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Music Publishing

What is the difference between performance and mechanical royalties?

Performance royalties are paid when a song is played publicly (radio, concert), while mechanical royalties are paid when a song is reproduced (CD, stream, download).

Do I need a publisher to collect royalties?

You can collect some royalties directly through a PRO (like GCA), but a publisher helps collect mechanical and foreign royalties that you might miss.

What is an Administration Deal?

In an admin deal, you keep 100% ownership of your songs, and the publisher just collects royalties for a fee (usually 10-20%) for a limited term.

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Music Publishing is one of the most profitable yet complex areas of the music industry. It concerns the management of the song composition (melody and lyrics) rather than the audio recording itself (Master). When your song is played on the radio, TV, in a film, or performed at a concert, you are entitled to royalties. A Music Publisher is a person or company that ensures the collection of these royalties and the commercialization of the song. In Georgia, copyright management is often chaotic, so qualified legal assistance is essential to receive due income.

Legal services in music publishing include:

  • Publishing Agreements: Regulating the relationship between the artist and the publisher (Standard Publishing Deal, Co-Publishing Deal, Administration Deal).
  • Sync Licensing: Granting rights to use the song in movies, commercials, TV series, and video games.
  • Interaction with CMOs (GCA): Registering works and monitoring the collection of royalties (public performance, mechanical, and digital rights).
  • Catalog Management: Legal audit of old and new song catalogs and increasing their value.
  • Reversion of Rights: Returning rights to the author upon expiration of the contract or breach of conditions.

In practice, many Georgian composers lose revenue because they do not have a contract with a publisher or are not registered with an association. For example, if your song is used in a popular TV commercial, you are entitled to a substantial fee for synchronization. If this is not legally formalized, the company might try to use the music for free. Additionally, collecting royalties internationally (YouTube, Spotify) requires special administration, which a publisher or administrator performs.

In Georgia, this field is regulated by the Law on Copyright and Related Rights. The law distinguishes between economic rights, which can be transferred to a publisher, and moral rights, which remain with the author. According to international practice, a publisher typically takes 50% of the income (Writer's Share vs Publisher's Share), although in modern "Administration Deals," the publisher's share is 10-20%.

The process begins with an analysis of your repertoire. The lawyer checks if the works are protected and registered. Then, negotiations with a publisher take place for the best terms. Legal.ge offers access to lawyers who understand the economics of the music industry and can monetize your intellectual property.

Your song is an asset that can generate income for a lifetime. Manage it correctly with the help of Legal.ge.

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