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Compare publishing options—and discover why over half a million creators choose Songtrust for global royalty collection.

In a music industry that moves fast—even when publishing doesn’t—Songtrust is built to keep you ahead. We combine cutting-edge global royalty collection, unmatched transparency, and powerful publishing technology to ensure your music, your ownership, and your earnings are always in your hands.

Whether you're an emerging artist, an elite producer, or managing a growing catalog, Songtrust puts you in control. No outdated contracts. No gatekeepers. Just smarter music publishing—and the royalties you’ve earned, delivered directly to you.

Explore the table below to see how Songtrust stacks up against other options, and check out our FAQs for help choosing the right path forward.

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Songtrust Competitors Traditional or Co-Pub Deal Local PRO or CMO Membership Distributor with Publishing Services
Pricing

We charge a flat, one-time $100 sign up fee per songwriter. Once you begin earning royalties we can collect, we take an admin fee of 15% for performance royalties and 20% for non-performance (worldwide mechanical royalties) and upfront sync fees.

Initial one-time sign-up fees vary by company up to $100, per songwriter or an annual subscription fee up to $200/year. Most charge admin fees of 20%-40% on performance and mechanical royalties collected on your behalf, and often 20-80%.

Often includes upfront advances—but they’re tied to long-term recoupment. You could end up parting with 20–50% of your royalties (and control).

Varies by society: free to ~$100 per songwriter. Publisher memberships may be higher.

Publishing services are often bundled into expensive subscription tiers, with little transparency. Admin fees commonly range from 15–30% (and 20–50% on sync), which can eat into your earnings fast.
Royalty Collection Reach

Full-service global royalty collection in 215+ countries — the most expansive royalty network in the industry.

Limited reach or rely on sub-publishers. Global in theory, patchy in practice.

Strong international collection via major market networks.

Primarily your home territory. International royalties depend on reciprocal agreements.

Many use third-party sub-publishers—may result in delays or missing royalties from some territories.
Royalty Types Collected

Mechanical, performance, sync

Mechanical, performance, sync (sometimes, read the fine print!)

Mechanical, performance, sync

Performance and/or mechanical royalties, often writer share only.

Mechanical, performance, sync (on occasion)
Barrier to Entry

No gatekeeping — if you’ve released music, you can join.

Varies by company, some either have no barriers to entry, while some are application-based.

Highly selective. Typically reserved for charting artists or those with major buzz.

Some accept all writers; others are invite-only or limited by region. Required before signing up with Songtrust.

Only available to active distribution clients. No release, no publishing access.
YouTube Collection

Yes (We claim directly!)

Yes

Yes

Yes

Depends on the platform—may or may not be included.
Minimum Term Length

Publishing takes time – We only require a one-year minimum term length, anything less leaves your copyrights vulnerable. Other than that, you control how long you stay. We have a fair post-term collection window to ensure nothing gets left behind, but no multi-year lock-ins.

This varies by company, but minimum terms typically range from 28 days to 365 days.

Multi-year commitments are standard (3+ years), often with complex exit terms.

Terms vary. PROs are often flexible; CMOs may require a 1-year minimum.

Commonly require a 1-year term; cancellation often tied to your distribution renewal window.
Ownership & Control

Your songs stay yours. You keep 100% copyright and creative control.

Typically, you do not have to give up ownership of your songs when working with music publishing administrators. But, always read the fine print.

Expect to give up 25–50% of your copyrights—plus sync approval rights in many cases.

Affiliation links you to your works but does not affect copyright ownership or creative control.

Usually does not require giving up your copyrights.
Payout Frequency

Quarterly payouts, (with a low $25 threshold) full royalty breakdowns, and real-time tracking tools.

Typically 2-4x a year once you begin earning royalties and hit their minimum payout threshold ranging from $25 to $50.

Usually 2x per year—slower than many modern creators would prefer.

Typically 2–4 times per year, often with minimum payout thresholds (e.g., $100).

Follows the distributor's standard payout schedule; minimum thresholds may apply (e.g., $25–$100).
Additional Value Add

Curated events and showcase opportunities, a curated client reward program, and potential for upstreaming to a major deal or introduction to other Downtown services — all while keeping your independence.

May offer creative sync pitching.

May offer creative services like co-writing sessions, publishing A&R, and sync pitching.

Access to local events, awards, grants, and networking opportunities.

Music distribution with publishing as a secondary feature.
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Songtrust Competitors
Global Royalty Collection

Full-service global royalty collection in 215+ countries, directly from collection societies—no middlemen.

Limited reach or rely on sub-publishers. Global in theory, patchy in practice.
Ownership & Control

You keep 100% ownership. We collect on your behalf—you stay in charge.

Some require partial rights transfers or long-term deals. Read the fine print.
Contract Terms

No long-term lock-ins. Cancel any time after the first year.

Multi-year commitments are common, with limited flexibility to exit.
Payment & Transparency

Quarterly payouts, full royalty breakdowns, and real-time tracking tools.

Payment schedules vary. Transparency? Often more fog than forecast.
Tech & Dashboard

Modern, intuitive dashboard built for creators—manage works, track income, and get insights.

Some offer basic tools, others... not so much. Prepare to email support for everything.
Fee Structure

One-time sign-up fee, then 15% (performance) or 20% (mechanicals) of what we collect. No hidden charges.

Some charge setup, annual, or maintenance fees—plus a higher cut.
Sync & Creative Services

We focus on publishing administration. Sync is your choice—not bundled or gatekept.

Some bundle creative services or offer sync at the cost of creative control.
Who It’s For

Independent artists, established pros, producers, managers, and catalog owners.

Often optimized for either beginners or major-label clients—not both.
Additional Value Add

Songwriting camps, a curated client reward program, and potential for upstreaming to a major deal or introduction to other Downtown services — all while keeping your independence.

May offer creative sync pitching

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Songtrust combines modern technology, global royalty collection, and transparent service in a way few others can. Unlike many administrators, we don’t require you to give up ownership, sign lengthy contracts, or navigate outdated systems. Our platform is built for all types of music creators—from emerging artists to established professionals—offering a clear, accessible way to collect royalties worldwide while staying fully in control of your rights. No middlemen, no industry politics—just your earnings, delivered directly to you.

  • Yes, because we collect a different kind of royalty*. Labels and distributors deal with recordings; publishing administrators keep their eyes locked on compositions. 

    Some music distributors offer publishing administration as a premium add-on*. While convenient, these services can come with trade-offs in transparency, fees, and flexibility. If your distributor doesn't offer publishing—or lets you opt out—Songtrust is a perfect complement.

    *If you are with CD Baby and have or are using their publishing services (CD Baby Pro or Boost), then you cannot also use Songtrust.

  • Yes! SoundExchange collects digital performance royalties generated by sound recordings on behalf of recording owners and performers. This is completely separate from Songtrust’s role: collecting royalties generated by compositions on behalf of songwriters and publishers.

    If you own your recordings and/or are a performing artist, you should certainly think about registering with SoundExchange to round out your royalty needs.

  • Yes! The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) is a nonprofit organization created in 2019 by the Music Modernization Act (MMA) to administer blanket mechanical licences to eligible streaming services in the U.S., and to pay the resulting royalties to songwriters, composers, lyricists, and music publishers. 

    If you’re signed up with Songtrust, we register your songs with The MLC on your behalf, along with local societies and other pay sources in the U.S. and 244 countries and territories around the world that your songs are earning in.

  • We charge a one-time fee of $100 per writer to cover song monitoring and admin costs, and take a commission of 15% on any performance royalties collected and 20% on non-performance (worldwide mechanical) royalties collected, on your behalf. That’s it — no surprise cuts from your royalties. We’re transparent, predictable, and focused on making your admin seamless.

  • Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) and Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) are essential partners in your publishing journey—and a required first step before using Songtrust. These societies connect you as a songwriter within registration databases worldwide and help connect you to your copyright/composition when you register it. Think of it like this – these are the societies that we are working with directly to collect the royalties you are earning there – it makes sense that you’d have a membership with at least one!

  • The short answer: Your PRO only collects half of what your song earns, often in just one territory or country.

    The long answer is explained in-depth here, but basically amounts to the fact that your PRO is only responsible to collect performance royalties in your territory or country, meaning you’re leaving your international and mechanical royalties on the table. Suffice it to say it involves registering your song repeatedly in more 215 countries and territories, collecting an entirely different kind of royalty, and a whole lotta blood, sweat, and tears.  

    Make your life much, much easier — sign up with a publishing administrator like Songtrust (who’s network covers 98% of the global music market) today and head over here to learn more about where we collect.

  • Publishing royalties take time to reach you because they come from many different sources — each with its own timeline for reporting and paying out. On average, it takes 9–12 months to receive your first royalty payment. This includes time for global registration and for each society to process and pay royalties on their own schedule.

    Once your works are fully registered, we can begin collecting from societies around the world that is earning from. Keep in mind that some societies prioritize faster payments for registrations that are complete – missing information (like ISRCs) can delay collection — or prevent it entirely.