Publishing
Your Music Deserves a Publisher That Puts You First
Transparent royalty collection, strategic sync placements, and rights management — built on integrity, not industry politics.
The music industry is filled with stories of artists who signed publishing deals only to discover hidden clauses, uncollected royalties, and publishers who treated their catalog as an afterthought. At Transcendent Arts, we believe the relationship between an artist and their publisher should be built on trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to the artist's success. We are not a faceless platform — we are a dedicated team that treats every song in our catalog as if it were our own, because your creative legacy matters.
Why Choose Us
What We Bring to the Table
Global Royalty Collection
We collect mechanical, performance, and sync royalties from every corner of the globe through our network of sub-publishers and direct affiliations with PROs worldwide.
Active Sync Licensing
Our A&R team actively pitches your music for placement in film, television, advertising, video games, and digital media — opening new revenue streams and exposure.
Transparent Accounting
Detailed, easy-to-understand royalty statements delivered regularly. You always know exactly where your money comes from and how much you are owed.
Artist Ownership
You retain ownership of your compositions. We work for you, not the other way around. Fair deal terms with clear reversion clauses.
Rights Management
Comprehensive copyright registration and management across all territories. We protect your intellectual property and ensure proper crediting everywhere.
Creative A&R Support
Beyond administration, we invest in your creative growth — identifying collaboration opportunities, emerging markets, and strategic partnerships.
In Depth
How We Work
Our music publishing and administration services cover every aspect of managing and monetizing your compositions. From registering your works with performance rights organizations worldwide to actively pursuing sync licensing opportunities in film, television, advertising, and gaming, we handle the complex administrative work so you can focus on creating.
We collect all forms of publishing royalties — mechanical royalties from streaming and physical sales, performance royalties from radio, live venues, and digital platforms, and sync fees from media placements. Our global network of sub-publishers ensures that no royalty goes uncollected, regardless of where in the world your music is being played.
What sets us apart is our commitment to education and transparency. We believe every artist should understand exactly how their money is earned, where it comes from, and what their publisher is doing on their behalf. We provide detailed, easy-to-understand royalty statements and maintain open lines of communication at all times.
We also actively seek creative opportunities for our artists. Our A&R team works to identify sync placements, collaboration opportunities, and emerging revenue streams that align with your artistic vision. We do not take a one-size-fits-all approach — every artist in our roster receives a tailored strategy designed to maximize both their creative impact and their earnings.
Red Flags We Stand Against: We have seen too many artists fall victim to predatory publishing practices — deals that lock artists into decades-long contracts with no audit rights, publishers who claim ownership of compositions they did nothing to develop, and companies that collect royalties but never pass them through. At Transcendent Arts, we operate with full transparency: fair deal terms, regular audits, clear accounting, and the artist always retains ownership of their creative work.
Our Process
From Start to Finish
Catalog Review & Onboarding
We review your existing catalog, discuss your goals, and create a tailored publishing strategy. We handle all registration and setup at no upfront cost.
Global Registration
Your works are registered with PROs, mechanical rights organizations, and our sub-publishing network worldwide to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Active Pitching & Licensing
Our A&R team begins actively pitching your catalog for sync placements, while our admin team ensures all royalty streams are being collected.
Ongoing Management & Reporting
Regular royalty statements, quarterly reviews, and continuous optimization of your publishing strategy as new opportunities arise.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
A record label handles the recording and distribution of your master recordings (the actual audio), while a music publisher manages your compositions (the underlying song — lyrics and melody). A publisher collects royalties generated when your compositions are performed, streamed, reproduced, or licensed for use in media. Many artists need both, but they serve fundamentally different functions.
While you can register directly with a PRO (like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC) to collect performance royalties, a publisher handles the full spectrum — mechanical royalties, sync fees, international collections, and opportunities you would not have access to on your own. For artists generating income from their music, a publisher significantly increases the amount of royalties collected and creates new revenue opportunities.
Traditional publishing deals range from 50/50 co-publishing deals to administration deals where the publisher takes 10–20% as an admin fee. At Transcendent Arts, we offer competitive, transparent terms that reflect the level of service we provide. We believe in earning our share through active work, not just collecting a percentage for doing the bare minimum.
The main types include full publishing deals (publisher owns a share of your copyright), co-publishing deals (you retain 50% ownership), and administration deals (you retain full ownership, publisher collects royalties for a fee). We work with artists to find the structure that best fits their career stage and goals.
Sync licensing is the process of placing music in visual media. It requires relationships with music supervisors, understanding of licensing terms, and a catalog that is properly registered and cleared. Our team actively pitches to music supervisors, maintains relationships with production companies, and ensures your music is positioned for these opportunities.
A Performance Rights Organization (PRO) like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC collects performance royalties on behalf of songwriters and publishers. Yes, you still need to be registered with a PRO — your publisher works alongside your PRO to ensure all royalty types are being collected, including mechanical and sync royalties that PROs do not handle.
Watch out for: deals that transfer full ownership of your copyrights permanently, contracts with no audit rights, terms longer than 3–5 years with no reversion clause, publishers who cannot clearly explain their royalty accounting, and any deal where the publisher takes more than industry-standard rates without providing proportional value. Always have an entertainment attorney review any contract before signing.
Administration deals typically run 1–3 years with options to renew. Co-publishing and full publishing deals can range from 3–7 years. We believe in earning your continued partnership through results, not locking you into unnecessarily long contracts.
Mechanical royalties are generated every time your composition is reproduced — this includes streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms, as well as physical sales and downloads. In the US, these are collected through organizations like the MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective) and Harry Fox Agency. We ensure your works are registered with all relevant mechanical rights organizations globally.
A great publisher does far more than collect checks. We actively seek sync placements, connect you with co-writers and producers, identify emerging revenue opportunities, provide market insights, and advocate for your interests across the industry. We see ourselves as a strategic partner in your creative career, not just an administrative service.
Ready to Work With a Publisher That Actually Works for You?
Let's discuss your catalog, your goals, and how we can build a publishing strategy that puts your interests first. No pressure, no hidden agendas — just an honest conversation about your music.