When entering songwriter information in the Publishing section, select the role that describes each person’s contribution to the song.
Common publishing roles
Most songwriting credits use one of these roles:
| Role | When to select it |
|---|---|
| Composer | The person wrote the music only. |
| Writer | The person wrote the lyrics only. |
| Writer - Composer | The person wrote both the music and lyrics. |
Other publishing roles
These roles describe more specific contributions:
| Role | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Adapter | Adapted existing material into a new work, such as setting a poem to music. |
| Arranger | Changed an existing work’s instrumentation or key. |
| Composer / Arranger | Composed the music and also created its arrangement. |
| Income Participant | Receives revenue and needs a credit, but their contribution does not fit another role. This role is rarely used. |
| Sub-Author | Contributed a limited portion of the work, such as a small amount of lyrics. |
| Translator | Translated the lyrics into another language. |
For performer and production credits, see Which artist role should I select for my release?