Music publishing & metadata
Music publishing registration & metadata
Music publishing registration is how the composition behind your recording — the lyrics and melody — gets registered with the organizations that collect publishing royalties, so songwriters and publishers actually get paid. ONCE pairs that with clean music metadata so every royalty stream knows who you are.
At a glance: Distribution collects master royalties; publishing collects performance and mechanical royalties. You need both. ONCE now handles PRO registration through Unison and is building end-to-end registration to the MLC, SoundExchange, and sync libraries — the same pipeline that powers AI music distribution.
Distribution vs. publishing
Getting live is step one. When you distribute Suno music or distribute Udio music through ONCE, your recording reaches Spotify, Apple Music, and 20+ stores and starts earning master royalties. But the composition — the song itself — earns a separate set of publishing royalties that distribution alone does not collect. Publishing registration is how you capture that second stream.
The music metadata that gets you paid
Every royalty source matches a payment to a person using metadata. Get these fields right and the money finds you:
| Metadata | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Songwriter & publisher splits | Determines who gets which share of publishing royalties |
| ISRC | Identifies the specific recording across stores |
| ISWC | Identifies the underlying composition |
| PRO / IPI affiliation | Routes performance royalties to the right writers |
| Contributor credits | Powers credits, cue sheets, and sync placements |
Where your royalties are registered
Your data should follow your music all the way to your money. ONCE is building end-to-end rights registration so it moves where it needs to go:
PRO registration is now live: ONCE registers your songs with performing-rights organizations through Unison, so you collect performance royalties from day one.
Publishing for AI music
AI music earns royalties like any other release. When you release through ONCE, AI tracks ship with proper metadata and AI disclosure, and the extra dollar on every AI release funds the Artist Compensation Fund. Developers and agents can automate releases and metadata through the music distribution MCP & API. Register what you legally own and keep your metadata accurate as publishing rules for AI compositions continue to evolve.
Get registered
Start with AI music distribution, or create a free account to release and register your first song.
Frequently asked questions
What is music publishing registration?
Music publishing registration is the process of registering a song's composition (the underlying lyrics and melody) with the organizations that collect publishing royalties — PROs, the MLC, and neighboring-rights bodies — so the songwriters and publishers actually get paid when the song is played.
What is the difference between distribution and publishing?
Distribution gets your recording onto streaming stores and collects master royalties. Publishing covers the composition behind the recording and collects performance and mechanical royalties. You need both to capture every dollar a song earns.
What music metadata do I need to get paid?
At minimum: songwriter and publisher names with splits, ISRC for the recording, ISWC for the composition, performing-rights affiliations (PRO/IPI), and contributor credits. Accurate metadata is what lets each royalty source match a payment to you.
Does ONCE handle publishing registration?
Yes. ONCE now does PRO registration through Unison, so you collect performance royalties from day one, and is building end-to-end registration to the MLC, SoundExchange, and sync libraries so your data follows your music all the way to your money.
Can I register publishing for AI-generated music?
It depends on the rights you hold and the policies of each registration body. ONCE distributes AI music with proper metadata and AI disclosure; publishing eligibility for AI compositions is evolving, so register what you legally own and keep your metadata accurate.