99/year, you get the same global reach as the major administrators, but you keep the profit.
- One-Stop Hub: We centralize your PRO, MLC, and international collection in one dashboard.
Summary
Switching publishers isn’t a “breakup”—it’s a business upgrade. As long as you respect your current contract’s notice period and use a professional administrator to handle the transition, your royalties will follow you. Don’t stay in a high-commission deal just because you’re afraid of the paperwork.
Your Next Step: Ready to stop paying 15-50% commission and bring your catalog to a more profitable home? Join Audiobulb for $19.99/year and let us help you handle your Letter of Direction and global catalog transfer.