Can somone tell me what an artists publishing is?

[Rapstarintheworks]

I watched this video Video: French Montana Speaks On Signing To Bad Boy & Says He's The First Bad Boy Artist To Not Sign Over His Publishing! and french montana said hes the first artist signed to bad boy,that didn't have to sign over their publishing, what is publishing

 

[fataltone]

https://www.futureproducers.com/for...rketing/music-business-101-publishing-305250/