Fundamentals

Music Publishing, Administration

Publishing administration is the process of managing, registering, and collecting royalties for musical compositions on behalf of songwriters — without taking ownership of the songs. It's the modern alternative to traditional publishing deals.

Start collecting Publishing 101

What Does A Publishing Administrator Do?

A publishing administrator handles the business side of your songs so you can focus on creating. Here's what that includes.

Registering each composition with collection societies, PROs, and mechanical rights organizations worldwide. This includes filing correct metadata, IPI numbers, and ownership splits.

Actively collecting all royalty types — mechanical, performance, sync, and print — from every territory where your music is played or streamed.

Processing incoming royalty statements from dozens of sources, matching payments to songs, and providing transparent reporting to songwriters.

Issuing and managing mechanical licenses, responding to sync inquiries, and ensuring proper licensing for all uses of your compositions.

Monitoring for unauthorized use of your compositions and taking action when infringement is detected — from unlicensed covers to unauthorized sampling.

Working with local sub-publishers or direct society relationships in international territories to maximize collection efficiency.

Song Registration

Registering each composition with collection societies, PROs, and mechanical rights organizations worldwide. This includes filing correct metadata, IPI numbers, and ownership splits.

Royalty Collection

Actively collecting all royalty types — mechanical, performance, sync, and print — from every territory where your music is played or streamed.

Royalty Accounting

Processing incoming royalty statements from dozens of sources, matching payments to songs, and providing transparent reporting to songwriters.

License Management

Issuing and managing mechanical licenses, responding to sync inquiries, and ensuring proper licensing for all uses of your compositions.

Copyright Protection

Monitoring for unauthorized use of your compositions and taking action when infringement is detected — from unlicensed covers to unauthorized sampling.

Global Sub-Publishing

Working with local sub-publishers or direct society relationships in international territories to maximize collection efficiency.

Admin Deal Vs. Traditional Deal Vs. Self-Publishing

Understanding the differences helps you choose the right path for your career stage.

FEATURE ADMIN DEAL TRADITIONAL DEAL SELF-PUBLISHING
Ownership You keep 100% Publisher may co-own You keep 100%
Revenue Share 0-15% commission 25-50% of royalties 0% — but DIY everything
Global Registration ✅ Handled for you ✅ Handled for you ❌ Must do yourself in each territory
Sync Pitching ⚠️ Some offer this ✅ Active pitching ❌ Must pitch yourself
Advances ❌ Typically none ✅ Often available ❌ N/A
Contract Length 1-3 years, flexible 3-10+ years N/A
Creative Control 100% yours May have approval rights 100% yours
Accounting Monthly or quarterly Semi-annual or quarterly Whatever you can manage

Why Jukehouse For Publishing Administration

JukeHouse is a next-generation publishing admin platform built for independent songwriters who want professional-grade administration without giving up ownership or revenue.

  • 0% commission on Pro plan ($100/yr)
  • Monthly payouts — not quarterly
  • Direct registrations with 60+ societies
  • Real-time royalty dashboard
  • 100% ownership retention
  • No long-term lock-in contracts

Get Professional Publishing Administration

Register your songs, collect royalties globally, and get paid monthly. No ownership transfer required.

Ready to collect what you're owed?

JukeHouse registers, tracks, and collects royalties from 60+ societies worldwide.