Introduction

As a songwriter or musician, it’s important to know that your music is being properly administered and that you are collecting all the royalties you are owed. A large number of songwriters and musicians spend a great amount of time creating and releasing music, but very few take the necessary steps to collect the royalties that their music is generating. Songtrust is one of the leading music publishing administration companies in the world, and they can help make sure you get what you deserve.

WHAT IS SONGTRUST?

Songtrust is a rights management, music publishing administrator, and collection service that ensures that songwriters, producers, music publishers and more, get paid their royalties worldwide. By using Songtrust, you can submit your music to be registered with performing rights organizations (PROs) like BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC in the US, SOCAN in Canada, or GEMA in Germany.

You can also sign up to receive international royalty collection services through Songtrust's international partnerships. This way, artists can be sure that they are being paid for all of their performances, no matter where in the world they occur. As the music industry continues to grow on a global level, the need for artists to collect and manage what their songs earn, becomes more important. There are currently 350,000 songwriters that are registered with Songtrust, with over 3 million copyrights that are being managed.

WHAT DOES SONGTRUST DO?

Songtrust is a song registration and royalty collection service that helps songwriters, producers, and music publishers ensure they get paid the royalties generated by their creative works. Songtrust collects royalties from performance rights organizations (PROs), digital service providers (DSPs), and other sources, then distributes those royalties to the songwriter, producer, or publisher.

Songtrust also offers a song registration service, which allows songwriters and music publishers to register their songs with performing rights organizations (PROs) such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and SOCAN. Registering your songs with a PRO ensures that you are eligible to receive performance royalties when your song is performed publicly.

 

If you're a songwriter, producer, music publisher, or independent artist, Songtrust can help you ensure that you get paid for your work. As a premier rights management, music publishing administrator, and collection service, Songtrust members register their music through an online portal. Once the works are registered Songtrust operates with the following services:

1. Registration with collection societies (If you are not registered). Collection societies are PROs (performing rights organizations), CMOs (collective management organization), and MROs (mechanical rights organization).
2. Provides monetization tools for music that is consumed/streamed on YouTube. Music streamed on YouTube generates royalties to songwriters, producers and music publishers based on the usage of their songs.
3. International royalty collection spanning close to 98% of the international music marketplace. provides songwriters and musicians with resources and tools to help them understand and keep track of their royalties.
4. Enhanced royalty reporting, with quick and easy payments via direct deposit.

As songwriters, producers, musicians, and artists, there is nothing more daunting than the process of managing the administration of your songs, and monitoring what your songs earn. Before we joined Songtrust, we did not have the ability to monitor and manage what our songs data, or royalties were in a real time system.

In today's musical climate, music is consumed at a much faster rate (despite quality), and creators have to create and release more songs than in the past. With Songtrust, songwriters, musicians, and artists can be confident that they are getting paid for their work, and can focus on creating new music to match the rapid pace of the current industry.

DO I NEED SONGTRUST IF I HAVE BMI OR ASCAP?

Technically, no, you do not need Songtrust if you have BMI or ASCAP. Although BMI and ASCAP are important with the music publishing industry, Songtrust can help ensure that you are getting paid for your work by collecting royalties from performance rights organizations (PROs), digital service providers (DSPs), and other sources as a complimentary service.

BMI and ASCAP only collect royalties from what your songs earn from performances on radio, television, and live venues. These organizations have been used for a long time within the music publishing industry, and are well respected within the music business.

Songtrust can help you collect royalties from online streaming services, YouTube video, and more. We use Songtrust with our PRO, as it ensures no royalties are left uncollected.

THE MUSIC PUBLISHING INDUSTRY WITHIN THE MUSIC BUSINESS

The music publishing industry is a vital part of the overall music business. Music publishers generate revenue from the sale of compositions and royalties earned from the public performance of those works. This revenue is then used to support the careers of songwriters, composers, and music publishers themselves.
The music publishing industry has long been an important source of income for the music business as a whole.

In recent years, however, the industry has undergone some significant changes. With the advent of digital media, it became easier for people to access and share music online. This led to a decrease in sales of physical media, such as CDs and vinyl records.

One of the biggest changes facing the music publishing industry today is the increasing popularity of music streaming. Music streaming is a type of digital media that allows users to listen to music without downloading it first. This means that people can listen to music for free, or for a monthly subscription fee.

While music streaming has become increasingly popular, it has also posed a challenge for the music publishing industry. This is because music streaming services typically pay lower royalties to songwriters and composers than other forms of media, such as radio or television. As a result, many songwriters and composers have seen their incomes decline in recent years with their releases.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SONGTRUST AND SOUNDEXCHANGE?

SoundExchange is a digital performance rights organization (PRO) that collects royalties for songwriters, producers, and music publishers when their songs are played on digital radio platforms such as Pandora, iHeartRadio, and SiriusXM.

Songtrust is a song registration and royalty collection service that helps songwriters, producers, and music publishers ensure they get paid for their work.

Songtrust collects royalties from performance rights organizations (PROs), digital service providers (DSPs), and other sources, then distributes those royalties to the songwriter, producer, or publisher.

So while SoundExchange collects royalties for songwriters, producers, and music publishers when their songs are played on digital radio platforms, Songtrust helps songwriters, producers, and music publishers ensure they are getting paid for their work by collecting royalties from a variety of sources.

HOW MUCH DOES SONTRUST COST

Songtrust charges a 10% administrative fee on royalties collected. There is a one time sign-up fee, of $100 but no annual membership fee. You can save 10% of the registration by using the following link: https://arkatechbeatz.com/songtrust 

Songwriters, producers, artists, and music publishers keep 100% of their copyright ownership. There is only a 15% administration fee for their royalty collection services. There is no minimum amount that you need to earn before Songtrust charges a fee. Other related rights management services, typically charge more, making Songtrust a good deal.

For example, if a songwriter earns $1,000 in songwriting royalties and $1,000 in performance royalties, Songtrust will deduct a 10% administrative fee on both earnings for a total of $200. The songwriter would then receive $800 in royalties (100% of songwriting royalties and 90% of performance royalties).

HOW OFTEN DOES SONGTRUST PAY ROYALTIES?

Songtrust pays songwriters, producers, and music publishers on a quarterly basis. Additionally, songwriters, producers, and music publishers can expect to receive their royalties within 60 days of the end of the quarter for their music.

 

For example, any songwriters, producers, and music publishers who earned royalties in Q1 (January – March) will be paid by the end of May. songwriters, producers, and music publishers who earned royalties in Q2 (April – June) will be paid by the end of August, and so on.

 

To ensure timely payments, songwriters, producers, and music publishers should register their works with Songtrust as soon as possible. It can take up to 90 days for Songtrust to begin collecting royalties for registered works.

WHY SHOULD YOU USE SONGTRUST?

In our 20+ years in the music business, and having produced platinum recordings for different artists, SongTrust is the simplest way to make sure songwriters, producers, and music publishers get paid for their work. By registering works with Songtrust, members can be confident that they will be paid for their work, no matter where it is streamed or performed. In addition, Songtrust's international reach ensures that songwriters and musicians are getting paid for their work in nearly every corner of the world.

With quick and easy payments via direct deposit, Songtrust makes it easy for songwriters and musicians to get paid for their work.

Additionally, Songtrust has a global level network that does an excellent job to manage, collect, and distribute music royalties to co-writers and collaborators. Oftentimes the business of interested collaborators experience the roadblocks of not receiving their share with other royalty collection services, nor do they have the global level network of Songtrust.

HOW TO GET STARTED WITH SONGTRUST

Getting started with SongTrust is easy. Just create an account and start registering your works. Songtrust does have a registration fee of $100 for new members. You can save 10% of the registration by using the link: https://arkatechbeatz.com/songtrust 

Once your works are registered, Songtrust will begin collecting royalties on your behalf. You can then sit back and relax, knowing that you are getting paid for your work.

Join Songtrust today and start getting paid for your work. Once you sign up, use their easy-to-use online portal, and you can be sure that your works are registered and that you are getting paid for your work, no matter where it is performed or streamed. Don't wait any longer, sign up today!

 

Arkatech Beatz (Jugrnaut & Mike “Trauma” D) are a Grammy nominated music production team from New York now based in Atlanta. They were affiliated with Loud Records/Sony Music Entertainment as A&R’s and have produced for artists such as Big Pun, Nas, Raekwon, Jadakiss, Prodigy of Mobb Deep,The Game, Waka Flocka Flame, Freddie Gibbs, Killer Mike, Mýa, Max B and others. They are the host of The Arkatech Beatz Music Business Podcast.  Arkatech Beatz are also authors of The Songwriter's Guide To Song Registration .