Self-Publishing Your Music? Don’t Forget This One Crucial Step
If you're an independent artist releasing your own music, chances are you're also your own publisher. That’s totally fine—and very common—but there’s one key thing many self-published artists overlook: making yourself reachable.
You're the Publisher—That Comes With Responsibility
When you register your songs with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC, and you don’t have a separate publishing company, your songs go into “copyright control.” This just means that you, the songwriter, also own the publishing rights.
The upside? You get paid directly—both your writer’s and publisher’s shares.
The catch? Anyone looking to license your music—like a music supervisor—has to reach you directly.
Why That Matters for Sync Opportunities
As someone who clears music for film and TV, I regularly come across great self-published songs I’d love to use. But here’s the problem: I can’t license what I can’t find. If your PRO listing has no contact info, I have no way to get in touch—and I’ll have to move on to the next option.
How to Fix That (It’s Simple)
Go into your PRO account and add your contact details:
A professional email address
A phone number
Or a link to your website or licensing rep
This tiny update could be the difference between landing a sync deal—or missing it entirely.
Bottom Line
Self-publishing puts you in control. But it also makes you the point person for everything—from royalties to rights requests. So make it easy for people to reach you.
Visibility = Opportunity.
Want help setting up your catalog or making your music licensing-ready? I offer one-on-one artist coaching—reach out anytime.