What sets Songtrust apart from other music publishing administrators?

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 Unlike many administrators, we don’t require you to give up ownership, sign lengthy contracts, or navigate outdated systems.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.

I already use a Distributor like Distrokid or CD Baby. Can I still use Songtrust?

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.

Can I use Songtrust and SoundExchange?

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.

Can I use Songtrust and The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC)?

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.

How much does Songtrust cost?

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.

Why do I need a PRO / CMO and Songtrust?

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!

What does Songtrust do that my PRO doesn't?

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 individually in more than 215 countries and territories, collecting an entirely different kind of royalty, and pouring in a whole lot of 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.

Why does publishing take so long?

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.

Songtrust Resource | Songtrust vs Competition

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	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).	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.	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	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.	Only available to active distribution clients. No release, no publishing access.
YouTube Collection	Yes (We claim directly!)	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.	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.	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.	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.	Music distribution with publishing as a secondary feature.