Two of the most popular publishing administration services for independent songwriters. We compare setup fees, commission rates, territory coverage, and what each actually collects.
As of 2026, TuneCore Publishing charges a $75 one-time setup fee plus 20% commission on all royalties (and 50% on sync licensing through Believe). Songtrust charges $100 per songwriter plus 15% on performance royalties and 20% on mechanicals. Both let you keep ownership. TuneCore offers sync pitching through Believe. Songtrust has Downtown Music Holdings backing (being acquired by UMG). For qualifying artists distributing through Dynamoi, publishing administration is free with 0% commission.
An honest, feature-by-feature breakdown as of 2026.
| Feature | TuneCore Publishing | Songtrust |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Fee | $75 one-time | $100 per songwriter |
| Commission Rate | 20% on all royalties | 15% performance / 20% mechanical |
| Sync Licensing | Yes, via Believe (50% commission) | No sync pitching |
| Territory Coverage | 240+ territory memberships | 215+ countries (98% market) |
| Payout Frequency | Quarterly statements | Quarterly (6-9 months to first) |
| Contract Term | No minimum term | 12-month minimum + 1-year post-term |
| Parent Company | Believe | Downtown Music Holdings (UMG acquiring) |
| Distribution Bundled | Yes (TuneCore distribution) | No (publishing only) |
| Writer Ownership | 100% ownership retained | 100% ownership retained |
Year 1 total cost including setup fees. Dynamoi publishing admin is free for qualifying distribution clients.
Performance-heavy revenue: TuneCore takes 20% flat, Songtrust takes 15% on performance royalties.
| Revenue | TuneCore | Songtrust | Dynamoi |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | $400 + $75 setup = $475 | $300 + $100 setup = $400 | $0 |
| $5,000 | $1,000 + $75 setup = $1,075 | $750 + $100 setup = $850 | $0 |
| $10,000 | $2,000 + $75 setup = $2,075 | $1,500 + $100 setup = $1,600 | $0 |
| $25,000 | $5,000 + $75 setup = $5,075 | $3,750 + $100 setup = $3,850 | $0 |
Mechanical-heavy revenue (new Songtrust clients): Both TuneCore and Songtrust take 20% on mechanicals.
| Revenue | TuneCore | Songtrust | Dynamoi |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | $400 + $75 setup = $475 | $400 + $100 setup = $500 | $0 |
| $5,000 | $1,000 + $75 setup = $1,075 | $1,000 + $100 setup = $1,100 | $0 |
| $10,000 | $2,000 + $75 setup = $2,075 | $2,000 + $100 setup = $2,100 | $0 |
| $25,000 | $5,000 + $75 setup = $5,075 | $5,000 + $100 setup = $5,100 | $0 |
At every revenue level, Dynamoi publishing admin costs $0. No setup fee, no commission. Available to distribution clients with 10,000+ monthly Spotify listeners.
There is no universal winner. The right choice depends on your royalty mix and priorities.
You want sync licensing opportunities through Believe's network
You already distribute with TuneCore and want everything in one place
You prefer a simple flat 20% rate across all royalty types
You want no minimum contract term for publishing
You earn primarily from performance royalties and want the lower 15% rate
You want a publisher backed by Downtown Music Holdings and its global network
You need established PRO and MRO affiliations across 215+ countries
You want a standalone publishing admin that works with any distributor
For artists with 10,000+ monthly Spotify listeners who want distribution, publishing, and managed marketing in one engine.
Free publishing administration — $0 setup, 0% commission, 100% writer's share
Managed ad campaigns on Meta, YouTube, and TikTok — no ad accounts needed
Distribution to 150+ stores with Content ID included — 10% commission, no upfront fee
No minimum contract term — leave anytime with your full catalog
