Updated: November 2026 · Diskover Team
Quick answer: publishing administration means managing the copyright in your compositions: registering your works, keeping track of who uses them and collecting what they earn all over the world. Your distributor collects for the recording (the master), but the lyrics and music generate a second income that only reaches you if the works are registered. At Diskover Publishing we register you as a songwriter and register your works for free if you are not with any collecting society, we collect on your behalf and we pay you 75% of your publishing royalties.
What publishing administration is (and why it is not the same as distribution)
Every song carries two separate rights. On one side there is the master: the specific recording that plays on Spotify. On the other, the work or composition: the lyrics and melody, which belong to the people who wrote them. When you release a track through a distributor, you get paid for the master. But streaming platforms, radio stations, venues or a TV series that uses your song also pay for the work, and that money goes to songwriters and publishers through collecting societies.
Publishing administration is about handling that second part: registering your works, keeping the data up to date, claiming what they earn in each country and getting it to you. If you want the background first, read our guide on what song royalties are and how to collect them.
What copyright royalties a song generates
| Type of right | When it is generated | Who pays it |
|---|---|---|
| Public performance | Radio, TV, bars, shops, concerts and streaming | Collecting societies, which collect it from whoever uses the music |
| Mechanical reproduction | Every time the work is copied or played on a digital platform | The platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, TikTok…) via the collecting societies |
| Synchronisation | When the song is used in a film, series, video game or advert | The production company or brand, through a negotiated licence |
| Live | When your repertoire is performed at concerts | The promoter or venue, via the collecting society |
A single stream earns money for the master and, on top of that, copyright royalties for the work. If you only have a distributor, you are collecting just part of the pie.
Why so many artists lose money without realising
- Unregistered works: if the composition is not registered, collecting societies do not know whom to pay. That money is held back and, after a while, shared out among others.
- Splits not agreed: in a collaboration you need to put in writing what percentage of the work belongs to each writer. Without that agreement, registration gets stuck.
- Data that does not match: the title, the writers and the ISRC of the master have to match what is registered. Otherwise the stream is not linked to your work. We explain it in what ISRC and UPC codes are.
- Listeners abroad: if people listen to you in Mexico, the United States or France, that money is collected there. Without someone claiming it, it may never arrive.
How we do it at Diskover Publishing
At Diskover Publishing we take care of the publishing side so you can focus on writing and releasing music:
- Free registration: if you are not with any collecting society, we sign you up for free with UNISON and register your works so your rights are not forgotten.
- Collection: we collect your songwriter royalties and make sure you receive them quickly and correctly.
- We pay you 75% of your publishing royalties.
- Sync: we pitch your catalogue to music supervisors and industry executives (film, series, TV, video games and advertising).
- Career: songcamps, production and songwriting masterclasses, and support with media, press and radio.
And there are real people behind it: fast, human customer support from our offices in Madrid (Luis I 86, 28031), not a form nobody answers.
Step by step to start collecting your copyright royalties
- List your works: title, writers of the lyrics and music, date and the ISRC of each released recording.
- Agree the splits: for every collaboration, sign a document with each writer’s percentage before the release.
- Register the works: at Diskover Publishing we help you register as a songwriter and register your songs.
- Distribute with the same data: use exactly the same title and writer names when you upload the track to the platforms.
- Check your statements: see which works are earning and in which countries, and let us know if anything is missing.
Distribution and publishing: two incomes that add up
Ideally you should have both covered. With Diskover distribution your music goes live on Spotify in under 24 hours, with plans from €1.99/month, and if you ever stop paying we do not delete your music: we move it to the free plan with an 80/20 split. Unlimited and PRO artists also get 10% off at our studios, our film set and micro-influencer campaigns with ZYNK.
Want to know how much your music could earn from the master alone? Try our Spotify royalty calculator, and remember that copyright royalties come on top.
Release your music with Diskover and start collecting everything your songs earn: get started here.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need publishing if I already have a distributor?
Yes, if you write your own songs. The distributor collects for the recording; copyright royalties for the lyrics and music are collected separately and only reach you if your works are registered.
What is the difference between master royalties and publishing royalties?
Master royalties pay for the recording and go to the owner of that recording. Publishing royalties pay for the composition and go to songwriters and publishers, through collecting societies.
How much do I earn with Diskover Publishing?
We pay you 75% of your publishing royalties. If you are not with any collecting society, registering as a songwriter and registering your works with UNISON is free.
Can I collect copyright royalties from listeners in other countries?
Yes. Royalties are generated in every country where your music is played; administration is about making sure those works are identified so the money is claimed and reaches you.
Does Diskover help me get sync placements?
Yes. With Diskover Publishing we pitch your catalogue to music supervisors and industry executives for film, series, TV, video games and advertising.
