For many upcoming Nigerian artists, publishing royalties feel distant, confusing, or reserved for only the biggest names in the industry.
Some believe royalties come automatically once a song is released, while others think they are controlled entirely by record labels or foreign companies.
From what I’ve observed, the real problem is not exclusion from the system.
It is a lack of understanding around how publishing works, how royalties are triggered, and why promotion plays a bigger role than most artists realize.
This confusion has caused many Nigerian musicians to miss out on long-term income, even when their songs are legally eligible for royalties.
To understand how artists actually collect publishing royalties, it is important to first understand what royalties are, how they are generated, and why structure matters more than talent alone.
What Are Music Rights?
Music rights are the legal ownership rights that determine who controls a song, who can use it, and who gets paid when that song is streamed, performed, sold, broadcasted, or licensed.
In simple terms, music rights decide who owns the music and who earns from it.
If you don’t understand your rights, you can create music, gain attention, and still earn nothing meaningful.
This is why music rights sit at the center of how income flows in the Nigerian music industry, and why they are a core part of the broader system explained in
how musicians make money in Nigeria.
Why Music Rights Matter for Nigerian Musicians
Many Nigerian musicians focus only on visibility — streams, trends, and social media hype.
But visibility without rights leads to confusion, disputes, and lost income.
Music rights determine:
- Who earns royalties
- Who can license the song
- Who controls distribution
- Who can legally monetize the music
Without clear ownership, even a successful song can become financially useless to the artist who created it.
Copyright Explained in the Nigerian Music Context
Copyright is the legal protection given to original creative works, including music.
In Nigeria, once you create an original song, copyright exists automatically — but protection and enforcement depend on structure.
Copyright protects two major parts of music:
| Copyright Area | What It Covers | Who Owns It |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | Lyrics and melody | Songwriter(s) |
| Sound Recording | The recorded audio | Artist / Label / Investor |
This distinction is where many Nigerian artists get confused, especially when signing deals or uploading music online.
The Main Types of Music Rights Nigerian Artists Should Know
Music rights are not one single thing.
They are divided into categories, each connected to a different income stream.
1. Songwriting (Publishing) Rights
These rights belong to whoever wrote the lyrics or melody.
If you wrote the song, you own publishing rights — whether or not you sang it.
Publishing rights generate income when a song is:
- Streamed
- Played on radio or TV
- Performed live
- Used in films, adverts, or skits
This is explained in deeper detail in
how Nigerian artists can collect publishing royalties,
because publishing is one of the most misunderstood income areas in Nigeria.
2. Sound Recording Rights
Sound recording rights control the actual audio file.
Whoever paid for or owns the recording usually controls this right.
This right determines:
- Who uploads the song
- Who earns from streaming platforms
- Who can authorize distribution
If you sign a record deal, this is often the first right labels try to control.
3. Performance Rights
Performance rights apply when music is played publicly — on radio, TV, at events, clubs, or public venues.
These rights generate performance royalties, usually collected through performing rights organizations (PROs).
4. Mechanical Rights
Mechanical rights relate to reproduction of music — streams, downloads, and physical copies.
Although digital payouts are often small in Nigeria, these rights become important at scale and internationally.
5. Synchronization (Sync) Rights
Sync rights apply when music is used alongside visuals — films, adverts, YouTube videos, skits, or commercials.
This is one of the highest-paying rights categories, but only when ownership is clear.
Common Music Rights Confusion Among Nigerian Artists
From what I see consistently, most confusion comes from mixing up publishing and distribution.
| Area | What It Does | What It Does NOT Do |
|---|---|---|
| Distribution | Uploads music to platforms | Protect songwriting rights |
| Publishing | Tracks song usage | Upload music files |
Uploading your song does not automatically protect your music rights.
It only makes the music available.
How Music Rights Affect Artist Income in Nigeria
Music rights directly determine how much an artist can earn and from where.
Artists with clear rights:
- Earn royalties consistently
- License music confidently
- Negotiate better deals
- Avoid ownership disputes
Artists without clear rights:
- Rely only on streams
- Lose income unknowingly
- Face conflicts later
This difference explains why some artists earn quietly while others struggle loudly.
What Upcoming Nigerian Musicians Should Do First
The starting point is not fame.
It is clarity.
Every Nigerian musician should:
- Know what rights they own
- Document songwriting splits
- Understand what they are giving away in deals
- Separate publishing from distribution
Once this foundation is clear, income conversations become simpler and more realistic.
Final Thought
Music rights are not advanced industry knowledge.
They are basic survival knowledge for Nigerian musicians.
If you don’t know who owns your music, you won’t know why money isn’t coming in.
And until rights are clear, every other income strategy remains unstable.
This is why music rights sit at the core of the entire earning structure already broken down in
how musicians make money in Nigeria.
