Pitching to International Publishers: A Checklist of What Kobalt’s Madverse Deal Reveals

Pitching to international publishers feels impossible when your catalog is scattered, reporting is vague, and you don’t know what partners actually bring to the table. Kobalt’s 2026 partnership with India’s Madverse reveals a blueprint — and a checklist — you can use right now.

On January 15, 2026, Kobalt announced a worldwide partnership with Madverse Music Group to open Kobalt’s publishing administration services to Madverse’s community of South Asian independent creators. That single move highlights how modern publishing deals are less about single-country reach and more about networked access, data transparency, and operational readiness.

Why this deal matters to creators pitching internationally in 2026

The Kobalt–Madverse agreement is a practical case study for what successful international publishing partnerships look like in early 2026. It shows the shift from simple catalog placement to integrated services: global royalty collection, local market know-how, and technology-driven reporting. For creators, the lesson is clear: when you pitch a catalog globally, you must speak the language of rights, metadata, and measurable outcomes.

What Kobalt’s move teaches creators: large admins buy reach and systems; local partners bring artists and market context. You need both — and you must prove you’re ready.

How to use this article

This is not a theoretical list. Below is a highly actionable, step-by-step checklist inspired by the Kobalt–Madverse deal, tailored for creators, indie labels, and manager teams preparing to pitch international publishers or distribution partners in 2026. Use it as a pre-flight checklist, a pitch deck section, and a contract review reference.

Checklist: Before you pitch (catalog & administration readiness)

1. Catalog inventory and canonical records
   • Create a single master spreadsheet (CSV) of every track: title, version (explicit/clean/live), writer(s), producer(s), performer(s), publisher(s), ISRC(s), ISWC(s) if available, release date, and ownership splits. Kobalt-style partners expect clean canonical data.
   • Include rights ownership percentages per writer and publisher for all compositions. If you only have verbal splits, pause and get them written — partners will not accept ambiguous ownership.
2. Register with performance and mechanical societies — or have a plan
   • List which territories each song is registered for at PROs/CMOs (e.g., PRS, ASCAP, BMI, IPRS, IMI). The Kobalt–Madverse model works because collecting pathways are mapped; you must show the same.
   • For territories where you haven’t registered, include a prioritized registration plan (who will register, timeline, and budget).
3. Clean and complete metadata
   • Prepare metadata in DDEX-ready formats if possible. Include ISRC, composer/lyricist roles, song splits, publisher names, and contact emails.
   • Note alternate language spellings and localized artist names — crucial for South Asian markets and platforms where transliterations create duplicate records.
4. Proof of rights: chain-of-title documents
   • Collect contracts, split sheets, assignment forms, and producer agreements. If you used samples, provide clear licenses or clearability status.
   • Flag any disputed or partial rights — transparency now avoids audit surprises later.
5. Royalty history and statement samples
   • Export recent royalty statements from DSPs, distributors, and PROs that show income flows. Partners like Kobalt will analyze past collections to estimate upside — include annotated royalty statements where possible.
   • Annotate where royalties were unclaimed or misallocated — show your cleanup plan.
6. Banking, tax, and payment readiness
   • List bank details for receiving international payments, the tax status of each rights-holder, and any withholding tax liabilities per territory.
   • Include your preferred payment currency and whether you can accept consolidated payments through an agent or require direct splits.
7. Data & tech stack disclosure
   • Document your current distributor, admin software, and any rights-management tools (e.g., Songtrust, Audiosocket, in-house systems). Mention whether you’re using AI tools for metadata matching — these are common in 2026 workflows.

Checklist: During the pitch (what to highlight and ask)

1. Lead with outcomes, not promises
   • Quantify: projected royalty uplift, top territories (with numbers or audience metrics), and target DSPs/curators you want access to. If you have South Asia streaming traction, show month-over-month growth stats.
2. Ask for collection pathways and reporting cadence
   • Request a clear explanation of how they collect in each territory (direct deals, sub-publishers, collecting societies) and the reporting frequency (monthly/quarterly/real-time dashboards).
3. Clarify scope: administration vs sub-publishing vs co-publishing
   • Will the partner administer your copyrights (collect and remit) or claim publishing ownership? Kobalt-style global admin deals typically offer administration with transparent fees; local partners may propose co-publishing. Ask for examples of how they’ve handled both.
4. What marketing and sync support looks like
   • Request specifics: playlist pitching, curated editorial relationships, sync introductions, local radio or TV outreach, and dedicated marketing budgets per territory. The more measurable the promise, the better. Consider asking how they approach local market know-how and community outreach in target territories.
5. Technology & data access
   • Will you get dashboard access with line-level earnings? Are there APIs for your internal reporting? In 2026, real-time or near-real-time dashboards are increasingly common — ask for them.

Checklist: Legal & commercial terms to watch

1. Territory and exclusivity
   • Define exactly which territories the partner will represent. Worldwide is common, but some deals carve out specific regions. If a partner is strong in South Asia (like Madverse), you might accept exclusivity there but retain rights elsewhere.
2. Duration and termination conditions
   • Limit initial terms (3–5 years is typical) with renewal options tied to performance. Include short, clean termination rights if the partner fails to achieve agreed KPIs.
3. Fees, splits, and advances
   • Understand admin fees (%) vs co-publishing splits. If an advance is offered, confirm recoupment mechanics and whether advances are recoupable only from certain income streams (e.g., publishing vs mechanicals).
4. Audit and transparency clauses
   • Include audit rights (at least annual, with reasonable notice) and a requirement for detailed statements. Specify the format of statements and maximum latency for reporting.
5. Sub-licensing and transfers
   • Clarify whether the partner can sub-license rights to third parties and what approvals are required. You should retain veto or approval rights for major transfers or sales.
6. IP warranties and indemnities
   • Provide narrowly scoped IP warranties (you own or control the rights you’re licensing) and limit indemnities where possible. Seek legal counsel; small errors in warranties can create outsized risk.

Checklist: Metadata & metadata delivery (technical details partners expect)

• Required fields: track title, release title, artist credit, featured artists, remix info, ISRC, release date, explicit flag, writer/composer roles and splits, publisher names, publisher IPI numbers, and contact emails.
• Identifiers: ISRC for recordings, ISWC for compositions, and IPI/CAE for writers and publishers. If you don’t have ISWCs, list PRO registrations and any pending applications.
• Format & protocol: provide CSV + DDEX ERN where possible. Note any unique local metadata needs (e.g., multiple language titles for South Asian scripts).
• Versioning: include canonical master files and link alternate versions (radio edit, acoustic, live) to a single composition record to prevent split reporting.

Checklist: Territory-specific considerations

International deals are won or lost on territory nuance. Kobalt’s model shows how strong global admins map local collection paths into a unified payout. When you pitch, be explicit:

• Local registration roadmap: which PROs or neighboring rights societies will the partner use in each country?
• Withholding tax management: confirm whether the partner will gross-up or remit taxes on your behalf and what documentation they need.
• Language & localization: require marketing materials be localized and ask whether the partner has local A&R / sync contacts familiar with your genre.
• Platform access: in some territories, independent DSPs or short-form platforms drive discovery — ask how the partner engages those services.

Red flags that deserve an immediate pause

• Vagueness on reporting cadence or sample statements refused.
• No clear collection pathway mapped per territory (i.e., “we’ll figure it out later”).
• Unlimited exclusivity without defined KPIs or performance thresholds.
• Unclear split mechanics for advances and recoupment.
• Refusal to provide references or case studies of similar creators they represented.

Practical pitch components: what to send and how

1. One-page catalog snapshot

   Top 10 tracks by revenue/streams, top 5 territories, three-year growth chart (or last 12 months), and a one-line description of your sound and goals.

2. Support materials

   Sample statements (anonymized if needed), representative contracts, and a metadata CSV. Keep files small and linked — partners prefer shared drives with version control.

3. Clear ask

   State what you want: global admin, sub-publishing in specified territories, sync outreach, or a combined package. Define success metrics (e.g., 20% uplift in international mechanicals in 12 months).

4. Intro email template (short)

   Subject: Catalog Admin Pitch — [Artist/Label Name] — Top traction in [Territories]
   Hi [Partner name],
   We’re an independent [artist/label/publisher] from [country] with X streams and top traction in [territories]. We’re exploring global publishing administration/sub-publishing and believe your network could unlock new revenue in [target markets]. Attached: one-page catalog snapshot, sample statement, and metadata CSV. Can we schedule a 30-minute call to discuss collection pathways and reporting?

After signing: a 90-day operational checklist

1. Deliver canonical metadata and high-resolution masters within 14 days.
2. Map registrations — confirm which PROs and mechanical societies the partner will register with and expected timelines.
3. Set up reporting access and API keys; verify test statements for one or two tracks in the first 30 days.
4. Agree on a 6–12 month marketing & sync calendar with KPIs and responsible owners.
5. Schedule your first audit window and quarterly performance reviews.

2026 trends you should leverage when pitching

• Data-first publishing: Partners now expect pre-pitch metrics. Use your streaming dashboards, social growth, and direct fan monetization stats to quantify opportunity.
• Localized short-form monetization: short-video platforms and regional DSPs have matured into tangible revenue streams — include short-form performance in your pitch.
• AI for metadata & claims: AI tools that reconcile duplicate metadata and identify unclaimed royalties are common — mention if you’ve run a cleanup and the results.
• Componentized deals: more publishers offer modular services (admin only, admin+sync, co-publishing) — be ready to accept a hybrid offering that matches your goals. See componentized deals as examples of modular monetization approaches.
• Regional-global partnerships: The Kobalt–Madverse model is emblematic: global admins partner with strong regional companies to scale. Position yourself as the bridge a global partner needs to enter a regional market.

Final takeaways — how the Kobalt–Madverse deal should change your approach

Think like a business selling an asset, not like an artist begging for exposure. Kobalt’s partnership with Madverse underlines three truths:

• Scale matters: Global admin networks convert regional streams into meaningful payouts.
• Data and documentation unlock deals: clean metadata and proof-of-rights are table stakes in 2026.
• Local knowledge drives distribution: partners who know their markets — language, platforms, and licensing mechanics — create uplift faster than one-size-fits-all solutions. Local partners and community hubs often provide the market context global admins need.

When you approach international publishers, bring the readiness systems that big publishers expect and the local context that regional partners offer. Use the checklist above to tighten your story, reduce negotiation friction, and increase the probability of a deal that actually generates revenue.

Next step — a micro-action plan you can complete in a week

1. Day 1: Export all catalog metadata to one CSV and identify missing ISRC/ISWC entries.
2. Day 2–3: Request sample statements from DSPs and your distributor for the top 10 tracks.
3. Day 4: Draft a one-page catalog snapshot and pitch email using the template above.
4. Day 5–7: Reach out to three targeted international publishers/sub-publishers (one global admin, one regional player, and one hybrid) with the packet.

Call to action

If you want a checklist customized to your catalog — with a gap analysis of metadata, royalties, and territory readiness — submit your one-page catalog snapshot to our community board at thedreamers.xyz/tools. We’ll review and give prioritized feedback so you can pitch confidently and close the right international publishing deal in 2026.

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