How to Start a Music Publishing Business
Some people get into the music business to make music, and others get into the music business to sell music. If you want to be one of the people who sells music behind the scenes, then you will want to start a music publishing business. When people want to reproduce music or use it in an advertisement or movie, they must purchase the rights from the music publisher. Starting a music publishing business requires start-up capital.
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Instructions
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Develop a list of at least three names you would consider calling your company. You will need to list these names with the performance licensing companies, and they will want your primary name and at least two options. If your primary name is taken, then they will move to your second choice and so on until an available name is found.
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Apply for a publishing license from one of the performance licensing companies: ASCAP, BMI or SESAC. They each have different application procedures. You may need to get a standard performer's license before you get your publisher's license. There will be an application fee. If you have any questions about how to fill out the form it is best to call the performance licensing company and ask rather than guessing. Only apply to one performance licensing company for a publisher's license.
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The performance licensing company will let you know which company name they were able to register. As soon as you find out which company name was accepted, go to your local government office and register your business. After registering your business, get a bank account for your business so that you can write and receive checks.
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Determine how you would like to approach publishing music. You can choose to only publish music after it has been recorded and ready for distribution, or you can get involved with an artist before they begin recording and choose to help fund the recording sessions. There is no advantage or disadvantage to either method. Some people prefer to only deal in completed music, and others want to be involved in the entire process. It is more of a personal choice, but keep in mind that if you choose to get involved before recording begins, then that will significantly increase your need for operating capital. If you choose to publish completed music, your involvement is mostly administrative with very little operating capital needed.
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Begin advertising your catalog of music. Part of advertising will include working with radio stations to get your catalog airplay. You will also want to contact movie studios and television producers to continually offer music from your catalog to be used in movies and television shows.
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Tips & Warnings
When you are first starting out, stick to one genre of music. As your business grows you can consider expanding to other genres. Working in one genre makes it easier to establish a reputation with music industry buyers.
Only give your contact information to people you intend on doing business with. There are thousands of musicians looking for a publisher to help sell their music, and you do not want to spend the majority of your time screening calls and emails from artists you do not want to work with.
