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Music Publishing Basics

If you want to be a full-time, professional songwriter, a great first step is to find a music publisher. Although some songwriters create expensive demos and approach artists and record companies directly, a less expensive and more traditional route is to get your songs published first--then let the publisher do much of your marketing for you.

But what are music publishing basics? How does a songwriter uncover music publishing information? How do you approach song publishing companies and make one or more sales? Here, you'll learn the three basic steps:

1. Create a manuscript a song publishing company is impressed by.

2. Research music publishing companies that will be interested in your work.

3. Submit your work to a music publishing group in a professional manner.

Prepare your song for the sheet music publishing world

You've got a song in your heart...and in order to get it published, you must get it down on paper. But gone are the days when a handwritten manuscript is acceptable to music publishers. To look like a professional, your music must be notated with a computer program. And if your music notation skills are weak, don't ruin your chances of getting published by submitting a manuscript full of mistakes; it pays to hire a pro to put your song on paper.
Try: The gold standard in music notation software is Finale, produced by MakeMusic; although pricey, this software makes professional music manuscripts easy to produce. Another popular notation program is Sibelius First by Avid Technology.

Research song publishing information

After you have a neat manuscript in hand, you'll need to research appropriate publishing companies. There is no substitute for spending time reading about publishers, studying their websites and following their submission guidelines. Although this may seem time consuming, it will actually save you more time than if you submit to publishers blindly.
Try: "The Songwriter's Market," published by F + W Publications, is widely considered the ultimate source for researching music publishers; be sure to use the most recent edition, since contact information changes frequently in the publishing world. The Music Publishers Association of the United States also offers an online directory of members that is useful for finding the right publisher for your songs.

Submit your work to music publishers

The number one rule of submission is to always follow the publisher's guidelines exactly. Typically, publishers still want writers to mail them printed copies of their manuscript. A few also accept submissions via email, a few others like to have a simple, straightforward demo tape to listen to, and some are watching for online submission services. Don't try to make your submission stand out with fancy paperwork or gimmicks; the best way to grab a publisher's attention is to write a great song and submit a neat, accurate manuscript.
Try: If you want to try to web service route, Taxi is probably the most respected venue. For more details about the submission process, check out "How to Get Your Song Published" at Helium.

A good music publishing company saves you a lot of work by getting your music listed at ASCAP or BMI, making it easy for record companies and artists to find your work. A publisher will also copyright your music, so don't waste your time and money doing these things yourself.

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Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Music Publishing

Music publishing is the process of managing the rights to written songs and musical compositions. When an artist writes a song or composes a melody, valuable intellectual property rights attach to the creation. Under the law, the artist has the exclusive right to profit from his creation, called a copyright. To make money on the copyright, the artist licenses it for use by others. In exchange, the artist receives royalties, or a percentage of the profits on the use of the creation, for as long as he holds the copyright. Instead of managing the copyright while continuing to create new material, the artist assigns it to a music publishing company.

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