Publishing Administrators: Do You Need One?
Publishing admins collect royalties from all over the world that you can't easily collect yourself. But they charge a fee. Is it worth it for you?
✅ What They Do
- ✓Register your songs with PROs worldwide
- ✓Collect international mechanical royalties
- ✓Register with The MLC for you
- ✓Audit royalty statements
❌ What They Cost
- ✗Setup Fee: Usually $75-100 one-time
- ✗Commission: 15-20% of publishing revenue
- ✗Term: Often 1-year lock-in minimum
The "DIY" Alternative
You can collect ~85% of your royalties yourself for FREE by registering with:
- Your local PRO (e.g., ASCAP in USA)
- The MLC (for US mechanicals)
The remaining ~15% comes from international mechanical royalties. If 90% of your streams are in the US, you might not need an admin yet. But if you have fans in Brazil, UK, or Germany, those royalties are sitting in foreign societies waiting to be claimed.
Top Publishing Administrators
Songtrust
The industry standard for independents
Worldwide collection, clean dashboard, retains 100% of your rights.
TuneCore Publishing
Best if you use TuneCore distribution
Integrated sync licensing team actively pitches your music for TV/Film.
CD Baby Pro (Legacy)
Discontinued for new signups
CD Baby now partners with Songtrust for publishing administration.
Breakeven Analysis
When does it make financial sense to pay the $100 fee?
- If you earn $1,000 in foreign publishing royalties, you pay $150 commission + $100 setup. You keep $750.
- If you didn't use them, you'd get $0 from those foreign sources.
Rule of Thumb: Consider an admin when you have >50,000 monthly streams with at least 20% coming from outside your home country.
Are You Ready for an Admin?
Use our calculator to see your estimated publishing income.
Check My Royalties