How to apply
Signing up is great value: our one-off charge is an investment in your future.

Our aim is to provide a simple solution that removes the complication and mystery from the world of music publishing. Sign with us and we will make the system work for you.

For a one-off charge, First Music Control will set you up your very own music publishing company. All you need to do is come up with a name. After the initial payment, First Music Control will take only a 15%* administration fee to do all the "backroom" work for you on an ongoing basis. There are no further direct costs to pay to us for your publishing company after set-up .

Remember – by creating your own publishing company, you secure the rights to your work and lock into our global framework. This ensures that you will receive all worldwide monies due to you. We are formally affiliated with all of the relevant industry bodies. We register your works with all of the collection societies, establish that the work is yours and sets up a pipeline for payments.

We understand that you may have further questions and we are happy to answer them for you. See our FAQ page, or contact us.

Or click here to register with First Music Control now.

*plus VAT where applicable

Jargon Buster

Publishing Company

In the music industry, a music publisher (or publishing company) is responsible for ensuring the songwriters and composers receive payment when their compositions are used commercially. Through an agreement called a publishing contract, a songwriter or composer "assigns" the copyright of their composition to a publishing company. In return, the company licenses compositions, helps monitor where compositions are used, collects royalties and distributes them to the composers. They also secure commissions for music and promote existing compositions to recording artists, film and television.