Kobalt x Madverse: What South Asian Indie Artists Need to Know About Publishing Deals

Stop leaving international money on the table: what Kobalt x Madverse means for South Asian indie creators

If you write, compose or produce music in South Asia, you already know the frustration: streams and placements arrive from platforms and broadcasters worldwide, but the royalty pipeline is messy, slow or non-existent. The 2026 Kobalt x Madverse partnership opens a door — but it only helps artists who know how to prepare their catalogs and contracts. This guide gives you a practical roadmap to understand publishing administration deals, what to watch for in terms, and the exact steps to make your work collection-ready for a global network.

Why this matters in 2026 (and why now)

Late 2025 and early 2026 saw a marked increase in global demand for regional catalogs: platforms and publishers are hungry for South Asian language tracks for streaming playlists, international film/TV projects, and short-form social content placements. The January 2026 announcement that Kobalt partnered with Madverse to give South Asian independents access to Kobalt’s publishing administration network is timely — it plugs local creators into a global royalty engine. But access alone doesn't equal payouts: clean metadata, clear splits and correct registrations are what unlock fast, full collections.

"A global admin network is only as good as the metadata it receives." — common industry takeaway, 2026

Publishing admin deals, in plain language

At its core, a publishing administration (admin) deal means a publisher agrees to administrate your songwriting/composer rights without buying ownership. The admin partner handles registration, licensing, royalty collection and reporting across territories, and keeps a percentage of revenues for the service. Unlike a full publishing or co-publishing deal that transfers or shares ownership, an admin deal keeps the writer's ownership intact.

What an admin partner does (typical services)

• Global registration of your works with performing rights organizations (PROs), mechanical societies and digital platforms.
• Royalty collection across many territories—streaming, mechanicals, performance, broadcast, sync and neighboring rights where applicable.
• Licensing for syncs (TV, film, ads), sample clearances and direct licenses to DSPs and digital services.
• Metadata cleanup and ISWC/ISRC assignment where required.
• Reporting and pay-outs on a scheduled basis and, crucially, audit transparency.

Where Kobalt x Madverse fits

Madverse acts as the local gateway for South Asian independent creators — artist outreach, regional market knowledge, and initial admin — while Kobalt contributes deep global admin infrastructure and international collection muscle. That combination aims to solve two persistent problems for South Asian creators: local know-how and global reach.

Think of it as pairing a regional scout with a world-class collector. But the quality of the collector's job depends on the paperwork you hand them. Below is a practical, step-by-step prep guide.

Step-by-step: How to prepare your catalog for a Kobalt-style admin network

Use this as a checklist you can complete before an admin deal or when onboarding through Madverse. Each task increases the speed and completeness of your royalty collection.

1. Audit your catalog

   List every release, including indie singles, film cues, unreleased masters and collaborative sessions. For each track note: title, writers, producers, performers, ISRC (if you have one), release date, label (if any), and where it appears (YouTube, Spotify playlists, TV, films).

2. Lock down splits and co-writer agreements

   Admin networks can only collect properly if splits are formalized. Get written agreements for co-writes and producer shares — even a simple signed PDF with percentages and a date is better than nothing. If you plan to keep ownership, state exact publisher shares and writer shares. Disputes over splits are one of the biggest reasons collections stall. Consider creator-focused structures like those described in micro‑subscriptions & creator co‑ops when you negotiate split frameworks among collaborators.

3. Obtain IPI/CAE numbers and register with CMOs

   Get your IPI/CAE (composer/writer) identifier and register with your local collective management organization. In India, for example, IPRS is the main performing rights society; PPL India handles certain neighboring/related rights. If you are in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or Nepal, identify the local CISAC-affiliated society or the nearest sub-publishing partner. If you have international co-writers, ensure everyone has their IPI registered — admin networks rely on these identifiers.

4. Assign ISRCs and ISWCs correctly

   ISRC identifies recordings (masters); ISWC identifies compositions. Admin partners often need ISWCs to register with global databases. If you haven't got ISWCs, the admin partner will create them — but speeding the process up by providing accurate metadata reduces delays.

5. Clean your metadata

   Metadata is king. Standardize song titles; use consistent writer names and IPI numbers; avoid special characters that break ingestion systems. Create a master CSV with the fields: track title, alternate titles, primary language, writers (with IPIs), publishers, ISRC, ISWC, release date, territory notice, and any existing licenses. If you haven’t, read why AI and metadata make cleanliness more important than ever.

6. Collect previous agreements and licenses

   Gather any agreements with labels, distributors, or sync clients. Admin partners need to know if publishing rights are already licensed or if another publisher has been authorized. Unclear prior deals create collection delays and potential revenue splits.

7. Register for platform tools

   Sign up for YouTube's Content ID (via a partner if you don't have direct access), register on SoundExchange alternatives if applicable, and ensure your recordings are claiming neighboring/synchronization rights on platforms that offer them. Even if the admin partner will handle some of this, having accounts and access speeds up disputes and claims. See creator tooling roundups in the Creator Toolbox for ideas on reliable stacks.

8. Prepare examples of usage

   Document known placements: broadcast dates, broadcaster names, timestamps, and links. For TV or film placements, include cue sheets if possible. These real-world usage proofs help the admin team chase outstanding royalties and are especially valuable when chasing broadcaster collections described in regional reporting guides like those for local radio.

Understand the money: royalties and rights explained (concise)

There are multiple royalty streams a publisher/admin collects:

• Performance royalties — paid when compositions are performed publicly (radio, TV, live venues, streaming platforms).
• Mechanical royalties — triggered by reproductions of a composition (streaming, downloads, physical sales).
• Sync fees — one-off/licensed fees when a composition is synchronized to visual media.
• Neighboring/related rights — payments for the recording owner and performer, different from publishing. These are often under-collected in South Asia unless specifically registered; broadcasters and local collection practices matter here (see local radio reporting).
• Digital platform revenue — direct payments from DSPs and social platforms; many of these flow through publisher-administration systems for composition-side splits and short-form licensing efforts (short‑form revenue).

What to expect from admin percentage and terms

Admin deals usually charge a cut of collected publishing income. In the industry you’ll see broad ranges — the exact rate depends on services provided, territory coverage and advance. Typical admin rates vary; some partners offer tiered pricing or take different shares for sync vs. performance. Important negotiation points include:

• Admin percentage for collections (clarify if mechanicals, syncs or neighboring rights are treated differently).
• Term length and exit clauses (how quickly can you opt out?).
• Auditing rights and reporting frequency.
• Sub-publishing arrangements for territories where the admin uses local sub-publishers.
• Advance recoupments and whether admin fees are taken before or after recoupment.

Red flags and negotiation tips for South Asian creators

When reviewing an admin contract, watch for these common issues:

• Hidden exclusivity — make sure the admin rights are limited to administration and don't transfer copyright ownership.
• Vague territory definitions — ask for a clear list of covered territories or inclusion of 'worldwide'.
• Poor reporting cadence — insist on quarterly or monthly statements with line-level detail.
• No audit clause — you should be able to audit records within a reasonable window (often annually or bi-annually). If you need to prepare for audits, start with a one-day tool & data checklist like this audit your tool stack.
• Opaque sub-publisher splits — if sub-publishers keep a cut, ask how much and where it applies.

Negotiation levers

If you’re an established catalog owner or have sync placements, you can negotiate lower admin rates, shorter terms, or carve-outs for certain revenue streams (for instance, taking 100% of direct sync fees). Use recent placements and streaming stats as leverage — and emphasize direct sync opportunities and short-form placements that drive fast payouts (short‑form licensing).

Case study — a realistic onboarding scenario

Meet Rohit, a Mumbai-based composer with 120 tracks across indie releases and a few short-film cues. After Madverse introduced Rohit to Kobalt’s admin network in 2026, here’s what happened after he followed the prep checklist:

1. Rohit standardized writer names and uploaded a master CSV with ISRCs and IPIs.
2. Madverse helped map 18 tracks with incomplete metadata; Kobalt used its admin tools to register ISWCs and claim missed mechanicals in two European territories.
3. Within six months, Rohit started receiving delayed performance royalties from TV plays that had previously been unclaimed, and an international playlist placement triggered mechanical collections he’d never seen before.

Result: faster payments, clearer reporting, and three new sync inquiries after Kobalt’s licensing teams surfaced Rohit's calendar-ready cues.

Practical templates and resources you can use now

Metadata checklist (copy into a CSV)

• Track title
• Alternate title / language title
• Primary language (e.g., Hindi, Bengali)
• ISRC (master)
• ISWC (composition, if available)
• Writers (full legal names) + IPI/CAE numbers
• Publisher name + publisher IPI
• Release date
• Label/distributor
• Known usages (broadcast, film, playlist links)

Simple co-write agreement bullet points

Have each co-writer initial and sign a one-page doc covering:

• Song title and writer list
• Share percentages (e.g., Writer A 50%, Writer B 30%, Producer 20%)
• Agreement on splits applying to publishing and writer shares
• Signature, date, and contact info

Quick outreach email to Madverse / publisher

Use this short pitch to start a conversation:

Hi Madverse team,

I’m Rohit, a composer from Mumbai. I have 120 tracks and I’m looking to clean metadata and register for global publishing admin. I’ve attached a CSV with ISRCs, writer IPIs and known placements. Can we schedule a quick call to discuss onboarding and admin terms?

Best, Rohit (contact phone / email)

2026 trends to watch that will affect admin deals

• Localized demand from global streaming platforms — major DSPs are commissioning region-specific playlists and shows, increasing sync demand for regional catalogs (short‑form and playlist opportunities).
• Neighboring rights focus — broadcasters and platforms are tightening neighboring rights reporting; registering performers will yield new income streams (see reporting changes in local broadcast ecosystems like local radio).
• AI and metadata complexity — AI-led content discovery makes clean metadata even more valuable; mismatches can cause misattribution (read on AI & metadata).
• Short-form licensing growth — platforms like TikTok and other short-form services are formalizing licensing, creating recurring micro-payments that admins can collect (short‑form monetization).
• Sub-publisher consolidation — major admins are expanding through local partners (like Madverse), emphasizing the need for clear contracts and audit rights; community models and co-op structures are also emerging (creator co‑ops).

Final checklist before you sign anything

• Do you keep full ownership? (Make sure the contract says so.)
• Are admin percentages clearly defined per revenue type?
• Is there an audit clause and regular reporting cadence? (Prepare for audits with a short stack review like this checklist.)
• Is the term length reasonable and is there a fair exit mechanism?
• Have you provided standardized metadata and co-writer agreements?

Takeaways

Partnerships like Kobalt x Madverse are a huge opportunity for South Asian indie creators — but only if your catalog is ready. The admin network solves cross-border collection friction, but it won't fix bad metadata or unclear splits. Prepare your catalog, register with local CMOs, secure written splits, and negotiate transparent admin terms. That puts you in the best position to convert newfound global reach into real payouts.

Call to action

Ready to get collection-ready? Start with a 30-minute catalog audit: export a CSV using the metadata checklist above, gather co-writer PDFs, and register your IPI/CAE. If you want help, join the Madverse community to access local onboarding support and connections into Kobalt’s admin network — and if you’ve already got a catalog, post a question in the comments below with one track you want help with. We’ll highlight the best examples and show what metadata fixes would unlock the most revenue.

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