What is the purpose of a publishing administration agreement?

• A. To authorize a publisher to collect and license rights on behalf of the rights owner and distribute royalties.
• B. To determine touring schedules.
• C. To assign the works to a new owner.
• D. To manage recording contracts.

Answer: (A)

The purpose of a publishing administration agreement is to authorize a publisher to handle the administration of a songwriter’s or rights owner’s musical works. The key tasks are licensing the songs to others for use in various ways (such as public performance, mechanical reproduction, and synchronization in media) and collecting the resulting royalties from those licenses and from performance-rights organizations. The agreement then specifies how those royalties are distributed to the rights owner, often after a set administration fee.

This focuses on the publishing side—the exploitation of the composition itself—without transferring ownership or dealing with recording contracts or live touring. It’s different from arranging tours, transferring ownership of works, or managing recording deals, which involve other aspects of the music business.