By Wallace Collins, Esq. As defined by the copyright law, publishing has two separate meanings. In other words, publishing occurs when copies are printed and there has been a offering to distribute those copies. As a practical matter, music publishing consists primarily of all administrative duties, exploitation of copyrights, and collection of monies generated from the exploitation of those copyrights.
Exploitation simply means seeking out different uses for musical compositions.
Music publishers have professional quality demos prepared and send them to artists and producers to try to secure recordings. They also use these tapes to secure usage in the television, film and advertising industries. Equally important as exploitation is the collection of monies earned by these musical usages. Mechanical royalties are collected directly from the record companies and paid to the publisher. In addition to plugging and administrative functions, it is also important to know that there is a creative side to music publishing.