Creating Your own Publishing....

[peeyo]

Can I create my own publisher and then use that as my publisher on ASCAP? Or do you have to be signed to a legit publisher. If I can, how do I go about setting that publisher upon ASCAP?
Any feedback would be just dandy
PO

[Casey H]

It's a fairly simple process to set up your own publishing company name with ASCAP. I did it a long time ago and there was no fee. Not sure if there is a small fee now.

It comes down to filling out an application and listing five possible company names in order of preference. Your name needs to be unique to them with respect to both spelling and sound. They'll do a search and come back to you with which name was approved. It takes about 6 weeks.

One possible sticky point is they do ask for an example of where you've ever had a song "published" such as with radio play, film/TV placement, recorded by an artist, etc. If you've had music accepted by a library and have nothing else to use here, the library might be able to give you a letter... more likely if it's a library that doesn't take the publisher's share.

What is your goal with respect to doing this? That will help me target my answer better.

If you call ASCAP they will explain it all.

Best,
Casey

[peeyo]

Thanks Casey,
Just was curious if having a publisher listed with my tracks on ASCAP would give my songs a better chance of being considered for film/tv and commercial placement.
Thanks again,
PO

[Casey H]

Thanks Casey,
Just was curious if having a publisher listed with my tracks on ASCAP would give my songs a better chance of being considered for film/tv and commercial placement.
Thanks again,
PO

Probably not...

I used to send out demos with cover letters on letterhead from my publishing company (as well as email address & signature). It MAY have given a more pro look to the submission, especially with very neat, professional labeling on everything. Did it give me an advantage. Don't know. It probably didn't hurt.

In today's world of more and more electronic submissions and less snail mail which needs to vie for attention it probably matters less or not at all. The music will speak for itself.

Libraries do sometimes like it if you are already with ASCAP or BMI as a songwriter, so putting (ASCAP) next to your name in your signature is good.

Casey

[mazz]

I created a publishing company and registered it with ASCAP a few years ago. But I don't actually publish my own stuff at the moment. If you register a piece as the publisher and then actually end up signing it with a publisher, they will register the piece which will result in double registration and probably cause confusion.

But I'm glad I did create the publisher because a library I signed with via a recommendation has a unique arrangement which ended up where each composer needed to have a publishing company for registration purposes. Not sure I fully understand that but I'm glad I did it originally.

FWIW


Mazz

[Dwayne Russell]

I've had my publishing company since 1989. And yes, I use it to get paid extra for some of the placements I get.

[peeyo]

Thanks for the info everybody.

[matto]

FWIW, I have been getting film/tv placements for over 10 years now and am making a very nice living at it, and I just registered my first publishing company ever a few weeks ago. I never needed it before...

So don't think you need to be a registered publisher to be taken seriously or to get placements in film/tv. Remember it's the publisher who gets you the placements...if that publisher is you, then you'll be the one responsible for getting the placements...

[Dwayne Russell]

FWIW, I have been getting film/tv placements for over 10 years now and am making a very nice living at it, and I just registered my first publishing company ever a few weeks ago. I never needed it before...

So don't think you need to be a registered publisher to be taken seriously or to get placements in film/tv. Remember it's the publisher who gets you the placements...if that publisher is you, then you'll be the one responsible for getting the placements...

Hey Matto, What made you do it after all these years?

[matto]

FWIW, I have been getting film/tv placements for over 10 years now and am making a very nice living at it, and I just registered my first publishing company ever a few weeks ago. I never needed it before...

So don't think you need to be a registered publisher to be taken seriously or to get placements in film/tv. Remember it's the publisher who gets you the placements...if that publisher is you, then you'll be the one responsible for getting the placements...

Hey Matto, What made you do it after all these years?

A new opportunity which requires me to be a publisher...