SIDE A
The recording
The master - the recorded performance of the track. Usually looked after by your label or distributor.
Do I need
a publisher?
Short answer: if you write songs and want them to earn what they're worth - probably.
01/THE BASICS
Every song creates two copyrights. Publishing lives on Side B.
SIDE B
The composition
The song itself - melody, lyrics, harmony. This is the side a publisher works on, and where royalties quietly go unclaimed.
02/THE DIFFERENCE
WITHOUTWITH A PUBLISHER
RoyaltiesOften left unclaimedCollected worldwide
RegistrationsOne by one, society by societyOnce - then it travels
ProtectionNothing on recordYour authorship, on file
AdminAll yoursHandled
03/THE QUESTIONS
Questions writers ask us
I only own a small share of a song. Is that worth publishing?
Yes. A 5-15% share of the composition on a song with tens of millions of streams can earn meaningful income for years. But smaller splits are easy to overlook, and overseas income often goes uncollected when nobody is registering the song and chasing it. That's the gap we fill, for songs with 2M+ streams.
Will I lose my rights?
You'll always be the songwriter. Your name stays on the song on Spotify, Apple Music, Genius and in society databases, and you keep your writer credit for life. What you grant us is a publishing interest in your share of this one song, so we can register it, collect its earnings and recoup your advance. We never take any rights in your other songs or anything you write in future.
I'm already registered with a society (PRS, BMI, ASCAP, APRA). Isn't that enough?
Your society only collects part of the picture. Performing rights organisations collect performance royalties: radio, TV, live and part of streaming. Mechanical royalties, a big slice of streaming income, are collected separately through mechanical societies and bodies like The MLC in the US. When a song isn't properly registered everywhere, that money often sits unclaimed in 'black boxes'. Through our partnership with Kobalt, your share is registered and collected across 190+ territories.
What does it cost me?
Nothing out of pocket: no upfront fees, retainers or subscriptions. We pay you a cash advance straight into your bank account when you sign. It's recouped only from your share of this song's earnings. If the song slows down, you never owe us a penny back.
How much could I get, and how fast?
Every advance is based on your song's streaming history and the size of your share. We reply to every submission within 48 hours, and pay all advances within 30 days of signing.
I already have a publisher. Can I still work with you?
Only if your share of this song isn't already published or administered, or if those rights have reverted to you.
04/THE FIT
Is Grandad Songs right for you?
We aren't a traditional publisher, and we aren't built for everyone. If you need a recording studio, weekly writing camps, or an exclusive multi-year deal, a traditional publisher makes more sense. Grandad Songs is built for one specific moment: you contributed to a major streaming record, you own a share of the composition, and songs need 2M+ streams to qualify. You want upfront liquidity, with your song Kobalt-administered worldwide. Let's look at your song together.
Submit a song