In the music industry, a publisher (or music publisher) plays a crucial role in managing the business side of a songwriter’s or composer’s work. The primary responsibility of a music publisher is to ensure that songwriters and composers receive payment when their compositions are used commercially.
Publishers do this by securing and administering various types of licenses, including mechanical licenses (for reproduction of music on CDs, streaming platforms, etc.), public performance licenses (for live performances, broadcasting on radio/TV, etc.), synchronization licenses (for use of music in films, TV shows, ads, etc.), and print licenses (for printing of lyrics or sheet music).
Publishers also handle the collection and distribution of royalties generated by these licenses, as well as promoting their catalogue of works to potential licensees.
In some cases, publishers may provide financial, creative and logistical support to songwriters, such as advancing money against future earnings, offering creative input or feedback, arranging co-writing sessions, and more.
Ownership of the publishing rights of a song or composition is often split between the songwriter and their publisher, according to their contractual agreement.
For more comprehensive information, you can visit the Music Publisher page on Wikipedia.