Question about "publishing"

harsh bloke, 19 September 2006 - 8:53am

This is something that's always nagged me in the back of my mind. I wonder if anyone can help solve the mystery.

Why do liner notes always say that the words were reproduced with the kind permission of some company, "the publisher"? Can't the band just print their own lyrics? I once laughed at liner notes (I think it was a Radiohead album) that said something like "Lyrics reproduced with the permission of [XYZ Corp] - even though we wrote them."

What's the deal here? I assume artists can publish their own lyrics if they want to, but they don't. So why not?

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I've just been told it's to do with ...

I've just been told it's to do with copyright, if you sell the copyright then you no longer own the lyrics, but if you lease them your copyright you still technically own them ... well that's what I've just been told anyhow, maybe someone knows better or alittle more ...

wainuiomata, 19 September 2006 - 9:11am

I have to say ... I have always ...

I have to say ... I have always wondered about this as well. But never had the courage to speak out!

jamesgould, 19 September 2006 - 9:33pm

When you sell your publishing rights to ...

When you sell your publishing rights to a publisher, they own the copyright in the musical work - ie the composition and/or lyrics.

So when the lyrics get published for any reason, the publisher's explicit permission is usually required.

There's an additional copyright in the master recording, which is usually owned (or licensed) by the record label.

jesstherese, 20 September 2006 - 4:13pm

Thanks for that. <i>When you sell ...

Thanks for that.

When you sell your publishing rights to a publisher, they own the copyright in the musical work

OK, I get that part. But if all that publishing involves is printing the lyrics in the liner notes, why bother to sell that copyright? I assume that printing the lyrics in the liner notes isn't the total extent of publishing. So, what does publishing involve? I imagine things like sheet music are covered under this, but what else?

harsh bloke, 20 September 2006 - 9:21pm