The CD Baby Pro Publishing service was discontinued on August 8, 2023. Any paid release that was signed up for Pro Publishing before this date is considered a 'Legacy Pro release', and will continue to receive full Pro Publishing services.

CD Baby now offers a new and expanded suite of monetization tools called CDB Boost, which replaces Pro Publishing for new releases. Learn more about this here: What Is CDB Boost? 

About this glossary

Music publishing can be complex—especially if you’re new to the terminology. This glossary defines common industry-wide publishing terms and a few that are specific to CD Baby’s legacy Pro Publishing service.

Publishing glossary

CD Baby Pro Publishing Terms

• Collecting Songwriter: A songwriter for whom CD Baby collects publishing royalties. Marked with a “$” in the Songwriter Bank of your release.
• Downgrade: Changing a Pro Publishing release to a Standard release before songwriter affiliation info is finalized.
• Non-Collecting Songwriter: A songwriter for whom CD Baby does not collect publishing royalties under Pro. These songwriters can still opt into collection through CDB Boost.
• Songwriter Bank: A list of all songwriters used in your CD Baby account. Songwriters must be manually assigned to each track.

Industry-wide Publishing Terms

• CAE (Composer, Auteur, and Editeur): A unique identification number assigned to songwriters and publishers by their Performance Rights Organizations (PROs). Usually between 8–11 digits. Also referred to as an IPI (Interested Party Information) number.
• Collection Society: An organization that tracks, collects, and distributes royalties to copyright owners. Includes Performance Rights Organizations (PROs), Mechanical Rights Organizations (MROs), and Collective Management Organizations (CMOs).
• Collective Management Organization (CMO): International organizations that manage both performance and mechanical rights for songwriters and publishers.
• Composition: The intellectual property of a musical work—its lyrics, melody, and harmony. This does not refer to the sound recording.
• Copyright: Legal ownership of an intellectual property. In music, this covers both the composition and the sound recording.
• Cover Song: A new recording of a song you didn’t write. To release a cover song, you must obtain a mechanical license from the copyright holder.
• Derivative Work: A new composition created using a pre-existing one (e.g., remixes, translations, parodies). Permission from the original copyright owner is required.
• Distribution Cycle: The schedule on which royalties are paid by collection societies, typically quarterly.
• IPI (Interested Party Information): A unique ID for songwriters and publishers assigned by their PROs. Equivalent to a CAE number. It is usually between 8 and 11 digits, and is not the same as a member ID or account number.
• ISRC (International Sound Recording Code): An identifier for a sound recording. Each version of a song has its own unique and permanent ISRC.
• ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code): A unique and permanent identifier for a musical composition, assigned when a work is registered with a PRO.
• Letter of Direction (LOD): A formal notice authorizing a publisher to administer certain works.
• Letter of Relinquishment (LOR): Proof from a previous publisher that rights are being released back to the songwriter. 
• Mechanical Rights Organization (MRO): Handles mechanical licenses and royalties for publishers and songwriters.
• Mechanical Royalties: Earned when a composition is reproduced or downloaded (e.g., streams, downloads, cover recordings).
• Metadata: Information used to identify and track music, such as title, artist, ISRC, and publisher info.
• Music Publishing: The business of monetizing and managing the composition of a song.
• Neighboring Rights (Related Rights): Royalties paid to artists and labels for public performances of sound recordings. (Not collected by CD Baby.)
• Notice of Intent (NOI): A legal notice under U.S. law sent by parties seeking to use a copyrighted work under a compulsory license.
• Original Composition: A song written entirely by the songwriter(s) without pre-existing material.
• Performance Rights Organization (PRO): Collects performance royalties for public uses of music (e.g., ASCAP, BMI, SESAC).
• Performance Royalties: Earned when a song is broadcast, streamed, or performed publicly.
• Pseudonym: An alias or stage name registered with a PRO under a separate IPI.
• Public Domain: Works whose copyrights have expired and are free for use without permission.
• Publisher: The rights holder of the composition. Songwriters who self-publish are their own publishers.
• Publishing Administrator: Manages royalty collection and song registrations on behalf of the copyright owner (without owning the rights).
• Publishing Royalties: Royalties generated by the use of the composition, paid to songwriters and publishers.
• Royalty-Free: Music licensing where a one-time payment allows ongoing use without further royalties.
• Setlist: A list of songs performed live, submitted to a PRO to collect performance royalties.
• Songwriter: The creator of a composition’s lyrics or music.
• Songwriter Affiliation: A songwriter’s membership and identification with a PRO.
• Songwriter Splits: Percentages of ownership among co-writers of a composition. Splits must total 100%.
• Sound Recording: The recorded version of a composition.
• Split Sheet: A document outlining ownership percentages and songwriter/publisher details for a song.
• Sub-publisher: A company that administers songs in specific territories on behalf of the main publisher.
• Work/Works Registration: The registration of a composition with a collection society.