Every song goes through a series of stages from creation to royalty distribution. While the process can vary depending on how the work is managed and where it is used, the overall journey follows a similar path within the music publishing ecosystem. Understanding these stages can help songwriters and publishers better manage their rights and ensure their works are properly tracked and compensated.
- Song Creation
The journey begins with songwriters crafting a song, either independently or in collaboration with others. - Ownership and Copyright
Once created, the song is fixed in a tangible form through demos, recordings, or lyric sheets, establishing it as intellectual property and defining ownership or splits among collaborators. - Affiliation and Registration
Songwriters and publishers affiliate with collective management organizations such as CMRRA. Musical works are registered using available information, including songwriter details, ownership splits, IPI numbers, and any associated recording information such as ISRCs. To learn more about acronyms and identifiers, read here. - Recording and Distribution
The final version of the song is recorded and released across streaming platforms, digital download services, and physical formats, making it available for public consumption. - Licensing and Claiming
For certain types of uses, such as physical products, the licensee is required to obtain licences up front prior to release. In these cases, CMRRA issues licences for individual work shares for our clients’ repertoire. Audiovisual services like YouTube and Meta operate on the basis of claimed repertoire that CMRRA submits, that is then used in the steps that follow to inform reporting and royalty payments. - Usage Tracking and Royalty Processing
Music platforms, broadcasters, and other licensed services report usage data, which is matched to registered works. Royalties are then calculated, invoiced, and processed based on reported usage and the accuracy of the underlying metadata. - Royalty Distribution
CMRRA distributes royalties to rightsholders on a quarterly basis based on the ownership shares registered for each work. For co-written songs, accurate splits ensure each publisher or self-published songwriter receive their share. Keeping ownership details up to date helps protect your rights and ensures you’re paid what you’re owed.
By maintaining accurate registrations and up-to-date account information, songwriters and publishers can help ensure their works move efficiently through each stage of this process. While timelines may vary, each step in the journey plays an important role in ensuring music is properly tracked, licensed, and paid.
