Most traditional publishing deals are “Rights Grabs” disguised as opportunities. They want your ownership, a massive cut of your money, and control over your music for decades. Audiobulb flips this model: you keep 100% ownership, pay a flat $19.99/year fee, and we provide active tracking to protect your work from unauthorized use.
1. The “Rights Grab” (Assignment vs. Administration)
This is the biggest trick in the book.
- The Shady Tactic: The contract says you “assign, grant, and deliver” your copyright to the publisher. This means you no longer own your song—they do. Even if you leave the company, they might own that song forever.
- The Audiobulb Way: We are an Administration service. You never “assign” your rights to us. You remain the legal owner of your copyright. We simply have the exclusive right to manage it on your behalf so we can collect your money and protect your work.
2. The “Ghost” Retention Period
Even if a contract is only for 2 years, look at the Retention Clause.
- The Shady Tactic: A “Life of Copyright” retention clause. This means that even after your 2-year deal ends, the publisher keeps the rights to every song you wrote during that time for your entire life plus 70 years.
- The Audiobulb Way: We don’t believe in “forever” deals. If you decide to move on, we don’t keep your songs hostage. Our exclusive administration is designed to be a partnership of choice, not a legal trap.
3. The “Success Tax” (Commissions vs. Flat Fees)
Most publishers make more money when you succeed—without doing extra work.
- The Shady Tactic: A 15%–25% commission on your royalties. If you land a $10,000 sync deal, they take $2,500 just for processing the paperwork.
- The Audiobulb Way: We charge a flat $19.99/year. Period. Whether you earn $100 or $100,000, we don’t take a single cent of your royalties. We believe the “Publisher’s Share” belongs to the person who wrote the song.
4. Passive Collection vs. Active Protection
How hard is the publisher actually working for you?
- The Shady Tactic: “Passive Administration.” Many big publishers just register your song in a database and wait for a check to arrive. If someone uses your music on a viral YouTube channel without paying, they often won’t notice or care.
- The Audiobulb Way: We provide Active Usage Tracking. We use technology to scan the digital landscape for your music. If your work is being used unfairly or without a license, we find it and address it. We don’t just collect money; we protect your intellectual property.
5. Contract Checklist: Red Flag vs. Transparent
| Feature | Traditional Red Flag | Audiobulb Transparency |
| Ownership | They own 50–100% of the copyright. | You own 100% of the copyright. |
| Commission | 15% to 50% of your earnings. | 0% Commission. |
| Fees | Hidden “sub-publisher” or “admin” fees. | One flat $19.99/year fee. |
| Duration | Life of Copyright (Forever). | Flexible & Artist-Friendly. |
| Tracking | Passive (Wait for checks). | Active (Tracking for unfair use). |
| Exclusivity | Locks you in to control you. | Exclusivity to prevent “Double Claims.” |
6. Why Exclusivity Actually Protects You
You might see “Exclusive” and get nervous. But at Audiobulb, exclusivity is a tool for efficiency, not control.
- Why we do it: If you have two different people trying to register the same song, the PROs (ASCAP/BMI) will “freeze” the money. Nobody gets paid.
- The Benefit: By being your exclusive administrator, we can guarantee to the world that your data is clean. This allows us to collect your royalties faster and track unauthorized usage more accurately across the globe.
7. The “Key Man” and “Audit” Rights
Always look for these two clauses:
- Audit Rights: You should always have the right to check the publisher’s books. (With Audiobulb, our portal is 100% transparent, so you can see your data in real-time).
- Termination: If a publisher stops doing their job, you should be able to leave. Avoid contracts that make it “impossible” to terminate.
Summary
A publishing deal should be a service you hire, not a prison you enter. If a contract asks for your ownership or a percentage of your royalties, they are taking a piece of your legacy.
Your Next Step: Don’t sign your rights away to a “rights grab” publisher. Join Audiobulb for $19.99/year and get the world-class protection and collection you deserve while keeping 100% of your ownership and royalties.