How to Check if a Song is Registered with a PRO
Use the ASCAP or BMI Songview search tools first. Because these databases are now “reconciled,” a search on one usually shows you the data for both. If your song appears with a green checkmark, it means the data is verified and consistent across the major societies. Audiobulb uses these same databases to ensure your global […]
Can I Switch Publishers Without Losing Royalties?
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 […]
What Are the Biggest Mistakes New Songwriters Make About Publishing?
The #1 mistake is assuming that your Distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, etc.) is your Publisher. It isn’t. A distributor only puts your recording on Spotify; a publisher manages your songwriting rights. By using Audiobulb, you avoid the “Administrative Trap” by centralizing your global rights and active sync pitching in one place for $19.99/year with 0% commission. […]
How Global Mechanicals Differ from US Mechanicals
In the US, mechanical royalties for physical sales and downloads are a fixed “Penny Rate” set by the government ($0.127 per song in 2025). Internationally, most countries use a “Percentage Model” based on the wholesale price of the record. Furthermore, while the MLC handles digital mechanicals in the US, you need a global administrator to […]
Full Publishing Administration: What Audiobulb Does Beyond Sync
The Bottom Line Up Front: A “Sync Agency” only finds you film/TV deals. A Full Publishing Administrator, like Audiobulb, builds the global legal infrastructure to collect your money from every source. For a flat $19.99/year, we handle the technical registrations and global tracking that most artists leave to chance. Most importantly, we take 0% commission […]
How Do I Report a Stolen Song or Publishing Fraud?
If someone has registered your work as their own, you must act fast to “freeze” the royalties. You should first gather time-stamped evidence of your creation, then file a formal dispute with your Performance Rights Organization (PRO) and the Copyright Office. Audiobulb acts as your frontline defense; as your administrator, we can help flag fraudulent […]
What’s the Difference Between Publishing for Instrumental vs. Lyrical Works?
Legally, both are “compositions” protected by copyright. However, instrumentals are the workhorses of the sync world, they are highly versatile and often preferred for background placement because they don’t clash with dialogue. Lyrical works, while harder to place, often command much higher upfront sync fees because they carry the emotional weight of a scene. 1. […]
How Do Publishing Royalties Work for Remixes and Covers?
In a Cover, you own the new recording (the Master), but the original songwriters keeps 100% of the Publishing. In a Remix, you generally get a flat fee or a small percentage of the Master royalties, but you rarely get any Publishing unless you wrote a brand-new verse or melody. 1. The Cover Song Model […]
What Happens If I Sample Another Song? Who Gets the Publishing Royalties?
If you sample an existing song, the original songwriters and publishers are entitled to a piece of your Composition (Publishing). There is no “5-second rule”—any recognizable sample requires clearance. In many cases, if the sample is the “hook” of your song, the original writers may demand 50% to 100% of the publishing, leaving you with […]
How Do I Handle Publishing if I Produce for Multiple Artists?
The Bottom Line Up Front: As a producer, you are effectively a “Songwriter” on every track you touch. To get paid, you must document your percentage via a Split Sheet for every session. Instead of letting each artist register the song for you, you should centralize your own shares under a single administration platform. Audiobulb […]