Publishing Deals
Stakes in the songwriting and composition.
Publishing rights cover the underlying musical composition — the melody, lyrics, and structure — which is legally distinct from any particular recording of it. A single song can have one composition but many recordings. Publishing income comes from performance royalties, mechanical royalties, and sync licensing tied to the composition. On IPexchange, songwriters sell fractional stakes in their publishing.
Composition vs. recording
This is the key distinction. The master is the recording; publishing is the song itself. If a track is covered, sampled, or re-recorded, the publishing side still earns because the composition is being used. Buying a publishing stake gives you exposure to the song wherever it travels, not just to one recording of it.
Where publishing income comes from
Publishing generates several income streams: performance royalties (when the song is played publicly or broadcast, collected via PROs), mechanical royalties (from reproductions and streams), and sync fees (when the song is placed in film, TV, games, or ads). A publishing stake entitles the holder to their percentage of these as they are collected.
How the deal works here
The songwriter lists the composition and offers a percentage of the publishing for sale in set increments. You buy your stake in a one-time transaction, and your share is recorded on the ownership split. As with masters, the ongoing royalties are distributed directly to rights holders by the collection societies and licensees — IPexchange records ownership and facilitates the sale, but is not in the royalty payment path.
What the buyer gets
- A recorded percentage of the composition’s publishing rights
- A share of performance, mechanical, and sync income
- Exposure to the song across all its recordings and uses
What the seller gives
- A defined percentage of future publishing income
- Nothing of the master recording (that’s separate)
- No loss of authorship credit
Who it's good for
Songwriters who want to monetize their catalog now; buyers who want long-term exposure to a composition across every use.
This page explains how these deals generally work on IPexchange and is for information only — it isn't legal or financial advice. The exact rights, obligations, and terms of any deal are defined in its contract. Review each agreement carefully and consult a qualified professional before buying or selling.