Module 04 · Collecting Abroad — Songtrust
Deep dive
Publishing Admin Comparison — Songtrust vs CD Baby Pro vs Tunecore Publishing
Songtrust isn't the only option. Pick one — never two — based on your situation.
| Provider | Setup fee | Cut | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Songtrust | $100 one-time | 15% of collected | Independent admin. Strong global PRO network. Quarterly payouts. |
| CD Baby Pro Publishing | ~$89/album or $35/single | 15% | Bundled with distribution. Easiest if you're already on CD Baby. |
| Tunecore Publishing Admin | ~$75/year | 15% | Bundled with Tunecore distribution. Includes YouTube Content ID. |
Decision rules
- Already distributing on CD Baby or Tunecore? Use their pub admin to keep registrations aligned.
- Distributing on Distrokid (which has no built-in pub admin)? Songtrust is the standard pairing.
- Releasing under multiple labels? Songtrust handles complex catalogs better.
What pub admins do NOT collect
- Performance royalties from US PROs — those still go through your BMI/ASCAP/SESAC account.
- Sync fees you negotiate directly — those flow to you outside the admin.
- SoundExchange royalties — separate org, separate registration.
Outside writer registration
If you co-wrote with someone NOT on your pub admin, you must register them as an outside writer with their own splits. Skipping this step = your admin claims their share by accident = lawsuits.
Action items
- Today: list every co-writer in your catalog and their pub admin (if any).
- This week: register outside writers in your admin's portal.
- Quarterly: pull your statement and compare to Spotify for Artists numbers. Wild gaps = a registration is missing.