When your deal “expires,” it usually only means the Term has ended—the publisher can no longer claim your new songs. However, they likely still have rights to your old songs for a Retention Period, and they will continue to collect royalties for a Post-Term Collection Period (often 6–18 months) to account for accounting delays. At Audiobulb, we help you manage this transition so you don’t lose money during the “handoff.”
1. “The Term” vs. “The Retention Period”
It is vital to distinguish between these two dates in your contract.
- The Term (The Signing Period): This is the window where the publisher owns everything you write. Once this expires, you are free to sign your new songs with a different publisher (like Audiobulb).
- The Retention Period: Just because the term is over doesn’t mean the publisher is finished with the songs you wrote while under contract. Many traditional deals allow the publisher to “retain” those rights for 5, 10, or even 15 years after the term ends.
Admin Deal Advantage: If you are with an administrator like Audiobulb, the retention period is usually zero. Once you leave, the rights to your songs generally stay with you.
2. The “Post-Term Collection” (The Run-Off)
Royalty accounting is slow. A stream that happens in December might not be paid out until June.
- The Run-Off Clause: Most contracts include a “Post-Term Collection Period” (typically 12 months). This allows your old publisher to collect the money that was earned while you were with them but paid after you left.
- The Risk: If you sign with a new publisher too early, both companies might try to claim the same money, leading to a “Double Claim” (frozen funds).
3. The 3 Steps of a “Clean Break”
To successfully move your catalog from an old publisher to Audiobulb, you need a paper trail:
- Letter of Relinquishment (LOR): Your old publisher must send this to the PROs (ASCAP/BMI) stating they are no longer the administrator.
- Letter of Direction (LOD): You (and Audiobulb) send this to the PROs stating that we are the new administrator.
- Pipeline Audit: We monitor your first few royalty statements to ensure the old publisher isn’t accidentally still “harvesting” your new royalties.
4. Comparison: Expiration by Deal Type
| Feature | Administration Deal | Traditional / Co-Pub Deal |
| New Songs | You own them immediately. | You own them immediately. |
| Old Songs | Usually return to you instantly. | Often stay with them for years. |
| Collection Period | 6–12 months (standard). | 12–24 months (common). |
| Unrecouped Advances | Usually not applicable. | Must be paid back or rights stay! |
5. What If I Haven’t “Recouped” My Advance?
If you received a $10,000 advance and only earned $5,000 in royalties by the time your deal expires, you are “unrecouped.”
- The Extension Trap: Many traditional contracts have a clause that automatically extends the retention period if you haven’t paid back the advance.
- The Solution: You can sometimes negotiate a “Buy-Out” or “Recoupment from Future Works,” but in many cases, the old publisher will simply keep your songs until the debt is paid by your streams.
FAQ: The Expiration Phase
Do my songs disappear from Spotify when my deal expires?
No. Publishing deals affect the money, not the audio. Your songs will stay on streaming platforms, but the behind-the-scenes “routing” of the royalties will change from the old publisher’s bank account to yours (or your new administrator’s).
Can I register my old songs with Audiobulb the day my deal ends?
You should notify us 30–60 days before your deal ends. This allows us to have the paperwork ready so that the moment the old contract expires, we can “plug in” our collection tools and prevent any royalties from falling into the Black Box.
What happens to my “Writer’s Share”?
Nothing! Your Writer’s Share is yours for life and is paid directly to you by your PRO.4 An expiring deal only affects the “Publisher’s Share.”
Summary
Expiration is a process, not a date. To avoid a “royalty gap” where no one is collecting your money, you need to manage the transition with precision metadata and formal legal notices.
Your Next Step: Is your current publishing deal ending soon? Contact the Audiobulb Team for a transition plan. We’ll review your current contract’s termination and retention clauses to ensure your move is seamless and your income is never interrupted.