Why Piano Players Releasing Music on Streaming Platforms Need a Publishing Deal
For independent piano players, releasing music has never been easier. A musician can record a beautiful piano composition, upload it through a distributor, and have it available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music, and dozens of other platforms around the world.
But getting music onto streaming platforms is only one part of the business.
Many piano players focus on their master recording royalties while overlooking an equally important source of income: music publishing royalties. If you write and release original piano music, every composition you create may generate publishing income and without the right publishing partner, some of that income can go uncollected.
That is where Elizabeth Music Group comes in.
Distribution and Publishing Are Not the Same Thing
One of the biggest misconceptions among independent musicians is that a distributor collects all of the money generated by their music.
That is not necessarily the case.
A music distributor primarily helps deliver the sound recording, or master, to streaming platforms and digital stores. The money earned from streams of that recording is generally separate from the royalties generated by the underlying musical composition.
For a piano player who writes original music, the composition itself can generate royalties.
For example, if you write and record an original piano piece, there are two important copyrights involved:
1. The Master Recording
This is the specific audio recording that listeners hear on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and other platforms.
2. The Musical Composition
This includes the underlying music - the melody, harmony, arrangement, and other protectable musical elements you created.
A distributor can help you monetize the recording. A publishing partner like Elizabeth Music Group helps ensure that the composition is properly registered, represented, and that publishing royalties are being collected.
Your Piano Music Can Generate More Than Master Side Streaming Revenue
Every time your original composition is used, performed, streamed, broadcast, or otherwise exploited, it may generate publishing royalties depending on the type of use and the territories involved.
Potential sources of publishing income can include:
Performance royalties
Mechanical royalties
International royalties
Digital and streaming publishing income
YouTube publishing revenue
Sync licensing opportunities for television, film, advertising, video games, and other media
The challenge is that these royalties can come from multiple organizations, platforms, territories, and collection sources.
Simply registering with a PRO is important, but it does not automatically mean that every possible publishing royalty is being collected worldwide.
For independent piano players with growing catalogs, this can become especially important. A single song may not generate significant income immediately, but over time, a catalog of dozens or hundreds of compositions can create multiple royalty opportunities.
Instrumental Music Is Still Music Publishing
Another misconception is that instrumental musicians do not need publishing because their songs do not have lyrics.
That is simply not the case.
Lyrics are not required for a musical composition to generate publishing royalties. A piano composition can still contain original melodies, harmonies, and musical elements that make up a copyrighted composition.
Whether you release:
Solo piano music
Neoclassical compositions
Cinematic piano
Ambient music
LOFI piano
Jazz piano
Relaxation or meditation music
...your original compositions may have publishing rights that need to be properly managed.
If you are consistently creating and releasing original piano music, you are not just releasing songs - you are building a catalog of intellectual property.
Why a Publishing Partner Matters
Managing a music catalog can become increasingly complicated as an artist releases more music.
Songs need to be properly documented. Ownership splits need to be clear. Works may need to be registered with relevant collection sources. International representation can involve additional complexity, and royalty income may arrive from multiple places at different times.
A publishing partner can help bring that representation together.
At Elizabeth Music Group, we work with musicians to help ensure their compositions are properly managed while allowing artists to stay focused on what they do best: creating music.
Our approach is built around the idea that publishing should not feel like a mystery.
We help musicians understand the business behind their music while working to identify and collect publishing royalties from around the world.
Why Piano Players Choose Elizabeth Music Group
Elizabeth Music Group is built for independent musicians who are serious about the long-term value of their catalogs.
We understand that many piano players are not just releasing one song and moving on. They are consistently creating new compositions, building audiences, releasing albums, and developing catalogs that can continue generating value over time.
Our publishing services are designed to help musicians manage that growth.
Global Publishing Representation
Music is consumed globally, and publishing income can be generated across multiple territories.
Elizabeth Music Group works to register compositions internationally and help ensure that publishing royalties are being identified and collected from the appropriate sources.
For an independent piano player, trying to understand every collection society, territory, and royalty source can be overwhelming. Having a publishing partner can simplify that process.
Monthly Royalty Payments
At Elizabeth Music Group, we believe artists should not have to wait unnecessarily to receive money that has already been collected.
We pay out royalties every month that income is received, helping provide artists with more consistent access to the revenue generated by their catalogs.
A Growing Global Catalog
Elizabeth Music Group represents a growing community of musicians and composers across multiple genres and markets.
Our catalog includes thousands of compositions from artists, producers, songwriters, and instrumental musicians who are building careers through music.
We understand that every catalog is different. A piano player releasing emotional solo compositions may have completely different opportunities than a producer creating records for major label artists, which is why a one-size-fits-all approach to music publishing does not always work.
More Than Just Royalty Collection
We believe a good publisher should do more than simply collect royalties that are already out there.
A strong publishing partner should also help musicians understand the value of their catalogs and explore new opportunities for their music.
Elizabeth Music Group works with musicians across publishing representation, sync licensing, creative opportunities, and education. Our goal is to help artists build sustainable careers around the music they create.
Representing Established Piano Players
Elizabeth Music Group is proud to already represent prominent piano players and composers, including Diego Pindado and Will Collante.
Their presence in our publishing catalog reflects our commitment to working with talented instrumental musicians whose music deserves the same level of publishing representation and support as any other genre.
Piano music is often deeply personal, but it can also have an international reach. Instrumental compositions can travel across language barriers, find audiences through playlists, appear in visual media, and continue generating income long after their original release.
For artists like Diego Pindado and Will Collante, signing with Elizabeth Music Group Publishing is an important part of protecting and managing the value of the music they create.
And for emerging piano players, working with a publishing company that already understands instrumental catalogs can make a significant difference.
Your Catalog Is an Asset
It is easy to think of a song as something you release and then move on from.
But every original composition you create can become part of a larger catalog.
That catalog can continue to generate income over time through streaming, performances, mechanical uses, international exploitation, sync licensing, and other opportunities.
The more music you release, the more important it becomes to have a clear understanding of:
Where your songs are registered
Which royalties are being collected
Whether income is being left unclaimed
A publishing deal is not just about collecting a check today. It is about building the infrastructure to manage the value of your music as your career grows.
Focus on Playing. Let Us Help Manage the Publishing.
Piano players spend years developing their craft.
Hours are spent practicing technique, studying harmony, writing melodies, recording performances, and developing a unique artistic voice. The business side of music should not take all of that creative energy away from the music itself.
That is why having the right publishing partner matters.
Elizabeth Music Group helps musicians navigate the complex world of music publishing while giving them the support, transparency, and infrastructure needed to manage a growing catalog.
Whether you are releasing your first piano composition or have already built an extensive catalog of instrumental music, it is worth asking an important question:
Are you collecting everything your music is earning?
Your music deserves more than simply being uploaded to streaming platforms.
It deserves to be properly registered, protected, represented, and positioned to generate opportunities around the world.
At Elizabeth Music Group, we are proud to work with talented musicians including respected piano players like Diego Pindado and Will Collante and help creators better understand and manage the value of the music they create.
Because releasing the music is only the beginning.
The right publishing partner can help you build what comes next.
Work With Elizabeth Music Group
If you are a piano player, composer, or instrumental musician releasing original music, Elizabeth Music Group can help you take the next step with your publishing.
From global royalty representation to monthly royalty payments, sync opportunities, and ongoing support, we are focused on helping musicians build sustainable careers around their catalogs.
You create the music. We help make sure the publishing behind it is working for you.
