Before You Cancel: What You Need to Know

If you've decided to transition from Songtrust to another publishing administration solution, understanding their cancellation process and timeline is essential for planning your transition. The process is complex and can take 15-24 months from initial cancellation request to complete transfer of administration.

Before taking action, review these critical aspects of Songtrust's cancellation terms.

1-Year Minimum Term

You cannot cancel Songtrust before completing one full year from your registration date. Attempting to cancel early will not release you from the agreement.

What this means:

Check your registration date in your Songtrust account
Your cancellation eligibility begins exactly one year after registration
The 1-year minimum applies regardless of your reason for canceling

Cancellation Notice Requirements

Submit your cancellation request through their cancellation form at https://www.songtrust.com/cancel.

Your cancellation becomes effective at the end of the calendar quarter (March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31) following your notice, subject to their post-term exploitation period.

Important timing considerations:

If you submit cancellation on January 15, it becomes effective March 31
If you submit cancellation on April 1, it becomes effective June 30
Plan accordingly to minimize your post-cancellation collection period

Outstanding Fees Must Be Paid

If you owe Songtrust any money at termination, they will invoice you and you must pay within 14 days. Your cancellation is not valid until all amounts owed are repaid. The $100 per songwriter registration fee is non-refundable regardless of cancellation timing.

Key points:

Review your account for any outstanding balances before submitting cancellation
Set aside funds to cover final invoices
Unpaid fees can delay or invalidate your cancellation

Post-Termination Collection Period

After your agreement ends, Songtrust continues collecting royalties during their Exploitation Period and continues charging their 15-20% commission "as if the agreement were still in effect" according to their Terms of Service. This period continues until you or your new administrator notifies all collection societies to update their records confirming your new administrator.

What this means:

Songtrust continues receiving and collecting on royalties earned during your agreement
They continue taking their 15-20% commission during this transition
This period can last 6-18 months depending on how quickly you re-register
You remain responsible for re-registering all works with each society

Step-by-Step Cancellation Process

Step 1: Verify Your Eligibility to Cancel

Before submitting your cancellation request:

Check your Songtrust registration date in your account
Confirm you've completed the 1-year minimum term
Review any outstanding fees or unpaid invoices
Prepare to pay any final balances within 14 days

Step 2: Submit Cancellation Notice

Submit your cancellation request either:

Through their online cancellation form at https://www.songtrust.com/cancel
By email to cancellation@songtrust.com

In your cancellation request, include:

Your email address
Your First name
Last Name
Type of cancellation
- Individual Songwriter(s) - List their name
- All Songwriters/full account
Clear statement that you wish to cancel

Step 3: Understand the Timeline

After submitting your cancellation:

Immediate: Cancellation request received and processing begins

Within 30 days: Cancellation becomes effective at the end of the calendar quarter

Next 6-18 months: Exploitation Period during which:

Songtrust continues collecting royalties earned during your term
They continue charging 15-20% commission
You must individually contact each collection society to update your publisher information
Songtrust may continue receiving income until societies update their records

What Happens Next

Once your cancellation is submitted and processed, you are "fully responsible for the re-registration of compositions after cancellation of the services" according to Songtrust's Terms of Service. This means you must:

Maintain accurate contact and banking information in your Songtrust account during the transition
Contact each collection society individually and directly to update your publishing information
Register your works directly with each society under your new administrator
Monitor which societies have completed the updates
Track when Songtrust stops receiving payments for your works

Alternative: Start Building with TuneRegistry Now

You do not need to wait for your Songtrust agreement to be cancelled to register new works. Whether the Songtrust agreement is in effect or not, new works can be registered immediately with TuneRegistry since they have never been submitted to societies by Songtrust and therefore are not subject to their exclusive administration agreement.

This allows you to: