How Publishing Works and Songwriters Get Paid

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Jacob Paul, the VP of Platform Growth & Brand Strategy at Kobalt and KOSIGN. Jacob has been one of the leaders behind Kobalt’s new admin publishing platform, KOSIGN, since its public launch in February 2025. Kobalt has been disrupting the traditional publishing model for years. Now their application-based platform, KOSIGN, is doing the same in the admin publishing space.

In this episode, Jacob explains how Kobalt and KOSIGN approach publishing differently than traditional publishers and admin publishers. Along the way, he and Ari completely break down how music publishing works. They touch on: how songwriters get paid, the difference between “artists” and “songwriters,” the difference between publishers and admin publishers, and how creators can be sure they’re not leaving any money on the table. Jacob also shares why it’s advantageous to have a publisher or an admin publisher instead of just working with a PRO or MRO. If you have questions about music publishing (and let’s be real, who doesn’t?), this episode’s got you covered. 

https://www.kosignmusic.com/

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Music Publishing and Royalties

05:07 The Role of Kobalt in Music Publishing

10:10 Distinguishing Between Artists and Songwriters

14:51 The Importance of Publishing for Songwriters

19:53 Kobalt's Innovative Approach to Publishing

25:03 Exploring Traditional vs. Admin Publishing Deals

29:56 The Launch of KOSIGN and Its Impact on Indie Songwriters

35:43 The Rise of Independent Artists

40:23 Understanding Publishing and Royalties

45:35 Navigating the Complexities of Publishing Administration

51:10 The Role of KOSIGN in Empowering Songwriters

56:25 The Future of Music Publishing and Artist Ownership

Edited and mixed by Ari Davids

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take

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