Music Publishing & Royalties (Part 2): Susan Fontaine Godwin | Music Accelerator

In this second conversation with Susan Fontaine Godwin, we go deeper into the business of songwriting — from co-writing splits to performance rights, mechanical royalties, and how to protect your work in the streaming age.

Susan, founder of Christian Copyright Solutions and a pioneer in publishing administration, joins host Chris Estes to unpack what every indie songwriter should know about contracts, PROs, and revenue streams — and why protecting your creative work is just as important as creating it.

👉 Apply now for the Hatch Music Accelerator: 119collective.hatchfairhope.com

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The “Protect, Collect, and Promote” framework for managing your music career
• How to handle co-writing splits and ownership percentages early on
• Why registration with ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC matters — and when to do it
• The difference between a songwriter’s share and a publisher’s share
• What to look for (and avoid) in aggregator publishing agreements like TuneCore or DistroKid
• How publishing administrators help collect your royalties worldwide
• Understanding the MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective) and SoundExchange — and what they do for you
• Common contract mistakes indie artists make (and how to avoid them)

Key Episode Highlights:

• “Protect, Collect, Promote” — Susan’s timeless approach to publishing and licensing
• Why indie artists should treat songwriting splits like a handshake deal written down
• The “two sides” of royalties explained: master vs. composition
• The difference between a publisher and a publishing administrator
• Why understanding your agreements protects your long-term income

Quotes:

“Publishing really comes down to three things: protect, collect, and promote.”

“If you’re co-writing, document your splits early. The conversation you skip now can become the argument you have later.”

“The song and the sound recording are two different copyrights — and two different revenue streams.”

“Don’t just check the box and move on. Know what you’re signing, what you’re giving up, and what you’re keeping.”