International Publishing 101: How to Prepare Your Catalog for Deals Like Kobalt x Madverse

Hook: Stop leaving money on the table — make your songs discoverable and collectible worldwide

Independent songwriters routinely file beautiful releases but miss earnings because of sloppy rights management, incomplete metadata, and not registering works with the right societies. In 2026, with deals like Kobalt x Madverse expanding access for South Asian creators, the technical barrier to global royalty collection is lower — but only if you complete the admin work first. This guide gives a step-by-step checklist that independent songwriters can follow to be discoverable and collect royalties internationally.

The most important thing first: what to do now

If you only do three things today, do these:

• Get an ISRC for every master and add it to every DSP upload and distributor metadata row.
• Register each composition with your local PRO/CMO (and provide accurate splits and IPI/CAE numbers for all writers).
• Register recordings with a neighboring/digital performance collector (SoundExchange in the U.S., PPL/Phonographic societies where applicable) and a publishing administrator or sub-publisher if you want global mechanicals collected.

Why this matters in 2026 — trends and context

The global streaming market keeps pushing payouts to precise ownership metadata. Platforms and collecting societies increasingly automate distributions based on machine-readable rights data. Late 2025 and early 2026 saw two clear developments:

• Major publisher networks expanding reach: deals like Kobalt’s partnership with Madverse (Jan 2026) mean independent creators in growing markets can access large-scale publishing administration without surrendering control of their IP.
• Metadata-first royalty flows: collection societies and DSPs favor accurate ISRC/ISWC/UPC metadata and DDEX-standard deliveries — poor metadata equals lost or delayed payouts.

Bottom line

Global collection is now a metadata-driven process. The administrative steps below are the operational map for turning plays into payments.

Step-by-step checklist: Pre-release (what to prepare before you publish)

Use this pre-release checklist to avoid common leaks in revenue and discoverability. Treat it as your publishing MVP.

1. Decide your rights strategy

   Do you: self-administer, sign a publishing admin deal, or appoint a sub-publisher for specific territories? Pros and cons:

   • Self-administer: Full control, but you must register everywhere, chase payments, and manage DDEX feeds. Best if you have a small catalog and time.
   • Publishing administrator / sub-publisher: Faster global registration and collection, but expect fees (typically 10–25% of collected publishing royalties) or recoupable advances.
   • Hybrid: Self-administer most works; use an admin for territories where you lack representation (e.g., Kobalt for South Asia via Madverse).
2. Gather core metadata

   Every track needs a canonical metadata file. Key fields (must-haves):

   • Track title
   • Release title / UPC
   • ISRC (per master)
   • ISWC (for composition) — if assigned
   • Writers/composers with exact IPI/CAE numbers and email/contact
   • Publisher(s) with publisher IPI and publisher share percentage
   • Role tags (lyrics, music, producer, arranger)
   • Release date, territories, language, genre, explicit flag

   Tip: Keep one spreadsheet (or a DDEX-compliant XML) that maps each ISRC to its ISWC, writer shares, and publisher shares.

3. Assign ISRCs and UPC

   ISRCs identify the recording; UPCs identify the release. Get ISRCs through your distributor or national ISRC agency. Assign them before uploading to DSPs so metadata doesn’t change later (DSPs treat ISRC as the single source of truth for the master).

4. Finalize splits and collect IPI/CAE numbers

   Always register exact writer/publisher splits with your PRO and in your publisher admin dashboard. Unclear or missing splits are the #1 cause of unpaid royalties. Obtain and verify everyone’s IPI/CAE numbers before registration.

5. Get sample and clearance paperwork ready

   If you used a sample or interpolation, secure master and publishing clearances in writing. Queue sheets and cue sheets for sync-ready works — many sub-publishers require them.

6. Choose distribution and Content ID path

   Decide who will register your work with YouTube Content ID (aggregator, label, or publisher). For global YouTube revenue, you need either direct Content ID or a publisher/aggregator that will claim matches and return royalties.

Step-by-step checklist: Release day and post-release admin

After release day, metadata must be recorded everywhere your work earns. Follow these steps within the first 30 days to maximize collection.

1. Register compositions with your PRO/CMO

   Immediately register each composition with your local collecting society (PRO). Include accurate shares, ISWC (if you have it), and performance rights details. If you're using a publisher or admin, register the work in both your PRO account and the publisher's admin system.

2. Apply for ISWC if missing

   Many PROs will request or assign an ISWC on registration. Ask your PRO or publisher to make sure each registered work has an ISWC. ISWCs follow the work across borders and are crucial for mechanical tracking.

3. Register masters with neighboring/digital performance societies

   In the U.S., register with SoundExchange (digital performance of masters). In the U.K. and many countries, register with PPL/Phonographic societies. In India and other markets, check local neighboring rights organizations. This is separate from publishing registration.

4. Register mechanicals where required

   Mechanical royalties are collected by different societies: The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) in the U.S., MCPS in the U.K., etc. If you self-administer, ensure mechanical licenses and claims are filed so streaming mechanicals get paid.

5. Upload metadata to your publishing administrator or aggregator

   Use DDEX-compliant formats when required; most administrators provide an upload portal for CSV/XML. Confirm that the admin has accurate publisher IPI and account numbers to push to their networks (like Kobalt’s admin network, if you’re in a partnership like Madverse).

6. Claim your YouTube content and set up web-crawlers

   Ensure your distributor/publisher has claimed your YouTube Content ID matches or set up Content ID yourself via a partner. Also set up Google Alerts and a rights-monitoring tool to spot unauthorized uses.

7. Set periodic royalty reconciliation

   Every 3–6 months, reconcile DSP reports with PRO and admin statements. Check for missing ISRCs or mismatched writer names (even punctuation differences can break automated matches).

Technical metadata fields — what to include and why each matters

Below are the metadata fields that collecting societies, DSPs, and admin platforms consistently use to match plays to ownership. Fill them out completely and consistently.

• Track title — exact text used on DSPs.
• Artist name — standardized (avoid featuring variations across releases).
• ISRC — unique master identifier; DSPs and rights platforms use this first to match masters.
• ISWC — unique composition identifier; used by PROs and publishers to match composition uses globally.
• Writer names + IPI/CAE — identifies individual writers; required by PROs to distribute writer shares.
• Publisher name + publisher IPI — necessary for publisher shares and admin routing.
• Writer/publisher share percentages — precise fractions for performance and mechanical splits.
• UPC — identifies the release bundle for reporting and store displays.
• Release date and territory flags — influences local licensing and windowing.

Practical examples — two common scenarios

Scenario A: Solo songwriter self-administering from India

Asha releases singles on DSPs via an aggregator. Steps she should take:

1. Obtain ISRCs from her aggregator and tag each upload.
2. Register each composition with IPRS (or local CMO) including precise splits (100% if sole writer).
3. Register masters with any local neighboring right organization; if digital plays in the U.S. are expected, register the master with SoundExchange or appoint a global admin to do it.
4. Sign up for a publishing admin or use a sub-publisher for territories with complex mechanical collection; make sure the admin gets the DDEX metadata feed.
5. If approaching Kobalt via a partner like Madverse, submit the canonical metadata, IPI, ISRCs, and any sample clearance docs for global registration.

Scenario B: Co-written track with a U.S. collaborator

Two writers in different countries need extra care:

• Agree and document splits in writing before release.
• Each writer registers their share with their local PRO (ASCAP/BMI/SESAC, PRS, IPRS, etc.), making sure the co-writer and publisher IPI numbers are included.
• Assign a single publisher IPI for any joint publisher share, or add both publishers with accurate publisher shares.
• Use a publishing administrator to reconcile cross-border mechanicals and to enforce sync uses and neighbouring rights claims.

How publisher/admin relationships work today — what to expect in deals like Kobalt x Madverse

Publishing administrators like Kobalt provide:

• Global registration across hundreds of CMOs and digital platforms.
• Automated DDEX/DSP deliveries and ISWC registration.
• Localized sub-publishing to collect mechanicals and performance royalties in territories where collection is fragmented.

Partnerships like Kobalt x Madverse (announced Jan 2026) are significant because they give regional creators access to a global admin infrastructure without traditional publisher gatekeeping. That said, creators should expect a formal onboarding process that includes:

• A metadata audit of your catalog.
• Provision of IPI/CAE numbers for writers and publishers.
• A choice between different levels of admin service (mechanicals only, full publishing admin, sync exploitation).

Common admin pitfalls and how to fix them

1. Mismatch of names/typos

   Fix: Standardize display names, avoid accent/formatting differences, and use IPI numbers to anchor identity.

2. Missing ISRC or ISWC

   Fix: Request ISRCs from your distributor and ISWCs from your PRO or publishing admin; correct DSP metadata via your distributor's support if a wrong ISRC was used.

3. Unregistered samples or uncleared interpolations

   Fix: Clear or remove the sample. If already released, document the clearance and notify your admin so they can route royalties appropriately.

4. Unclaimed YouTube uses

   Fix: Enroll in Content ID via your partner or uploader; submit cue sheets where applicable and claim matches retrospectively through Content ID partners.

Verification and reconciliation — monthly habits that pay

Set up a routine to catch errors early:

• Monthly: Check aggregator delivery reports vs DSP displays for ISRC/UPC mismatches.
• Quarterly: Reconcile admin statements with PRO statements for performance and mechanical splits.
• Annually: Audit your catalog metadata (IPI numbers, ISWCs assigned, publisher names) and correct discrepancies.

"Clean metadata is the difference between a report and a paycheck." — industry consensus among music-rights administrators in 2025–26

Advanced strategies for maximum international collection

• Tier your catalog for admin: Send high-earning titles to full admin/sub-publishing; self-admin smaller tracks until earnings justify fees.
• Use DDEX feeds and retain logs: Push structured DDEX RIN/RMD files where possible so admins and DSPs get rights messages machine-readably.
• Leverage partnerships: Use regional partners (like Madverse for South Asia) to get local market expertise and faster payouts from local CMOs.
• Document sync-ready assets: Maintain cue sheets, stems, and sync contact info to accelerate sync licensing and one-off payments.
• Watch legal updates: Follow the MLC and local mechanical societies for rule changes that affect claim windows or retroactive distributions.

Final checklist — 10 actions to complete this week

1. Get ISRCs for all masters and attach them to DSP uploads.
2. Compile an authoritative metadata spreadsheet (ISRC → ISWC → writer IPIs → publisher IPIs → shares).
3. Register each composition with your local PRO and confirm ISWC assignment.
4. Register masters with your neighboring rights collector or SoundExchange (if U.S.).
5. If co-writers exist, confirm signed split agreements and upload them to your admin dashboard.
6. Decide on a publisher/admin and begin onboarding (or plan self-administration steps).
7. Sign up for YouTube Content ID via a partner or distributor.
8. Upload cue sheets for any tracks that will be used in media.
9. Set a calendar reminder for quarterly royalty reconciliations.
10. Save all metadata and clearance documentation in a single cloud folder for easy access by admins and partners.

Where to get help and resources in 2026

Look for these support channels:

• Your local PRO/CMO help desk (ASCAP/BMI/PRS/GEMA/SACEM/IPRS/etc.).
• Publishing administrators with global reach (Kobalt, Sentric, BMG Publishing Services, etc.).
• Regional partners — companies like Madverse who understand local markets and can bridge to global admins.
• Industry standards bodies (DDEX for metadata, CISAC for ISWC registration guidance).

Closing — make your catalog work for you

In 2026, global royalty collection is more accessible than ever — but only if you treat rights management and metadata as core parts of your release workflow. Deals like Kobalt x Madverse lower barriers for regional creators to access global admin networks, but the onboarding still depends on clean metadata, accurate split agreements, and complete registrations.

Start with the 10-action checklist above, pick one admin partner to pilot with (or begin the self-admin process), and set recurring reconciliation habits. The difference between a tracked play and a paid royalty often comes down to one missing ISRC or an unregistered split. Fix those first.

Call to action: Ready to audit your catalog and plug the leaks? Download our free metadata audit template and step-by-step registration checklist (updated for 2026). If you want direct help, reach out to a publishing admin or regional partner familiar with Kobalt-style global networks — and get your first audit scheduled this month.

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