At a Glance: Key Differences
If you're comparing TuneRegistry and Songtrust, the fundamental difference comes down to business model: subscription vs. commission, self-administration vs. full administration, and maintaining control vs. transferring authority.
TuneRegistry:
Subscription-based ($15-$490/month)
You remain administrator and publisher of record
Zero commission on royalties
US-focused (world's largest music market)
3-5 business day registration speed
Direct society relationships maintained
24-hour cancellation processing
Songtrust:
Commission-based ($100 + 15-20%)
They become your administrator
Exclusive administration agreement
Global coverage
2-13+ months registration timeline
Intermediary collection layers
15-24 month exit process
Business Model Comparison
TuneRegistry: Subscription Platform
TuneRegistry operates as a platform that enables you to self-administer your rights. We provide the tools, automation, and infrastructure for you to register and manage your works directly with collection societies from our platform.
How it works:
You pay a flat monthly subscription fee
You remain the publisher and administrator of record
You maintain direct relationships with all collection societies
Royalties are paid directly from societies to you
We collect zero commission
You grant us no exclusive rights or administrative authority
Revenue model
Our revenue depends on providing ongoing value through platform features, timely registrations, and excellent customer service not on retaining your catalog or taking commission from your earnings.
Songtrust: Traditional Publishing Administrator
Songtrust operates as a traditional publishing administrator. They become your administrator and handle registrations, collections, licensing and distributions on your behalf.
How it works:
You grant them "sole and exclusive rights of administration, promotion and collection"
They become the publisher of record for your submitted works
They register works with collection societies as your administrator
Royalties are paid to Songtrust, who then pay you 85% (15% commission) or 80% (20% commission)
They manage royalty collection through 65+ direct relationships with PROs, CMOs, and mechanical societies worldwide; uses sub-publishing agreements in territories where direct relationships have not yet been established.
Commissions are calculated on "Net Sums" after intermediary deductions
Revenue model:
Their revenue depends on retaining catalogs and collecting commission perpetually, reflected in their 1-year minimum term, quarterly cancellation schedule, and post-term collection periods.
Pricing Comparison
TuneRegistry Subscription Pricing
Transparent monthly fees:
Solo Plan: $15/mo
Team Plan: $35/mo
Business Plan: $95/mo
Enterprise Plan: $490/mo
What's included:
minimum of 500 works and unlimited co-workers and recordings
Zero commission on any royalties
All rights types (composition, mechanical, master)
Direct registration with all US societies
Complete catalog management system
24-hour customer support SLA
Actual cost example:
An artist earning $10,000/year pays $420/year (Team Plan), keeping 100% of royalties.
Songtrust Commission Pricing
Fee structure:
$100 per songwriter registration fee (non-refundable)
15% commission on performance royalties
20% commission on mechanical royalties (Source)
Commissions calculated on "Net Sums" after intermediary deductions
Minimum payout threshold: $25
Actual cost example:
An artist earning $10,000/year pays $100 upfront + $1,500-$2,000 annually in commission, totaling $1,600-$2,100+ per year.
At $50,000 in annual royalties:
TuneRegistry: $420-$1,140/year (depending on plan)
Songtrust: $7,500-$10,000+ per year
Control & Ownership
TuneRegistry: You Maintain Complete Control
You remain the administrator and publisher of record
You maintain direct relationships with all collection societies
You can contact societies directly with questions or issues
You grant us no exclusive rights or administrative authority
You can cancel anytime with 24-hour processing
No re-registration required upon cancellation
Non-exclusive platform (use alongside other services)
What this means:
If you have questions about a registration, royalty statement, or payment, you contact the society directly or us at support@tuneregistry.com Your relationship with ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, etc. remains intact throughout.
Songtrust: They Become Your Administrator
Songtrust becomes your publishing administrator
They become the publisher of record for submitted works
Societies recognize them as your administrator, not you
You grant them "sole and exclusive rights of administration"
They can "grant licenses to third parties" and "sublicense any or all of the rights"
Includes micro-sync licensing (YouTube, social media, UGC) exclusive by default unless you opt-out
1-year minimum term, then auto-renews
Complex cancellation process (15-24 months)
What this means:
Questions about your works must go through Songtrust. Collection societies interact with Songtrust as your administrator. You're dependent on their customer service and timelines.
Speed Comparison
TuneRegistry: 3-5 Business Days (US)
Our platform facilitates direct submission to US collection societies:
ASCAP, BMI, SESAC: typically 3-5 business days
HFA, Music Reports: typically 15-30 business days
SoundExchange: typically immediately after DDEX Configuration
Why this matters:
For time-sensitive releases, this speed ensures your works are properly registered before your promotional push generates streams or performances.
Songtrust: 2-13+ Months (Global)
Users frequently report registration times of 2-13+ months for works to appear in society databases.
Why this takes longer:
Global registration across 60+ sources
Multiple validation steps
Society-by-society processing
Intermediary layers
Queue-based processing
Support & Service Comparison
TuneRegistry Support
Service level target: 24-hour response time
Direct email and chat support
Help center with comprehensive guides
Platform designed for self-service
Responsive to both prospective and existing clients
Songtrust Support
Common user complaints cite response times exceeding one month
BBB rating reflects customer service challenges
Support routed through intermediary layers
Focus on fully managed service (less need for frequent support)
Cancellation Comparison
TuneRegistry: 24 Hours
Cancel anytime, no minimum term
Processing completed within 24 hours
No re-registration work required
Direct society relationships remain intact
No post-cancellation collection period
No continued commission after cancellation
Songtrust: 15-24 Months
1-year minimum term required
Cancellation effective end of calendar quarter
Post-term Exploitation Period with continued 15-20% commission
Must manually re-register all works with each society
Letter of Relinquishment provided upon cancellation
Total process: 15-24 months from cancellation request to completion
When to Choose TuneRegistry
Choose TuneRegistry when:
The majority of your revenue comes from the US market
You want to keep 100% of your royalties with predictable monthly costs
You need fast, accurate registrations for time-sensitive releases
You value direct relationships and interactions with collection societies
You want or need complete control over licensing and administration
You're an independent artist managing both compositions and master recordings
You need comprehensive catalog and metadata management
Responsive customer support matters to your business operations
When to Choose Songtrust
Consider Songtrust if:
You generate significant revenue from international territories and need international administration of your works with foreign collection societies
You prefer a fully managed service where an administrator handles everything
You're comfortable with commission-based pricing and exclusive administration agreements
Your catalog generates enough international royalties to justify the commission structure
Can You Use Both?
Yes. Many artists use both services strategically:
Register works you do not submit to Songtrust directly through TuneRegistry
Use TuneRegistry for master recordings (Songtrust doesn't handle these)
Use TuneRegistry for catalog management regardless of who collects royalties
Visit our pricing page to view subscription plans and sign up.
Need additional assistance with preparing to use TuneRegistry? Our support team is here to help at support@tuneregistry.com or via chat in the app. See something that needs updating? Let us know we strive to ensure these articles are accurate and helpful.