Can I use Songtrust, Audiobulb, or TuneCore Publishing as my admin?
When choosing a publishing administrator, you are essentially deciding who will be your “legal representative” to the world’s collection societies. In 2025, the “big three” for independent artists, Songtrust, Audiobulb, and TuneCore Publishing, offer very different business models depending on whether you value upfront cost, sync potential, or global reach. Comparison: Songtrust vs. Audiobulb vs. […]
What Tools Help Independent Artists Track Royalties and Metadata?
You cannot rely on a single app to manage your entire music business. You need a specialized ecosystem: a Centralized Database for your credits (Metadata), a Distributor for your audio files (Masters), and an Administrator, like Audiobulb, for your rights (Publishing). 1. Metadata Management: Your Digital Fingerprint Metadata is the “SEO” for your music. If […]
Can I Register an AI-Generated Song with a PRO?
You cannot register a song that is 100% generated by AI (where a machine created the lyrics, melody, and arrangement based on a prompt). However, in a major 2025 policy shift, PROs like ASCAP, BMI, and SOCAN now officially accept registrations for “Partially AI-Generated” works. This means if you used AI as a tool but […]
Who Owns the Copyright in AI-Assisted Music?
Under current global law, copyright can only be granted to human beings. If you use AI to assist your process—such as for mixing, mastering, or generating a baseline—you own the copyright only to the portions you creatively controlled. If the AI generates the lyrics and melody entirely on its own, those elements are uncopyrightable and […]
How are AI-Generated Songs Treated in Publishing?
Under current laws (including the US Copyright Office and global standards), AI cannot be an author. Only works created by human beings are eligible for copyright protection. This means if a song is 100% AI-generated, it effectively belongs to the public domain and cannot generate publishing royalties. However, if a human uses AI as a […]
What’s the Process After a Song Gets Chosen for Sync?
Once a song is selected, you must quickly navigate the “Clearance” stage, which involves signing a Master Use License and a Sync License. You will then deliver “high-res” files and instrumentals to the production team. After the show airs, a Cue Sheet is filed with PROs to trigger your backend royalties. Audiobulb’s Sync Pitching and […]
Can I License Covers for Sync?
Yes, you can license your cover recordings for sync, but you only control one half of the deal. You can grant a Master License for your specific recording, but the music supervisor must still obtain a Sync License from the original song’s publisher. Crucially, the mechanical license you got from your distributor (to put the […]
How do sync royalties work?
Sync income is split into two distinct parts: the Upfront Fee (paid by the production company to license the song) and the Backend Royalties (generated every time the show or film is broadcast or streamed). To collect both, you need to clear two licenses: the Master and the Sync. While a distributor helps with the […]
Do I Need a Publisher to Get Sync Placements?
You don’t need to sign away your rights to a major publisher to get on Netflix or HBO. You can pitch your music yourself as an independent artist. However, music supervisors require that your publishing is “cleared,” meaning they need a legal representative to sign off on the songwriting rights. If you only have a […]
What’s the Difference Between a Sync License and a Master License?
Every song has two “souls” legally. A Master License permits the use of the specific sound recording (the audio file), while a Sync License permits the use the underlying composition (the lyrics and melody). To place a song in a movie or TV show, the producer must obtain both. Audiobulb simplifies this by acting as […]