The minute you write a song, you own two things: the copyright and publishing rights. You therefore have the right to start up your own publishing company to publish and attempt to license your music. This is beneficial because it entitles you to 100 percent of any money earned. The drawback is that you're competing with big-time publishers. In order to set up your own publishing company for your music, you need to go about it in a professional manner, registering with the proper authorities and keeping tabs on your songs.

Registering Company Name

Register with a performing rights organization like ASCAP, SESAC or BMI. You have to register as a musician and publisher at the same organization, as the organizations insist on having the songwriter and publisher affiliated with the same society. These organizations will help you collect performance royalties on songs you have published whenever they are played in public or in media such as TV. You will have to fill out an application to be a publisher. You're allowed three possible names, ranked in order starting with your most wanted. The names have to be original, as most common names are already taken. Try picking something that means something personal to you, such as your favorite food or your street name, or something that represents the image of your company and your music. Pop songwriter Diane Warren named her publishing company, in which she publishes only her own songs, Realsongs, because she simply likes writing "real songs." Send in your application and fee and wait for approval.

Copyrighting and Registering Songs

Once you have been approved as a publisher, register all of the copyrights under your publishing name. If you've already copyrighted them as a songwriter, you need to transfer the rights over, according to music lawyer Donald Passman. After you've copyrighted the songs, you then need to register them with the performing rights organization you belong to.

Setting Up Office

Apply for a new business license and get a tax ID number. You can file as a sole proprietor, a DBA (Doing Business As), etc. Get a business bank account in your company's name. Set up an office and treat your publishing company like any other. Buy office supplies and set up a phone, computer and fax machine. As you are going to have to pitch songs by yourself, having the necessary supplies and equipment in place to contact people and distribute materials is necessary. Contact the Harry Fox Agency and request an application to join. The agency will help you collect any mechanical royalties, which is money you receive when your music appears on media such as CDs.

Source:

TAXI: Self-Publishing

American Songwriter: Real Songs for Real People

More Information:

TAXI.com: How to Set Up a Publishing Company