TuneCore Publishing vs Songtrust

Two of the most popular publishing administration services for independent songwriters. We compare setup fees, commission rates, territory coverage, and what each actually collects.

Which is better, TuneCore Publishing or Songtrust?

It depends on where your royalties come from. TuneCore Publishing is better if you want sync pitching through Believe and one flat commission on all royalties. Songtrust is better if most of your income is performance royalties, which it charges less on, and you do not need sync pitching. Both let you keep ownership of your songs. Dynamoi is not a publishing administrator; it distributes recordings and runs managed Meta and YouTube campaigns, so it works alongside either.

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The Commission Math

Year 1 total cost including setup fees.

Scenario A: Performance-Heavy Revenue

Performance-heavy revenue: TuneCore takes 20% flat, Songtrust takes 15% on performance royalties.

Scenario B: Mechanical-Heavy Revenue

Mechanical-heavy revenue (new Songtrust clients): Both TuneCore and Songtrust take 20% on mechanicals.

The Verdict

Choose TuneCore Publishing If..

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

Choose Songtrust If..

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

What your royalties are actually worth

Dynamoi first-party data

A publishing admin collects a slice of what you earn, so the rate underneath decides whether the commission is worth it. Here's what streaming and YouTube actually pay by market, from Dynamoi's first-party benchmarks.

Royalty platforms tracked Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, YouTube and more: 25
Top YouTube RPM market per 1,000 views; many markets earn under $1: $9.18
Royalty & RPM markets per-stream and RPM rates by country, through 2026: 80+

Dynamoi first-party royalty and YouTube RPM benchmarks — aggregated and anonymized, updated through 2026.

See per-stream royalty rates by country See YouTube RPM by country

How to choose between TuneCore Publishing and Songtrust

Compare commission impact on your revenue mix

Calculate how much you earn from performance vs mechanical royalties. If performance royalties dominate, Songtrust's 15% rate saves money over TuneCore's flat 20%. If mechanicals are your main source, the rates are nearly identical and TuneCore's lower setup fee ($75 vs $100) gives it a slight edge.
Decide if sync licensing matters

TuneCore Publishing offers sync licensing through Believe's network at a 50% commission on placements. Songtrust does not pitch for sync. If you want film, TV, and ad placement opportunities through your publishing admin, TuneCore is the only option between the two.
Check how distribution fits

If you distribute through Dynamoi, its Catalog shows each track's publishing status, including whether it has been submitted to Songtrust. Register each song with only one publishing administrator.

Both Administer Publishing. Neither Runs Campaigns

For artists with 10,000+ monthly Spotify listeners who want distribution and managed marketing in one engine.

Free smart links for your entire catalogue — paste a Spotify URL, get a hosted page for every release. No paid plan needed.
Managed Meta Smart Campaigns and separate YouTube Campaigns — no ad accounts needed
Distribution to 100+ stores — 10% commission, no upfront fee
No minimum contract term — leave anytime with your full catalog

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Questions artists ask before switching

How much commission does each take?

TuneCore Publishing takes 20% of all collected royalties with a $75 one-time setup fee. Songtrust takes 15% on performance royalties and 20% on mechanical royalties (for new clients as of January 2025) with a $100 per-songwriter setup fee. Grandfathered Songtrust clients may still have the original 15% flat rate.

Does Dynamoi offer publishing administration?

No. Dynamoi is not a publishing administrator. For Dynamoi distribution clients, the Catalog shows each track's publishing status, including whether it has been submitted to Songtrust.

What's the difference between publishing admin and a record deal?

Publishing administration registers your songs with performance rights organizations (PROs) and mechanical rights organizations (MROs) to collect royalties you are owed as a songwriter. A record deal typically involves giving up some ownership of your master recordings. Publishing admin services like TuneCore Publishing and Songtrust let you keep 100% ownership of your compositions.

Do I need publishing admin if I already distribute through TuneCore?

Yes. Distribution and publishing administration collect different types of royalties. Distribution collects master recording royalties from streaming platforms. Publishing admin collects songwriter royalties from PROs, MROs, and other sources. If you only distribute, you may be leaving performance and mechanical royalties uncollected.

How long to start collecting publishing royalties?

Both TuneCore Publishing and Songtrust report quarterly. Songtrust notes it can take 6 to 9 months to receive your first publishing royalty payment after registration, because PROs and MROs have their own processing timelines. TuneCore Publishing's first-payment timeline is similar due to the same external factors.

Does TuneCore offer sync licensing?

Yes. TuneCore Publishing offers sync licensing through its parent company Believe's network, at a 50% commission on negotiated sync fees. Songtrust does not actively pitch songs for sync placements. If sync revenue is important to you, TuneCore has a clear advantage here.

What happens to my royalties if I cancel?

If you cancel TuneCore Publishing, they stop collecting on your behalf but any royalties already in the pipeline will still be paid out. Songtrust has a 12-month minimum term and continues collecting for one year after termination (the post-term collection period). Always confirm the current terms before canceling.

Is Songtrust being acquired by UMG?

Downtown Music Holdings, Songtrust's parent company, is in the process of being acquired by Universal Music Group (UMG). This could affect Songtrust's operations and pricing in the future, though no changes have been announced for existing clients as of early 2026.

Which collects more royalty types?

Both collect performance and mechanical royalties globally. TuneCore Publishing has 240+ territory memberships and also offers sync licensing. Songtrust covers 215+ countries with 65 pay sources. Coverage is broadly similar for standard royalty types. The main difference is TuneCore's sync capability and Songtrust's lower performance rate.