What music publishers do, how publishing works in India, and when you need a publisher versus self-publishing.
What Is Music Publishing?
Music publishing is the business of managing the rights in musical compositions — the melody, the lyrics, the underlying song. This is distinct from the master recording rights (which are managed by the artist's label or the artist themselves).
A publisher's job is to: 1. Own or administer the copyright in songs 2. License those songs for use (sync, mechanical, performance, print) 3. Collect royalties generated by those uses from collecting societies and licensees 4. Develop songs into valuable commercial assets (placing them in films, ads, TV series, games) 5. Match songwriters with commercial opportunities (co-writing sessions, artist recording opportunities)
Types of Publishing Deals
Full Publishing Deal
The publisher acquires ownership of a portion (typically 50%) or all of the copyright in your songs for a defined period. They pay an advance and collect royalties, then split the "writer's share" with you. Usually reserved for major songwriters with significant commercial potential.
Co-publishing Deal
You and the publisher each own a portion of the copyright (e.g., you own 50%, publisher owns 50%). The publisher administers the full catalogue and shares royalties accordingly. More common for established artists.
Publishing Administration Deal
The publisher administers your catalogue (registers works, collects royalties) without acquiring any ownership. They take an admin commission of 10–25%. You retain 100% of your copyright ownership. This is the most artist-friendly structure and the most common for independent Indian artists. See the Publishing Admin Agreement template for details.
Self-publishing
You handle all of the above yourself via direct IPRS membership and direct licensing. No commission paid to a third party, but requires significant time and expertise. Viable for artists who understand the process.
The Indian Publishing Landscape
IPRS (Indian Performing Rights Society): The primary collecting society for music publishers in India. IPRS licenses performance and broadcast rights and distributes royalties to its publisher members. Both publishers and songwriters are IPRS members.
MAJOR INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHERS with India presence:
- Sony Music Publishing India: Major Hindi film music publishing; some indie signings.
- Universal Music Publishing India: Strong Bollywood catalogue; licensing of international catalogue in India.
- Warner Chappell Music India: Growing India presence.
- BMG Rights Management: International, growing Asia/India operations.
INDEPENDENT / BOUTIQUE PUBLISHERS in India: The Indian independent publishing sector is underdeveloped relative to the global standard. Most independent Indian artists self-publish or use administration services.
PUBLISHING ADMINS accessible to Indian artists:
- TuneCore Publishing: Offers publishing administration globally. Accessible and cost-effective.
- DistroKid (via Songtrust partnership): Basic publishing admin.
- Songtrust: US-based publishing administrator with global IPRS affiliates.
- Music Gateway: Global publishing admin with India coverage.
What Publishing Royalties Are Generated in India
Performance Royalties
Generated when your composition is performed live in a licenced venue, broadcast on radio (Radio Mirchi, Big FM, Red FM, Radio City, Fever FM, AIR), or played on television. Collected by IPRS.
Mechanical Royalties
Generated when your composition is reproduced — on a CD, vinyl, cassette, or via digital streaming (the "mechanical" right to reproduce the song in a new recording). In India, streaming mechanical royalties are not yet robustly collected independently; they flow partly through distributor deals.
Synchronisation Fees
One-time fees paid to license your composition for use in films, web series (Netflix India, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar, SonyLIV, Zee5), advertisements, and games. Not collected by IPRS; negotiated directly or via your publisher.
Print Rights
Fees for publishing sheet music or chord charts. A niche revenue stream.
When Do you Need a Publisher?
You probably do NOT need a traditional publisher yet if:
- You are an early-career artist with fewer than 5 released songs
- Your songs are not yet generating significant radio play or streaming numbers
- You have not been approached by film, TV, or advertising music supervisors
You probably DO benefit from a publishing admin service if:
- Your songs are being streamed (IPRS royalties are collectible)
- You have received any radio airplay (performance royalties are accumulating)
- You want all your international royalties collected (IPRS has reciprocal agreements with PRS, ASCAP, BMI, etc.)
- You are approaching music supervisors for sync opportunities
You might benefit from a full publishing deal if:
- You are a prolific songwriter creating songs for other artists as well as yourself
- You are working in the Bollywood or regional film space where publishing advances are significant
- An established publisher is offering a meaningful advance and genuine commercial development
How to Self-publish Effectively in India
Step 1: Join IPRS as a composer/lyricist (see IPRS & PPL Registration Guide) Step 2: Register every composition with IPRS after release Step 3: Ensure ISRC codes are on all recordings (via distributor) Step 4: Log all ISWC codes assigned by IPRS Step 5: Monitor IPRS royalty statements (semi-annual distributions) Step 6: For sync opportunities, negotiate directly with music supervisors or production companies Step 7: Issue sync licences via the Sync Licensing Agreement template Step 8: Monitor international royalty accounts — contact IPRS if you have significant international airplay to ensure international affiliates are reporting correctly
Questions to Ask a Publisher Before Signing
1. What specific sync opportunities have you placed in the past 12 months and what were the fees? 2. Do you have active relationships with Indian OTT platforms (Netflix India, Amazon Prime, Hotstar)? 3. Do you have Bollywood film music connections? 4. What percentage of my songs do you want to control, and for how long? 5. What is the advance, and how is it recouped? 6. What is the admin commission (for admin deals)? 7. Can I see your royalty accounting system — what do statements look like? 8. Who is my day-to-day contact, and how responsive are they?
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Free to use · Part of the Indie Music India toolkit · Updated September 2026