Overview
According to Songtrust's Terms of Service, their "Territory" definition allows you to "opt-out of one or more specific countries or territories" from your administration agreement. This means you have the option to exclude the United States from your Songtrust administration while maintaining their services for international territories.
For many independent artists and publishers, this strategy offers the best of both worlds: zero-commission US administration through TuneRegistry combined with Songtrust's international reach.
Why Exclude the US from Songtrust?
This strategic approach makes financial and operational sense for several reasons:
Financial Benefits:
The US is the world's largest music market by revenue
Keep 100% of your US royalties with TuneRegistry's subscription model
Significantly reduce overall commission costs since most catalogs generate the majority of their revenue from the US market
Operational Advantages:
Benefit from TuneRegistry's 3-5 business day US PRO registration speed
Use TuneRegistry for all US registrations and collections with zero commission
Maintain direct relationships with US collection societies
Let Songtrust handle international territories where self-administration may be more complex
Strategic Control:
Maintain flexibility to adjust your strategy as your catalog grows
Test TuneRegistry's platform without fully canceling Songtrust
Build your US catalog in TuneRegistry while existing international administration continues
How to Exclude Territories from Your Songtrust Agreement
To inquire about excluding the United States or other specific territories from your Songtrust administration:
Step 1: Visit the Songtrust Contact Form
Navigate to https://www.songtrust.com/contact-our-team
Step 2: Select the Correct Category
In the "Please Select" dropdown menu, choose "Questions regarding Songtrust
Terms of Service"
Step 3: Submit Your Inquiry
Submit your inquiry about excluding specific territories from your agreement. Be clear about which territories you want to exclude (e.g., "I would like to exclude the United States from my Songtrust administration agreement").
Step 4: Wait for Instructions
Wait for their team to respond with instructions on how to modify your territory coverage. They will provide guidance on their specific process for territory exclusions.
What This Dual-Service Approach Gives You
This strategic combination allows you to:
Use TuneRegistry for fast, commission-free US administration
Keep Songtrust for international territories where they have established relationships
Reduce your overall commission costs by 60-80% (depending on your US vs international revenue split)
Maintain direct control over your largest revenue market
Access professional international administration without sacrificing US earnings
Using TuneRegistry for US Administration
Once you've excluded the US from your Songtrust agreement, you can register all your US works through TuneRegistry:
Register compositions with ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC (typically within 3-5 business days)
Register mechanical rights with Harry Fox Agency, The MLC, and Music Reports
Register master recordings with SoundExchange
Maintain your direct relationship with all US collection societies
Receive 100% of your US royalties directly from the societies
Visit our pricing page to view subscription plans and sign up.