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Music Publishing Industry: Then & Now

In the past the music publishing industry was quite simple and straightforward. Today with current technology and more intricate copyright laws, it has become a little more complicated than when Elvis first walked into Sun Records to record a song for his mother.

Publishers today seek to educate the public as well as those in the industry about licensing and the importance of copyrights. They are committed to trying to achieve compensation that benefits the owners of the copyrighted material.

Going through Changes

The music industry in the United States and around the world has seen vast changes in the past decades as to copyrights and music publishing. Years ago music publishing encompassed piano rolls and today publishing and copyrights go far beyond CDs and performances.

Many people download their music electronically onto MP3 players and it is only fair that those that hold the copyrights to the music get paid for their work.

The Music Publishing Industry in the Past

During the 18th century there were already publishers that were devoted to music and popular songs were affordably printed for the masses. Magazines and newspapers published musical works such as lyrics and ballads regularly.

During the middle of the 19th century, sales of music for popular songs soared because of the popularity of songwriters and composers such as George Frederick Root and Stephen Foster. During this era, registered songs increased at a dramatic rate.

It was in 1855 that a group of publishers consisting of 27 major companies joined to create the Board of Trade of the Music Publishers of the United States or the Board of Music Trade.

With the invention of the phonograph by Thomas Edison in the 1880s, consumers were eager to purchase their favorite music so that they could listen and enjoy it from the comfort of their own homes.

This in turn led to a Copyright Act that needed to be revised. In 1909, mechanical rights for songwriters, authors, composers and publishers were enforced on any paper music that was produced and sold for public consumption.

Music Publishing and Copyrights Today

Many musical artists don’t want to get involved in the business end of the music industry. They are more intent on creating what they consider to be their art.

This is a mistake as the music-publishing end of the industry is really where they can make the most money. With all the changes in technology, as well as how music is heard and delivered, taking an interest in the music publishing industry can pay handsomely.

One doesn’t need a law degree or to be a rocket scientist in order to make money from the music that is written. Most artists can study the various ways to make money through music publishing on their own or seek to collaborate with someone already in the know.

There are a variety of music publishing deals and knowing which one is which and what is the best deal for your music can be the most difficult part.

If you want to make money on your music and not let it get into the hands of another music publisher, it is in your best interest to do some research on the practices currently in effect in the music industry. Those that don’t write music at all are making money off publishing writes to words and songs and why shouldn’t you the writer do the same?

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