Overview: Becoming a songwriter doesn’t come with a manual for safeguarding your songs and ensuring you receive your rightful earnings. If you’re an independent songwriter or self-released artist, chances are you’re missing out on potential revenue.

This book was written by three independent songwriters, answers most of the questions you have, and some you never thought to ask. Discover how to protect your songs, collect your royalties, and get step-by-step guidance for managing your own music business.

Verdict: Whether you are just starting out or looking to enhance your understanding of the industry, this brand new resource The Songwriter’s Guide to Protecting Your Songs and Collecting Your Money: U.S. Song Royalties: Understanding Performance, Mechanical, and More! is your comprehensive companion for navigating the intricate landscape of songwriting and the music business.

Coming complete with such chapters as these noted below, the book is a substantial learning tool for those starting out, yet might be sore eye for those that went before it and have paid the price along the line:

- Thirteen Royalties That Generate Income in the U.S.
- Navigating PRO Signup and Song Registration
- Step-by-Step Guidance for Issuing Mechanical Licenses
- Copyrighting Your Song (and When Not to Bother)
- New Royalties: The MLC, Direct Licensing and Social Media
- Understanding Sync Licensing and Metadata
- How To Release Your Own Songs
- Eight Essential Agreements Every Songwriter Needs

In what is a thoroughly concise, and yet at the same time informational expanding new book on the subject of not getting ripped off and, moreover, collecting all your songwriting dues back and keeping ahold of them thereafter, this new book is an expertly written, clear and informative prose that dutifully covers everything you need to know about accessing income as a songwriter.

There are even, if you keep with it and read it from stat to finish, some so-named grey areas that I think a lot of people would most likely have overlooked down the years. So trust me when I say this book has more to offer than just wisdom and a genuinely sincere wish for you to not lose out and give your songwriting talents away for nothing.

Furthermore, it is more than just a must-have bible for the multitude of writers and indie artists to simply carry around with them, for it should also be required reading before anyone even slightly considers themselves to be a songwriter.

For as explained by the three notables themselves, We are three songwriters who have been writing songs for years and have written thousands of songs between us. When we first got serious about becoming professional songwriters, we were clueless about the business side of songwriting.

We had so many questions!! It literally took years to learn about the income and legal side of of this creative endeavor of songwriting, because none of the answers were in one place. And some were confusing and very overwhelming.

Given our experience, we decided to collaborate on crafting the book we yearned for when we first embarked on our journeys to become professional songwriters. As friends, colleagues and co-writers, we joined forces, combining our resources to create a book we longed for during those early days of pursuing our careers as songwriters.

That all said, they dutifully, if not carefully add: We wrote this book for self-administered songwriters, individuals managing their own publishing, rather than those signed to a publisher. Understand we are giving our hard-won knowledge and experience from the business we love. None of us are attorneys and things in the songwriting and the music business can and do change over time.

In closing, You must what we have told you. Most importantly before taking any major steps like signing a contract, we advise consulting an entertainment lawyer.

About the Authors - Bill O’Hanlon is a seasoned musician and award-winning songwriter, with over 1,700 recorded songs in his music catalog. He is also a prolific author, having written over 41 books, including Do One Thing Different, which earned him a spot on Oprah’s show.

Nancy Deckant is a songwriter and publisher with two decades of invaluable experience in the music industry. Her songwriting achievements include top 40 Billboard hits such as Princess by Dallas Remington, Hangin’ Moons by Cody Clayton Eagle, and Trinity Wiseman’s Little Too Late, among others. Additionally, her co-written song We Are The Stars with Anelda Spence won the Independent International Songwriters Competition for Pop.

Leslie Bowe is a passionate singer, songwriter, who is steadfastly pursuing his dreams in the vibrant music scene of Nashville. Leslie’s song I Can Drink in This Bar recently cut by the Darrin Morris Band achieved Top 20 status peaking at #11 on the American Country Music Chart (ACM) and #16 on the Texas Country Music Chart (TCM).