How Do We as Black Artists Restore Our Music Publishing Rights?

For generations, Black artists have been the heartbeat of music worldwide. From blues and gospel to hip-hop and R&B, our communities have created the sounds that became global industries. Yet, too often, those same artists were locked into contracts that stripped away publishing rights—the very foundation of long-term wealth in music. Today, as conversations about equity and ownership rise, the question remains urgent: How do we reclaim what is ours?

Understanding Publishing Rights

Publishing rights are the rights to the composition itself—the lyrics and melodies. Owning them means you control how your music is used, licensed, and monetized. For many Black artists, these rights were signed away early in their careers, often due to predatory contracts, lack of legal guidance, or promises of quick success.

Publishing is not just paperwork—it’s generational wealth. The royalties from one hit song can sustain a family for decades. Losing those rights means losing not only money but cultural control over how your art is used.

Why We Lost Them

• Predatory Contracts: Labels often offered cash advances in exchange for lifelong publishing rights.

• Lack of Representation: Few Black or Indigenous lawyers, managers, or advocates were in the rooms where deals were signed.

• Systemic Exploitation: Our communities created the culture but were shut out of the business structures that profited from it.

Paths to Reclaiming Publishing Rights

1. Reversion Clauses and Termination Rights

In the U.S., copyright law allows artists to reclaim publishing rights after 35 years (sometimes longer depending on the contract). Filing for termination of rights can return ownership to the songwriter. Many major artists have used this path quietly.

2. Renegotiation with Labels and Publishers

Power comes in numbers. As more artists demand ownership, labels are being pressured to return rights in exchange for continued business partnerships. Collective negotiation—through unions, collectives, or cultural organizations—gives artists leverage.

3. Community-Led Publishing Companies

Black-owned publishing collectives are rising. By joining or building these companies, artists can buy back or re-administer their catalogs, keeping royalties circulating within the community.

4. Legal and Financial Literacy

Knowledge is power. Many artists lost rights because they didn’t understand contracts. Today, workshops, podcasts, and organizations focused on music law are empowering younger artists to avoid the traps of the past.

5. Strategic Buy-Backs

Some artists buy back their catalogs once they’ve achieved financial stability. While expensive, it allows control over licensing, sampling, and cultural representation.

The Bigger Picture: Beyond the Contract

Getting publishing rights back is not only about money—it’s about sovereignty. Our songs carry ancestral stories, cultural memory, and revolutionary spirit. When we don’t own them, others decide how our culture is used, sampled, or even distorted. Reclaiming rights is an act of cultural protection.

Moving Forward

• Organize: Build Black artist unions to fight collectively.

• Educate: Share resources about copyright, royalties, and publishing with the next generation.

• Own: Create and support our own publishing companies, labels, and distribution networks.

Closing Thought

For Black artists, reclaiming publishing rights is not charity—it’s justice. It is the restoration of wealth, dignity, and cultural control that has been denied for too long. The music industry was built on our rhythms and stories. Now, it’s time to take back the keys to the house we built.