Composition ownership
How are songwriting and publishing shares related?
The composition copyright is owned by its writers and, where applicable, publishers or administrators. The exact reporting format used by a performing rights organization can differ from the simple ownership percentages collaborators use internally.
Writer ownership should be documented clearly
Before registering or pitching a song, collaborators should agree on the composition ownership. Publisher control and administration agreements should also be documented separately so licensing teams know who can grant permission.
PRO percentages can be represented differently
Some PRO systems display writer and publisher shares using their own distribution conventions. This calculator therefore focuses on composition ownership and should not be treated as a statement of how a particular PRO will calculate royalties.