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So when does one need to consider joining one of these as a songwriter? Once a song has been recorded by a major artist? Is there an advantage to one over the other?Cameron

I signed up when I published something. There's really no point in doing so before then.

So when should you get a publisher? I assume that they won't publish just anyone, eh?Cam

You assume correctly! That's one goal...to have someone actually want to publish your song. This is a HUGE can of worms, and before we get into notions like self-publishing, etc., I would refer you to a good book on the music business. I don't mean that in a snide way at all ...it's a topic that makes my eyes glaze, like filling out medical forms...but it's important to learn. Good books by John Braheny and Jason Blume about all that.But to the topic, you just don't really need to sign until there is a reason. In my case, a publisher and I signed a contract for one of my songs...I own 100% of the writer's share and he now owns 100% of publishing rights. He will now try to pitch the song for the next two years, and if nothing gets recorded, I can take advantage of a reversion clause and get publishing rights back. But I WANT him to have them, especially if he hits paydirt and gets the song recorded. Then, once the song is being played, my PRO will collect monay and send me my checks. Hope this helps. -mk

Jul 12, 2008, 4:09pm, cameron wrote:So when does one need to consider joining one of these as a songwriter? Once a song has been recorded by a major artist? Is there an advantage to one over the other?CameronGenerally it's when your music is in the public ear in a way that would trigger some kind of royalty payment. Typically that would be radio air play or placement into a television show. Even when that happens, there's LOTS of time to get registered to pick up that first payment (six months or more).

Jul 12, 2008, 4:17pm, cameron wrote:So when should you get a publisher? I assume that they won't publish just anyone, eh?Cam"when" is when you have music to pitch a publisher that is composed/produced well enough that they would be interested in pitching/placing it. The folks on this forum & the screeners will help you assess that."get" is why we're here at Taxi, submitting to listings, hoping the screeners will forward our music to music publishers & music libraries and that they, upon listening to the forwarded music, will call us to make a deal.hugsHummin'bird

I was just thinking what would happen if you get a forward, and a record company calls you and says, "we want to put your song on our new album, whose your publisher?" at which point I would shuffle my feet and say "gee, Wally... you mean I need a publisher?"So once I have something worthy should I try to find a publisher to hawk my songs, do it myself or try for both?Cam

You just tell them you are self published. You can start your own BMI, ASCAP or SESAC pub company in your name.Jimi

Yup. Twice the money, and the job of pitching is already done.

Good info Jimi. I'm going to the Jason Blume songwriter's class at BMI in Nashville on Tuesday, and I think publishing is one of the topics on this week's agenda, so guess I'll learn more there. I had Jason's book but left it in a hotel somewhere.Cam