What’s the Difference Between a Publishing Deal and an Admin Deal?
In a Traditional Publishing Deal, you give up a portion of your ownership (copyright) and income in exchange for an upfront payment (advance) and active career support. In an Administration Deal, you keep 100% ownership and pay a service fee (usually 10-20%) for someone to handle the paperwork and global collection. 1. The Administration Deal: […]
How Do I Claim Songs That Were Released Before I Joined a PRO?
Yes, you can claim royalties for songs released before you joined a PRO or a publisher, but you are racing against the clock. Most mechanical royalties (from streaming) are held in a “waiting room” for 2 to 3 years before being redistributed to other artists. At Audiobulb, we specialize in “Catalog Harvesting”—submitting your old songs […]
What Happens If My Metadata Is Wrong on Streaming Platforms?
If your metadata is incorrect, your royalties become “unmatchable.” When Spotify or Apple Music sends streaming data to collection societies, they use your metadata (like ISRC and ISWC codes) to find out who to pay. If there is a typo in your name or a missing code, the money goes into a “Black Box”—a holding […]
How Do I Register Instrumentals, Samples, or Remixes?
You can, and should, register original instrumentals just like any other song. However, Remixes and Samples are “Derivative Works.” You cannot legally register them with a PRO or collect royalties until you have written permission from the original owners. At Audiobulb, we help you navigate these permissions so you don’t accidentally commit copyright infringement while […]
What Happens If Two People Claim the Same Song?
If two different parties (writers or publishers) claim more than 100% of a song’s ownership, the collection societies will immediately freeze all royalty payments for that work. The money is held in an “Escrow” account and will not be released until the dispute is resolved. Without a publisher to defend your claim, your royalties can […]
How Do I Split Publishing Percentages Fairly Among Collaborators?
There is no “legal law” for how to split a song, but there are industry standards. Most professional collaborators choose between Equal Splits (everyone in the room gets the same) or Proportional Splits (based on specific contributions). The most important thing is to sign a Split Sheet before the song is released. Audiobulb makes this […]
How Do I Register a Song With My PRO?
While you can log into ASCAP or BMI and register a song yourself, you probably shouldn’t. If you register only as a songwriter, you are only collecting the Writer’s Share (50% of the pie). Without a publisher to claim the Publisher’s Share, that other 50% often sits unclaimed in a “black box” or is eventually […]
Can I Be a Member of Two PROs at Once?
As an individual songwriter, the answer is no. You are generally only allowed to have one active affiliation per territory (e.g., you can’t be in ASCAP and BMI at the same time). However, as a publisher, the answer is yes, and it’s actually required if you want to represent other writers. It’s a common question: […]
How Do I Collect Royalties from India or Africa if I’m Signed with ASCAP/BMI?
While ASCAP and BMI have “Reciprocal Agreements” with societies in India (IPRS) and Africa (like SAMRO in South Africa), these agreements are often limited to Performance Royalties (Radio/TV). They rarely cover Mechanical Royalties (Streaming), which means a large chunk of your income from these regions is likely sitting unclaimed. To collect 100% of your money, […]
How Do I Get My Music Published in Multiple Territories?
You don’t get your music published territory-by-territory yourself. Instead, you sign a single Publishing Administration agreement with a partner like Audiobulb. We then use our network of “Sub-Publishers” to register your songs directly with collection societies in every major music market—from the UK (PRS) to Japan (JASRAC) and beyond. In the digital era, your music […]