Music publishing, sync, and rights administration in Canada

Publishing concerns the musical work—the music and lyrics—while a sound recording is a separate asset. SOCAN describes performing rights as public performance or communication of a work and reproduction rights as authorization to reproduce it on media such as streams, downloads, CDs, and vinyl. Knowing which asset and right is in scope prevents many clearance errors.

A publisher or administrator may register works, license defined rights, collect and account for royalties, protect metadata, and pursue creative opportunities according to an agreement. CMRRA also recognizes songwriters who have not assigned their songs as self-published. Compare services, rights granted, territory, term, commission or share, approvals, reporting, and post-term administration rather than assuming every publishing deal is the same.

Using music with picture engages the composition, and using an existing recording can also require permission from the owner of that master. Confirm ownership and shares on both sides before quoting, identify any samples, and document media, territory, term, exclusivity, fee, edits, credits, and approval conditions.

Rights organizations can only match and distribute accurately when works, writers, publishers, shares, recordings, and identifiers are supplied consistently. Keep signed split information and registrations current, reconcile statements, and decide in writing who is responsible for each territory and right.