So you’ve come up with a great idea, crafted a song with magical lyrics and catchy riffs, and just finished with the studio. Think your songwriter’s work is done? Wrong, it’s just begun! Now you must put your sales hat on and begin to pitch it to music publishers!
What Are Music Publishers Looking for?
Publishers are looking for a great song that will make money! In addition, they want songs that are not encumbered by any legal contracts, and written by songwriters who are professional and cooperative.
Before You Can Get Your Song Published:
When you pitch to a publisher, you need to present a professional image. No scratchy homemade cassettes, felt pen song titles on CDs or handwritten lyric sheets! Spend the money to produce a good CD of your song, using a professional singer. Create a label with Avery or Memorex CD labels, place the CD in a jacket and include a typed lyric sheet for each song. Be sure to include your name and contact information on both the CD and lyric sheet.
If you can not pitch in person or or online, and are sending via U.S. mail, include a simple letter briefly introducing yourself and your song. Place everything into a bubble envelope with a typed mailing label. Don’t include promotional garbage.
Get the Publisher’s Permission to Pitch to Them!
Before you mail off your package, be sure to look up the publisher’s criteria. Do they accept unsolicited pitches? What genre of music do they need right now? Who should you send it to? The only way you will know these answers is by finding a roster of publishers that spells out their preferences in a catalog or online. Or simply call for permission to send your song. If you skip this step and they don’t accept unsolicited material, they will just toss your work into the trash.
What Does a Music Publisher Do?
A song publisher owns a catalog of songs they feel have potential to become commercially viable. As partners with songwriters, their job is to exploit their songs in an effort to earn as much money as possible. The split is usually 50/50 publisher/songwriter.
There are two types of publishers. The first type has connections with major labels and managers of top artists. If they feel your song holds promise for this type of a pitch, they will offer you a publishing agreement and then work on your behalf in promoting your song to their contacts. If they get you a deal, it will be re-recorded by the artist.
The second type of publisher is a Music Library Publisher, which places songs in films, television or commercials. This publisher needs a “radio ready” production that could be put right into a movie or television show, as is. If chosen, your song would be used as a “Source cue”, wherein the song is used for a scene rather than part of a production’s music “score”. Most Music Libraries never pitch to major artists, instead focusing on getting as many source cues for the songs they represent.
You can find publisher information online at sites such as Music Publisher’s Association, or The Music Business Registry. These resources provide publisher preferences for genre of music they promote, who to contact and where to send songs. Some successful Music Library Publishers to research are Mastersource, Wild Whirled, Pump Audio and Musync.
Publishers Will Want a Signed Publishing Agreement
Prior to pitching your song, publishers will want a signed agreement which gives them control over your songs (usually for a two year period) to negotiate a deal on your behalf. If the contract term is longer, they may have a reversion clause returning your rights if they do not secure a cut for your song.
In summary, to get your song published, you must 1) Write a great song, 2) Research which song publishers might be interested, 3) Prepare a professional package and 4) Pitch the song!
Be diligent, stay positive and keep writing great songs!
