Publishing administrator
A company or individual that handles the licensing, registration, royalty collection, and accounting for a music catalog on behalf of the copyright owner, for a commission fee. Unlike a full publisher, a publishing administrator does not acquire ownership of the copyrights. Examples include Songtrust, Sentric, and CD Baby Pro.
Articles about Publishing administrator
Music Publishing Administrator vs Full Publisher: Which Is Right for You?
Music publishing administrator vs publisher is the core decision that determines whether you keep copyright and pay an admin fee or trade a publisher share for advances, active exploitation, and broader pitching. This article breaks down the legal differences, typical fees and splits, who collects which royalties, and the contract red flags to watch so you can choose based on catalog size, career stage, and income goals.
Set up Songtrust Spotlight in 5 steps
Songtrust Spotlight gives songwriters visibility into royalty flows across territories and DSPs. This guide walks through the five-step setup process, from account linking to your first data sync, so you can start tracking what you're owed.
Songtrust: Business and Technology Partner to the Creative Community — How to use it for music publishing administration
Songtrust: Business and Technology Partner to the Creative Community provides global music publishing administration for independent songwriters and composers. This guide covers account setup, catalog registration, royalty collection from CMOs worldwide, and when Songtrust makes sense for your publishing rights.
Music Royalty Calculator: How to Estimate Your PayoutsAugust 1, in 3 steps
Estimating streaming royalties is notoriously difficult because DSP payout models are opaque and rates vary by territory, subscription tier, and platform. This guide provides a three-step framework for calculating realistic payout ranges using your own streaming data.
Amazon Music vs. Spotify: The Songwriter's Guide
Amazon Music vs. Spotify: Which Platform Matters More for Your Royalties? Countless articles debate Amazon Music vs. Spotify from a listener’s point of view, comparing audio quality, catalog size, and user interface.
Pandora vs. Spotify: A Songwriter's Guide to Royalties
Pandora vs. Spotify: The Comparison That Matters for Songwriters Countless articles compare Pandora and Spotify . They focus on music discovery, playlist curation, and the user experience.
How to collect COSON Nigeria music royalties and international earnings through collection societies
African artists routinely miss international royalties because they lack direct relationships with foreign collection societies. A single membership in your home CMO like COSON Nigeria unlocks collection across 120+ territories through reciprocal agreements.
Publishing Glossary Music Terms: Every Term Independent Artists Need to Know
Music publishing terminology is deliberately opaque, designed by an industry that profits from confusion. This glossary translates the language of royalties, rights, and revenue streams into plain terms independent artists can use to get paid correctly.
How Social Media Music Marketing Royalties Generate Income Artists Are Missing
TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook generate performance, mechanical, and sync licensing royalties that most independent artists never collect. Billions in social media music marketing royalties sit unclaimed with CMOs worldwide because creators don't register works correctly or understand which platforms trigger which rights.