What incomes are collected by music publishers?
There are 4 major categories of income collected by music publishers:
MECHANICAL ROYALTIES
Royalties payable by record companies for use of the underlying composition in a sound recording. This is a statutory rate in the US (currently $0.091 per copy distributed for recordings under 5 minutes in length) but can be negotiated between the publisher and record company, often getting reduced if the record company offers an advance.
PERFORMANCE ROYALTIES
Royalties payable in connection with the public performance of a composition, including on radio and television, in bars and restaurants, at retail stores and concert venues, etc. These are generally licensed and collected by performing rights organizations (ASCAP/BMI/SESAC in the US).
SYNCHRONIZATION ROYALTIES
Royalties payable when a composition is synchronized with visual images, such as in films or on television programs, advertisements or video games. The fee paid for this right varies widely based on territory, term, media, caliber of copyright and many other factors.
OTHER ROYALTIES
Royalties payable for other exploitations of compositions, including lyric reprints in books or consumer products, sheet music, karaoke and ringtones.