Music ProductionDepth 0 · Foundation
Master Rights vs. Publishing
Master = the recording. Publishing = the song itself
Music rights are split into two layers: the master recording (owned by the performer or label) and the composition (owned by the songwriter/publisher). These rights can be owned, sold, and licensed independently, and each generates different revenue streams.
Mental modelTwo-layer ownership model
Where you'll encounter this
- →Record label contracts
- →Publishing deals
- →Sync licensing negotiations
- →Royalty splits and accounting
What breaks when this is misunderstood
- ✕Signing away publishing unintentionally
- ✕Misunderstanding revenue streams
- ✕Incorrect royalty distribution
- ✕Licensing only one side of rights
Signals this concept is in play
- ◆Separate master and publishing agreements
- ◆Split royalty statements
- ◆Sync deals requiring dual clearance
- ◆Metadata separating writer vs performer