Publisher question

[jonnybutter]

I have signed some music with a publisher - it's exclusive and they own the copyright and the master, I get 100% of the writer's share. Problem is the song is on their website available to license and/or download, but they haven't registered it with my PRO. I can see my music has gotten some listens and a download already.

Other libraries I've signed with didn't put songs up on their catalog until they were registered. Will this company somehow have to register my stuff with my PRO before it's licensed, or could it get placed without my getting my share?

[Cruciform]

Some libraries don't register cues until they are placed. There is generally enough time between placement and payment of royalties to register and it's unlikely you would miss out. If you are concerned, your best course of action is to drop the library a friendly email asking about their normal process of when they register.

[jonnybutter]

Thanks Rob. I did send a friendly email asking what's up. I was just wondering if the publisher was bound to register the track with your PRO. I guess they are, as per the contract?

Seems odd to wait until a cue is placed to register it - how can you predict your workflow that way? Maybe it's advantageous in some way I haven't thought of...

[VanderBoegh]

Hey Johnny, I work with quite a few libraries that haven't registered a single track of mine yet, some up to like 2 years after I signed the contracts and sent the music to them.

I know the inclination is to think that you're stuck in the mud until the track(s) is registered, and that any placements might leave you out of the money...

...but the reality is this: the library won't get paid either, unless the work is eventually registered. You're not going to get scammed and lose out on any money. If you miss out on the payday, so does the publisher.

They'll get it taken care of eventually. Just give them time.

~~Matt

[jonnybutter]

Hey Matt,

Thanks for this. From what I can see, the publisher has registered as publisher, but they don't seem to have registered the writer's half (me) - if that's even possible. I don't think anybody's trying to scam me, I just think they're behind (which is totally understandable). And yes, it has taken other libraries a long time to register tracks for me too, but they weren't available to audition/download/license until they had been. That's what gave me pause. Maybe, as Rob mentioned, they finish the paperwork when a track is actually placed? We'll see

cheers

Jon

[VanderBoegh]

From what I can see, the publisher has registered as publisher, but they don't seem to have registered the writer's half (me) - if that's even possible.

Hmmmm, okay, well that's definitely a wrinkle you might want to look into! I'd just send them a nice email and see what's up.

But yeah, Rob's right too. Oftentimes libraries won't register a track until it's placed, as that's really the only time it's absolutely necessary to register it. But if it's already registered and you're not credited yet, then it bears looking into.

~~Matt

[jonnybutter]

thanks Matt. I will report what happens.

[jonnybutter]

If anybody's still reading...

Rob had the right idea here - this library registers tracks on a periodic schedule, although sooner if something gets placed.

I guess there is now software which does this sort of thing in bulk. Really, that should be a valid way to do this stuff - it's pretty mechanical.

thanks everybody for chiming in