Tools to Manage Your Publishing – With or Without a Publisher
A practical guide to help you collect your royalties and protect your rights
Why You Might Not Need a Traditional Publisher
If you’re an independent artist writing and releasing your own music, chances are you don’t need a full publishing deal – at least not right away.
But you still need to make sure your songs are properly registered, royalties are being collected, and no one else claims what’s yours.
Today, there are several services and tools that help you:
- Register your works with performance rights organizations (PROs like GEMA, ASCAP, BMI, etc.)
- Collect publishing royalties globally
- Handle sync licensing
- Track and manage your compositions across territories
Let’s look at the most common tools – what they do, what they cost, and what to watch out for.
🔧 Songtrust
One of the most popular tools for DIY artists and songwriters.
- Global royalty collection (works with over 60 PROs)
- You keep 100% ownership of your compositions
- Includes YouTube Content ID and sync support
- One-time setup fee (approx. $100), plus 15% commission
✅ Best for: songwriters who want to stay independent and still collect worldwide
Sentric Music
Sentric offers flexible publishing admin options, including short-term contracts.
- Worldwide royalty collection
- Sync pitching and placement opportunities
- Quick registration with most major PROs
- Standard commission: 20–25%
Best for: artists looking for sync access without long-term commitment
Soundreef
Alternative rights management and royalty collection outside the traditional PRO system.
- Real-time tracking and transparent payouts
- Mostly active in specific regions (e.g., Italy, Spain)
- Not compatible with GEMA, ASCAP, etc.
Best for: artists working outside traditional systems, looking for transparency
Not ideal if you’re already registered with a traditional PRO
What About NexaTunes?
NexaTunes does not include publishing by default, but it supports a smart and transparent setup for managing rights:
- If you’re a label or artist with your own publishing setup, you can enter your publisher details during onboarding (LCD Code in settings)
- If not, NexaTunes ensures your publishing rights are properly routed through external systems, so that nothing gets lost
- In that case, publishing income will appear in your royalty statements as “third-party collection”, clearly separated from master earnings
- Your ownership stays untouched – NexaTunes just keeps the structure clean and traceable
Ideal for labels and artists who want flexible, no-hassle distribution while keeping control of their publishing decisions.
Summary
If you don’t have a publisher, you still need a plan.
Whether you go with Songtrust, Sentric, or manage things yourself, make sure your songs are properly registered.
Missing metadata = missing money.
Publishing is about visibility, transparency, and long-term income.
For a deeper dive into publishing structures and rights management, see our publishing insights here.
NexaTunes – structured support for independent releases.
Get in touch for more information using our livechat