Trueman, you are spot on in your answer,
and the name of the Publisher should not have gone up, on this site.

The big problem for me is they do not appear to have a Publishing site,or indeed any site, where we can listen to some of their songs.

I could tell you by listening to just thirty seconds of any song if they are in fact on the ball.

Pitching songs is normally done by the Publisher, and they do not charge the writer.

I would like to hear the song in question perhaps the guy who started this thread could direct me to his site so as I can hear this song.

They claim to have had an artist ready to record this song,

Let's give them the benifit of the doubt
until we can hear the song in question.

Ben for P.J.Xanadu Publishing and Mid Atlantic Records.

Quote
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by TrumanCoyote:
A song royalty is split two ways: 50% goes to the publisher and 50% goes to the writer(s). Usually.

I say "usually" because there is no law. It is a deal negotiated between publisher and writer. But...BUT!!!!...50/50 is the norm. Writers with a track record of success are usually able to negotiate to keep some of the publishing. The deal offered to you is a standard deal. You are not giving away one penny of your writer's royalty. You are assigning the publishing to a publisher. That's the way it works.

A writer may chose to keep the publishing for himself--to act as the publisher of his own work. In most cases that means the writer/publisher will get to keep 100% of NOTHING, because it is very difficult to get a song placed with a label artist without the kinds of contacts that professional publishers work on every day. If you cannot even visit Nashville, how do you expect to ever earn any royalties? If you as the songwriter, and you as the publisher have no way to go where the action takes place, how in the world are recording artists even going to HEAR your songs?

You question should not be if the deal is a "good" one...the offer is fair, and standard, and normal (with the exception of the lack of reversion...I don't like that much). Your question should be: who are these publishers? What is their track record? How many cuts? What other writers do they represent? Satisfy yourself on those questions, and proceed with eyes open.

I did not see their name before you removed it, so I don't know who you are talking about, but I do not think it was wise to include their name in the thread. If I was a legit publisher and some guy implied I was a scam artist, I think I would be a little upset, as well.

Remember this: YOU need a publisher and they most certainly do not NEED your songs.

Best of luck to you.

[This message has been edited by TrumanCoyote (edited 05-05-2006).]</font>