In order for a song to be eligible for DistroKid Publishing, some requirements must first be met. In addition, certain types of musical works are ineligible for registration through DistroKid Publishing.
What Does a Song Need Before I Can Register it for DistroKid Publishing?
Before you register a song, it has to meet a few basic requirements:
- Original musical composition: The composition must be original and created by you. It cannot be copied or derived from someone else's work.
- Songwriter info: We need to know what percentage of the composition you own and what percentage is owned by your cowriters. Don't worry, we'll only collect the part you control.
Fixed in a tangible medium: The song must exist in a form that can be reproduced, such as an audio file, sheet music, lyrics, or a recorded performance. The digital files you create & upload to DistroKid count.
Are Work-for-Hire Songs Eligible?
Yes, work-for-hire songs are eligible to register through DistroKid Publishing. If the song was created under a work-for-hire agreement, the employer usually owns the copyright, but you can still register it if you have permission from the copyright owner to administer the composition.
What Types of Songs are not Eligible for Registration?
The following types of works are ineligible for registration through DistroKid Publishing:
- Cover Songs: Any song written by someone else, even if you recorded your own version.
- Non-Musical works & Sound effects: Nature sounds, ambient recordings, animal noises, mechanical noise (car horns, appliances, etc.), or any audio that doesn't include an original musical composition.
- Songwriter and/or Song Titles with Non-Latin Characters: At this time, all submissions for DistroKid Publishing must not include songwriter names or song titles with characters outside of the Latin alphabet.
- Spoken word only: Narration, poetry, or spoken-word pieces without original music (if the spoken word performance includes original music you composed, it may be eligible).
- Binaural/meditation/therapeutic recordings: Hypnosis, relaxation, white noise, or meditation recordings are not eligible unless they contain an original musical composition.
- Public domain works: Compositions that are fully in the public domain cannot be registered.
- Songs already administered elsewhere: If another publisher or publishing administrator is already collecting royalties for the composition, DistroKid Publishing cannot collect publishing royalties for the same work.
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