Domino Publishing
Domino Publishing is a London-based boutique music publisher representing 2,000+ independent artists and a catalog of 65,000+ songs, generating revenue through synchronization, grand rights, and print licensing to film, TV, fashion, advertising, and gaming clients globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Domino Publishing does
Domino Publishing Company Limited is a boutique music publishing house founded in 2005 and headquartered in London, operating as part of Domino Music Group alongside Domino Recording Company Limited. The company represents over 2,000 independent artists, producers, and composers and administers a catalog of more than 65,000 songs available for licensing. Its primary products are synchronization ('synch') licensing for visual media (film, TV, advertising, corporate video, computer games, online use, and feature films), grand rights licensing for dramatic performances (opera, musical theatre, dance, and dramatico-musical works), print licensing for reproduction of music and lyrics in physical or digital form, and music publishing administration covering both publishing copyright and recording rights where applicable. Revenue is generated almost exclusively through licensing royalties and is project-based, with quote-driven pricing that varies by media type, territory, duration, and usage context, plus bulk discounts for multiple Domino songs in a single production.
The company serves four core customer segments: film and television productions (Amazon Prime, BBC, Netflix, HBO, Apple TV+, Sky Atlantic), fashion and luxury brands (Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Valentino, Miu Miu, Versace, Burberry, Bottega Veneta, Lacoste, Chloé, Alexander McQueen, Rabanne, Acne Studios), advertising and brand campaigns (Nike, Adidas, Facebook/Meta, O2, Specsavers, Rolls Royce, Armani, Nescafe, Booking.com, Simple Skincare), and video games (Hello Games' The Last Campfire, Death Stranding 2, eFootball). Independent musicians form the upstream supply side, needing professional publishing administration and access to high-value licensing opportunities.
The underlying technology is a publishing catalog management and synchronization licensing administration platform, supported by web-based license request forms (Cognito), monthly curated playlists on Spotify for catalog discovery, and ISRC-based whitelisting integrations with YouTube (Google), Facebook, and Instagram (Meta). Distribution is global via five offices in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, and Berlin, and the go-to-market is sales-led: a dedicated Film + TV licensing team proactively engages music supervisors, producers, and brand managers throughout production phases from development through distribution. Marketing leverages Spotify, Twitter, Instagram, a Film + TV blog with themed playlists, wellness-themed content, and PR around Grammy nominations, Mercury Prize nominations, and Ivor Novello recognition.
Domino Publishing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Domino Publishing
- Legal name
- Domino Publishing Company Limited
- Website
- https://dominopublishingco.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Domino Publishing is a London-based boutique music publisher representing 2,000+ independent artists and a catalog of 65,000+ songs, generating revenue through synchronization, grand rights, and print licensing to film, TV, fashion, advertising, and gaming clients globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Domino Publishing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Publishing and Licensing Services
- NAICS
- Music Publishers (512230), Music Publishers (51223)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Publishing Administration (Catalog Admin, Global Subpublishing) (MPAIABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Royalty Accounting & Payment Services (Statements, Audits, Payee Management) (MPAIABAL), Songwriting & Composition (Topliners, Co-writers, Camps) (MPAIABAA)
Keywords
Where Domino Publishing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
Domino Publishing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Synchronisation ('Synch') Licensing: Licensing of musical works for use with visual media including film, TV, advertising, corporate videos, computer games, online use, and feature films. This is the primary revenue stream for visual media licensing.
- Grand Rights Licensing: Licensing for dramatic performances of musical works in settings involving acting, dance, mime, narration, costume, or scenery. This covers opera, musical theatre, dance performances, and other dramatico-musical works performed in the UK or overseas.
- Print Licensing: Licensing for reproduction of music and/or lyrics in print or digital form, including music folios, educational publications, concert booklets, magazines, dissertations, sheet music, and lyric folios. Covers existing arrangements, new arrangements, lyrics-only permissions, and photocopying of out-of-print works.
- Music Publishing Administration: Administration of publishing rights for over 2,000 independent artists, producers, and composers. Revenue generated through collection society affiliations (PRS for Music) and direct licensing of publishing copyrights.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Synchronisation License - Visual Media |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Domino Publishing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Domino Publishing is a boutique music publishing company that administers publishing rights for over 2,000 independent artists, producers, and composers and licenses its catalog of over 65,000 songs for synchronization in film, TV, advertising, gaming, and fashion, for grand rights in dramatic performances, and for print/digital reproduction. The company operates dedicated Film + TV, grand rights, and print licensing teams and offers whitelisting services for YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram content.
Product overview
Domino Publishing is a boutique music publishing company that represents over 2,000 independent artists, producers and composers with a catalogue of over 65,000 songs. The core offering centers on music publishing administration and licensing services, including synchronization ('synch') licensing for film, TV, advertising, and games; grand rights licensing for dramatic performances; and print licensing for reproduction in print or digital form. The Film + TV Music Licensing service provides end-to-end guidance from development through distribution. Supporting these core licensing products is Writer Services that helps writers maximize their careers. The company also offers supplementary catalogue playlists organized by genre, mood, and theme for licensing consideration, plus wellness-focused playlists for mental health awareness.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Synchronization (Synch) Licensing Licensing of musical works for synchronization with visual media including film, TV, advertising, corporate videos, computer games, online use, and feature films. Required when an individual or company wishes to synchronize a musical work with another form of media. Sold on a quote basis per project, territory, duration, and usage context. Bulk discounts available for multiple Domino songs in a single production.
- Grand Rights Licensing Licensing for dramatic performances of musical works in settings involving acting, dance, mime, narration, costume, or scenery. Covers opera, musical theatre, dance performances, and other dramatico-musical works performed in the UK or overseas. Required directly from the publisher since dramatic performances are not licensed by PRS for Music or other PROs. Arranged for schools, churches, amateur dramatic societies, dance companies, and opera houses.
- Print Licensing Licensing for reproduction of music and/or lyrics in print or digital form including music folios, educational publications, concert booklets, magazines, dissertations, sheet music, and lyric folios. Covers existing arrangements, new arrangements (with assignment of copyright in the arrangement to the copyright holder), lyrics-only permissions, and photocopying of out-of-print works.
- Music Publishing Administration Administration of publishing rights for over 2,000 independent artists, producers, and composers. Revenue generated through collection society affiliations (PRS for Music) and direct licensing of publishing copyrights across a catalog of 65,000+ songs. Represents the core artist-facing service of the company.
- Film + TV Music Licensing End-to-end licensing service from Domino's Music for Film + TV team that guides clients through development, pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution stages. Includes pre-clearance services during post-production, proactive outreach with music briefs, and dedicated support for film, TV, and streaming productions.
- YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram Whitelisting Service ISRC-based whitelisting for YouTube (Google), Facebook, and Instagram content matching. Where Domino owns recording rights, the company can whitelist specific ISRCs to enable content posting without automatic monetization or to remove claims after posting. Includes per-channel, per-user, and global whitelist configurations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 6 Grammy nominations in 2021 across 4 writers
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Domino Publishing
Customer profileNamed customers40 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Domino Publishing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Domino Publishing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Tonic MusiccoreDomino Publishing writers Terry Hall of The Specials and Barry Ashworth of Dub Pistols partnered with mental health organisation Tonic Music to launch Tonic Rider, a programme providing mental health guides, first aid training to grassroots venues, online workshops, and in-person support stands at live music venues. The programme was piloted at the 100 Club in London and the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth, with plans to expand to festivals, green rooms, and Night Time Industries Association members.
- SpotifycoreSpotify serves as a primary catalog discovery platform for Domino Publishing. Domino maintains a branded Spotify presence and curates playlists across genres, moods, themes, and artist selections. The Spotify integration enables music supervisors and licensing clients to preview and discover music from the Domino catalog.
- Google (YouTube)coreDomino Publishing has white-listing arrangements with YouTube (Google) that allow the company to enable ISRC-based content matching or opt out of monetisation for specific posts and channels. Where Domino owns recording rights, they can whitelist posts by specific users on all posts on YouTube.
- Facebook and Instagram (Meta)coreDomino Publishing has white-listing arrangements with Facebook and Instagram that allow ISRC-based content matching and whitelist management for user-generated content and branded media campaigns on these platforms.
- PRS for MusicminorPRS for Music is mentioned in the context of grand rights, where Domino notes that dramatic performances are not licensed by PRS for Music and must be licensed directly by the publisher, indicating a complementary relationship where PRS handles performance rights while Domino handles grand/dramatic rights directly.
- Dr Julia JonesminorDr Julia Jones (author of 'The Music Diet') collaborated with Domino Publishing on the Domino Wellness initiative, providing expertise on how music helps physical and mental wellbeing, and launched a brain wellness project in January 2021 as part of Domino's wellness content programme.
- Gallivant FragrancesminorDomino Publishing partnered with Gallivant fragrances (an independent perfume maker founded by Nick Steward) to create themed playlists linked to three of Gallivant's scents, connecting Domino's music with Gallivant's artisan fragrance products in a cross-promotional wellness initiative.
- Sunday Best RecordingsminorSunday Best Recordings is a label represented in Domino Publishing's catalog, with artists including Dub Pistols' 'Return of the Pistoleros' released on the Sunday Best label. The relationship involves publishing representation for label artists.
- Castle Face RecordsminorCastle Face Records is the label for OSees' 'Protean Threat' album, while Domino Publishing handles the publishing and recording licenses for the release, indicating a label/publisher coordination relationship.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Domino Publishing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Primary Wave Music Publishing: Independent music publisher and talent management with significant catalog investments. Competes for premium catalog acquisitions and high-profile writer signings.
- Spirit Music Group: Independent music publisher focused on catalog acquisition and active songwriters. Comparable in business model (publishing administration, synch licensing) and writer roster size.
- BMG Rights Management: Major independent music publisher (BMG) representing large songwriter and catalog rights across synch, mechanical, and performance. Closest scale comparable to Domino Publishing among independent publishers.
- Songs Music Publishing: Independent music publishing company with a strong sync presence in film, TV, and advertising. Comparable boutique model with a similar synch-first revenue focus.
- Bucks Music Group: UK-based independent music publisher representing songwriters and catalogs. Direct competitor in the UK indie publishing market and for synch licensing into British film, TV, and advertising.
- Concord Music Publishing: Independent music publisher with a sizable catalog and strong synch licensing team. Operates a similar boutique-meets-scale model and competes directly for indie writer signings and global sync deals.
- Peer Music: Family-owned independent music publisher with a global footprint and longstanding synch licensing operation. Closely comparable boutique-indie model with offices in multiple territories.
- Kobalt Music Group: Independent music publisher and administrator with a large global catalog and tech-led royalty platform. Direct competitor for independent artist publishing administration and sync licensing.
- Mute Song: Publishing arm of the Mute label, representing alternative and electronic songwriters. Comparable as a boutique indie publisher with a culturally curated, critically respected roster.
Emerging players
- Wixen Music Publishing: Independent music publisher with a curated catalog and synch licensing operations. Comparable boutique scale and roster style, though smaller in catalog size than Domino.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Domino Publishing social profiles
Digital presenceDomino Publishing compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Domino Publishing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Domino Publishing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Domino Publishing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Domino Publishing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Domino Publishing
What does Domino Publishing do?
Domino Publishing is a boutique music publishing company that administers publishing rights for over 2,000 independent artists, producers, and composers and licenses its catalog of over 65,000 songs for synchronization in film, TV, advertising, gaming, and fashion, for grand rights in dramatic performances, and for print/digital reproduction. The company operates dedicated Film + TV, grand rights, and print licensing teams and offers whitelisting services for YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram content.
Is Domino Publishing a public or private company?
Domino Publishing is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Domino Publishing founded?
Domino Publishing was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Domino Publishing based?
Domino Publishing is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Domino Publishing make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Synchronisation ('Synch') Licensing is the primary driver. The others are grand Rights Licensing, print Licensing and music Publishing Administration.
Who are Domino Publishing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Primary Wave Music Publishing, Spirit Music Group, BMG Rights Management, Songs Music Publishing, Bucks Music Group, Concord Music Publishing, Peer Music, Kobalt Music Group and Mute Song. Wixen Music Publishing is listed as an emerging player.
Does Domino Publishing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Domino Publishing.
What industry is Domino Publishing in?
Domino Publishing's product category is Music Publishing and Licensing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIABAB, Publishing Administration (Catalog Admin, Global Subpublishing), with a secondary code of MPAIABAL, Royalty Accounting & Payment Services (Statements, Audits, Payee Management). Its NAICS code is 512230 and its SIC code is 2741.