Our Mission
We help independent artists understand their rights, collect their royalties, and navigate music publishing with transparency, fairness, collaboration, and education.
Our Story
WAYU Publishing was born out of a shared vision between Julian Castañeda, founder of WAYU Records, and Leonardo Ortegon, also known as MIICHII, a longtime producer, DJ, and audio engineer. Together, they saw a recurring issue in the independent music world: incredible artists releasing music without understanding how to collect the royalties they were rightfully owed.
Having spent years building WAYU Records into a respected record label focused on organic and melodic electronic music, Julian recognized that many of the artists were missing out on crucial publishing revenue. Meanwhile, Leonardo, with his deep experience in music production and business, had firsthand knowledge of how confusing and fragmented the world of publishing could be, especially for emerging artists.
WAYU Publishing was created to bridge that gap. It's a platform built by artists who know the system and want to help others navigate it — ethically, transparently, and with long-term impact. Every artist we work with is selected with care, not just for their sound, but for their vision. Our mission is to demystify music rights, ensure fair royalty collection, and provide opportunities that help artists grow beyond just streams.
Our Values
The principles that guide everything we do at WAYU Publishing.
Transparency
We operate with full visibility—from royalty splits to licensing terms—because trust only thrives in the open.
Fairness
No vague terms, no fine print. Our artists get a deal that reflects their value and protects their creative work.
Collaboration
We work side-by-side with artists, building meaningful partnerships rooted in respect, alignment, and shared growth.
Education
We help artists make informed decisions by breaking down the complexities of music publishing.