Does Publishing Administration Include Sync Licensing?
An artist signs up with a publishing administrator.
Does that mean someone will now pitch their music to Netflix, advertisers and game developers?
Not necessarily.
Publishing administration and sync licensing are connected, but they are different activities.
Understanding the distinction helps artists choose the right services.
What does a publishing administrator do?
A publishing administrator typically manages eligible composition rights.
That may include:
- Registering songs
- Maintaining songwriter information
- Collecting performance royalties
- Collecting mechanical royalties
- Managing international society relationships
- Investigating unmatched collections
The emphasis is on administering and collecting income generated by compositions.
What does a sync licensing company do?
Sync licensing involves granting permission to use music with visual media.
Examples include:
- Films
- Television
- Advertisements
- Video games
- Trailers
- Online video
A licensing company or sync agent may actively present music to buyers looking for specific tracks.
That is a different commercial process.
Does publishing administration automatically include pitching?
No.
Some companies offer both services.
Others offer administration without proactive pitching.
DistroKid Publishing’s Help Centre, for example, distinguishes publishing collections from actively pitching songs for film or television.
Its public materials discuss certain sync-related income within collections, but the service does not present itself as an active film-and-TV pitching service.
Two copyrights usually need clearing
Sync normally involves:
- Composition rights.
- Master-recording rights.
A buyer using an existing commercial recording may need permission from both sets of rightsholders.
Sometimes one party controls both.
Sometimes multiple parties must approve.
Clear ownership makes licensing easier.
What about micro-synchronisation royalties?
Music used in certain online-video environments can generate composition-related collections.
These should not be confused with an individually negotiated major advertising placement.
The collection routes and payment structures can be different.
Where does RouteNote Licensing fit?
RouteNote operates separate services covering distribution, publishing administration and licensing.
This is useful because each serves a different purpose.
Distribution makes recordings available through supported platforms.
Publishing administration collects eligible composition income.
Licensing services create routes for music to be used by customers seeking cleared recordings and compositions.
Which service does an artist need?
Ask three separate questions.
Are my songs properly registered?
If not, investigate publishing administration.
Am I collecting existing income?
Review relevant PRO and mechanical collection arrangements.
Am I actively trying to license music into new projects?
Investigate appropriate sync and music-licensing opportunities.
You may need all three.
Make your catalogue licensing-ready
For commercially useful tracks, keep:
- WAV masters
- Instrumentals
- Clean versions
- Writer information
- Publisher information
- Master ownership records
- Licensing contact
This reduces friction when a buyer wants to use the recording.
Final thoughts
Publishing administration helps collect royalties associated with compositions.
Sync pitching helps create potential licensing opportunities.
They overlap, but they are not interchangeable.
Artists should choose services based on the actual work being done, not simply the word “publishing” appearing on a product page.