When an independent artist writes a song, they create two distinct assets: the physical sound recording (the master) and the underlying composition (the lyrics and notes). Catalog publishing is the business of managing, protecting, and monetizing that underlying composition.
At not so typical., managing catalog publishing means ensuring that every piece of intellectual property—from solo works like lillian marie.’s debut single “Corona Showers” to collaborative cuts—is legally secured, registered properly, and fully optimized to generate revenue.
Here is a breakdown of what catalog publishing means and how the process works behind the scenes.
1. What Is Catalog Publishing?
Publishing administration ensures that writers and copyright holders get paid whenever their music is streamed, broadcasted, performed live, or licensed for film and TV (sync licensing). It splits the ownership into two halves:
- The Writer’s Share: Retained directly by the songwriter or lyricist.
- The Publisher’s Share: Managed by the publishing entity to handle licensing, registration, and royalty collections.
2. The Catalog Publishing Process
Proper publishing management follows a strict, step-by-step workflow:
- Composition Registration: Every original song is formally registered with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) like ASCAP or BMI under the appropriate corporate publishing umbrella.
- Splits and Ownership Definition: * Artist-Led Works (Class B): Solo material where primary authorship and master rights stay predominantly with the artist’s holding company (such as Lilly Handlin Media), with a clean administrative cut managed by Not So Typical LLC.
- Co-Written Works (Class A): Collaborative tracks featuring structured, transparent splits (such as 50/50 arrangements) registered between co-writers and management.
- Monetization and Sync Tracking: Tracking public performance royalties from live venues, radio, streaming platforms, and synchronization opportunities to ensure zero leakage of income.
3. Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Without an active catalog publishing strategy, independent artists risk losing control over their intellectual property and leaving performance royalties on the table. Proper publishing acts as a financial fortress, allowing creators to focus entirely on their performance and artistry while the business backend secures long-term career asset wealth.
