How Does a Music Publishing Deal Work?
A complete guide to music publishing deals, royalty splits, songwriter rights, and how publishing income works for artists and creators.
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BMI Music Awards
Annual awards presented by Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), a US performance rights organization founded in 1939. Recognizes songwriters, composers, and publishers across pop, country, Latin, film and television, and urban music. BMI Country Awards first held in 1953. BMI membership is free.
BMI Foundation Awards
BMI Foundation Awards are annual scholarships and competitions for songwriters and composers ages 17 to 24, including the $20,000 John Lennon Award, the $20,000 Dolly Parton Songwriters Award, the peermusic Latin Music Award, the BMI Composer Awards, and the Pete Carpenter Fellowship, with deadlines in January 2026.
BMI
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is the largest performing rights organization in the United States by roster size, representing over 1.2 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Founded in 1939, it collects license fees and distributes royalties for public performances of its affiliates' works.
