Simple terms.
Every fee in writing.
No monthly retainers, no upfront fees for royalty recovery, and you keep 100% ownership of your copyrights and masters at all times. Here is exactly how we get paid.
What we charge
| Publishing administration | 15% | Of administered royalties, so you keep 85%. Covers registration, global collection, quarterly statements, live performance filings and ongoing catalog care. |
| Forensic recovery | 20% | Of historical back pay we recover. $0 upfront. If we recover nothing, you owe nothing. |
| Sync licensing | In writing | A commission on film, TV, game and ad placements, depending on whether we source the deal or you do. Set out in your agreement before you sign. |
| Label & publisher audits | Quote | Scoped to your contracts and statements, and agreed in writing before any work starts. |
| Valuation & legacy planning | Flat | One-time project fee, quoted up front based on catalog size and complexity. |
| Monthly retainers | $0 | None. Ongoing fees come out of what your catalog earns, never a monthly bill. |
Some international and digital income is collected through our sub-publishing partners. Any partner fee is taken at the source, before our fee, and it is listed in your agreement before you sign.
How you get paid
Administration clients
Quarterly statements and payouts, broken down by song, source and territory.
Recovery-only clients
Accounted monthly as recovered funds come in, so you see back pay as it lands.
Co-writers & splits
Splits are paid out according to your split sheets, so every writer on the track is accounted for correctly.
What you sign
Frequently asked questions
What does a publishing administrator actually do?+
We register your songs everywhere they need to be, collect the royalties they earn around the world, and pay you with clear statements. It is the work a publisher does, without you giving up ownership.
Do you take any ownership of my songs or masters?+
No. Never. We are administrative partners, not a record label. You retain 100% ownership of your copyrights, masters and publishing at all times.
I'm already with ASCAP or BMI. Do I still need you?+
Most likely. Your PRO only collects performance royalties. Mechanicals, international income and a properly registered publisher share all need separate registration. That is what we handle. You stay with your PRO.
How often do I get paid?+
Administration clients receive quarterly statements and payouts. Recovery-only clients are accounted monthly as recovered funds come in.
What do you need from me to get started?+
Your artist name or Spotify link, your PRO and IPI details, any existing publishing or admin agreements, split sheets if you have them, and a W-9 (or W-8BEN outside the US), signed through DocuSign. If you are missing some of it, we will help you track it down.
Do I have to pay out of pocket for an audit?+
For forensic society recovery, no. We work on contingency: we front the cost of the investigation, and if we don't find any missing money, you owe us nothing. Label audits and catalog valuations are quoted up front, before any work starts.
How long does a forensic recovery take?+
Fixing years of broken data is not an overnight process. A deep-catalog society sweep usually takes 6 to 9 months for the funds to be released and hit your bank account. Label audits depend on the size of the catalog and the condition of the label's ledgers.
Will auditing my label damage my relationship with them?+
It shouldn't. Most record contracts include an audit clause, and labels expect them to be used. We keep it strictly professional: we request the ledgers, run the math, present the discrepancies and pursue what you are owed.
Why can't my manager or CPA just do this?+
Your manager is focused on tours, routing and record cycles. Your CPA handles your tax returns. Neither of them has the time or the specialized access to dig through The MLC database looking for broken ISRCs. We don't replace your team; we work directly with them as your catalog backend.
I manage a legacy catalog or an estate. Is this for you?+
Yes. Older catalogs are often where registrations are most out of date: writers who have passed, publishers that folded, agreements that may be due to revert. We start by mapping what is registered and who is being paid, then set up administration in the estate's name.
Can I opt out of YouTube Content ID?+
Yes. If your music is widely used by streamers or creators and you don't want their videos claimed, we can leave Content ID off for your catalog.
Do you work with everyone who applies?+
No. We take on a limited number of new catalogs each quarter so every client gets real attention. Every application is reviewed personally, and if we are not the right fit, we will tell you plainly and point you in a better direction.
What happens if I want to leave?+
Your agreement sets a fixed term and a post-term collection window, both spelled out before you sign. After the term and the collection window end, your registrations move back to you or to your next administrator.
Questions about
your catalog?
Every application starts with a free catalog review. We take on a limited number of new catalogs each quarter, and we will show you what you are collecting, what you are missing and what it would take to fix it.