No. 08Deal Structure
Co-Publishing Deal
Also called co-pub deal, copublishing, publisher co-ownership
A publisher takes a share of your song copyright in exchange for administration and advances.
Watch closely
Permanent copyright transfer is the key risk; publishing deals can look attractive upfront but have lasting consequences.
- Appears in
- Publishing Deal, Co-Publishing Agreement, Administration Agreement
- Topic
- Publishing
- Jurisdiction
- United States
- Reviewed
- July 2026
In plain English
In a co-publishing deal, the publisher typically acquires 50% of your songwriter copyright (the 'publisher's share') while you retain the other 50% plus all of your 'writer's share.' The publisher administers the catalogue, pitches songs for sync, and collects income globally in exchange for an advance.
Why it matters
Giving up 50% of your copyright means that even after the agreement expires, the publisher may retain their share permanently, unless a reversion clause is included. Song catalogues are long-term assets that appreciate over decades.
Where it can land
The same clause is drafted three ways. These are the positions we see, worst first, so you can tell at a glance which one is in front of you.
- No reversion of publisher's copyright share after the term
- Publisher's share exceeds 50%
- No minimum release or exploitation commitment from the publisher
- Long term with multiple option periods
- Advances fully cross-collateralised across all songs in the deal
- Publisher's share reverts to writer after the term ends
- Minimum guarantees on number of pitches or exploitation attempts
- Administration-only deal structure (no copyright transfer at all)
The language
The drafting language and the negotiation moves for this clause are part of the workspace.
You have read what the clause means and where the risk sits. The rest is the side-by-side of how it reads when it is against you and when it is not, plus the specific moves that get it there.