1. CD Baby Pro
Publishing Overview
Ken Consor | @KCon101

2. CD Baby Pro
Publishing Overview
Ken Consor | @KCon101

3. What is Music Publishing?
Music Publishing is the business of protecting and
exploiting musical copyrights.
Music Publishers make sure songwriters are
compensated - ‘exploiting’ in a good way.

4. What is a copyright?
• Songwriters are granted 6 exclusive rights
including rights to:
– Perform the work publicly
– Make copies (physical or digital)
• Songwriter has copyright when the song is in a
fixed and tangible form.

5. Publishing royalties: Performance
Radio Television Non-interactive
streams
Live performanceInteractive
streams
50%
50% Songwriters
Publishers
Where is music performed publicly?
Performing Rights Organizations (PROs): Track & collect performance royalties.

6. Publishing royalties: Mechanical
Mechanicals royalties are paid when…
Publishers
Digital sales (outside US) Interactive Streams

7. One-Stop Global Royalty Collection
We register songs and collect publishing royalties globally.
…and more

8. Forget music publishing, it’s all about CD Baby Pro
CD Baby Pro collects publishing royalties on behalf of songwriters.
Traditional Publisher CD Baby Pro
Royalty collection ✓ ✓
Song registration ✓ ✓
Creative services ✓ ✘
Legal services ✓ ✘

9. What % of publishing royalties are paid to the client?!
CD Baby Pro keeps only 15%
of publishing royalties collected.
CDB Client
CDB
85%15%

10. When are publishing royalties paid?
Publishing royalties take time…

11. How much time?
…most societies are two quarters behind.
Songs Played
Publisher Paid

12. What are the terms of my agreement with CDB Pro?

13. Buzz Words: ISWC
• International Standard Musical Work Code
• 11-character code used to uniquely identify a
musical work
• ISWC : Song :: ISRC : Recording

14. Buzz Words: IPI
• Interested Parties Information
• Formerly known as CAE number (Composer,
Author, Publisher)
• These are like social security numbers for
songwriters and publishers

15. Frequently Asked Questions!

16. Can I join CD Baby Pro if
I’m not affiliated with a
Performing Rights Organization?

17. Can I join if I’m not affiliated with a Performing Rights Organization?
YES! You can pick between ASCAP or BMI.

18. How long does it take for me to get
affiliated with ASCAP or BMI?

19. How long does it take for me to get affiliated with a PRO?
ASCAP: 2-4 weeks
BMI: 2-4 weeks

20. Can I join if I have a publishing deal?

21. Can I join if I have a publishing deal?
Your agreement with CD Baby Pro gives us the
exclusive right to collect for you.
If you’re already in an exclusive
publishing agreement, then no dice.

22. Can I join if I am affiliated as a
publisher?

23. Can I join if I am affiliated as a publisher?
YES! CD Baby will be listed as the administrator for
your publishing entity and will collect royalties on its
behalf.

24. What are song splits?

25. What are song splits?
Based on their contribution, each songwriter will be
assigned an ownership percentage of a song.
Splits should be agreed upon
before registering songs and total 100%.

26. What types of royalties
do you collect?

27. What types of royalties do you collect?
1. Performance royalties:
Broadcast (TV / radio / online / live)
2. Mechanical royalties:
Reproduction (digital sales / online streams)

28. From which countries
do you collect?

29. From which countries do you collect?
We collect from major music markets worldwide:
think most western and strong emerging markets.

30. When should I expect first
royalty payments?

31. When should I expect first royalty payments?
The earliest you’ll see royalties is 6 - 9 months
after completion of affiliation process, but more
likely it will be 9-12 months from play.

32. How much will I earn
from CD Baby Pro?

33. How much will I earn from CD Baby Pro?
The amount of royalties you make will depend on a
multitude of factors (amount of use, if the PRO
detected the use, type of use…).
If your music is not being used meaningfully,
there will be nothing to collect.

34. Do you collect royalties for
my co-writers?

35. Do you collect royalties for my co-writers?
If they are also CD Baby Pro songwriters, then yes.
If not, no.

36. How far back do you collect?

37. How far back do you collect?
~2-3 years but it is up to each society.
Many societies move royalties into the black box
after 2 years.
We’ve seen as far back as 10 years but we don’t like
to promise.

38. Does CD Baby own any of my
copyright?

39. Does CD Baby own any of my copyright?
No, you own 100% of your copyright and retain full
ownership and full creative control of your songs.
We are your publishing administrator.

40. Does CD Baby copyright my songs?

41. Does CD Baby copyright my songs?
You have a copyright as soon as your make a fixed
and tangible copy of your song.
We DO NOT register songs with the US Copyright
Office, that is up to you and not necessary to collect
royalties.

42. Can I register a cover song /
a song I did not write?

43. Can I register a cover song?

44. Can I register a song with samples?

45. Can I register a song with samples?
* Unless you have permission
from copyright holders

46. Can I register an arrangement of a
song I didn’t write?

47. Can I register an arrangement of a song I didn’t write?
*Unless you have permission from copyright holders
or the song is public domain.

48. Why are my songs not showing as
registered?

49. Why are my songs not yet registered?
• We need to checking information, cross-checking
with PRO data
• (We are still faster than signing a traditional
publishing deal!)
• Don’t worry publishing is slow and the royalty
cycle is 2 quarters behind, you’re unlikely to miss
out on royalties even if your songs aren’t turned
in yet.

50. Where are my royalties?

51. Where is my money?
• Missing publisher’s share – we pay out when we
receive (probably coming, publishing lags
songwriting)
• Missing performance royalties – contact
ASCAP/BMI/SESAC we are not in charge of
‘tracking’
• Missing mechanical royalties – contact HFA
• Hard data helps (sales data)
• Is your music charting?
• Streaming rates are very low (but growing,
CDBaby has good data and can even match for
smaller songs.)