What is music publishing?

Music publishing refers to the business of copyrighting and distributing songs. A music publisher helps you register your songs, protects your copyright, and gets your music out to the public in various ways.

Do I need to use a music publishing company?

It's not strictly necessary, but it's a much more efficient and effective way to push your music out to the world - and to get paid for it! Do you want to spend your time making music or handling administrative tasks? If you're like most musicians, it'll be worth the fees to work with a publishing service so that you can focus more on the former and less (if at all!) on the latter.

How much does it cost to use a music publishing service?

Each provider uses a different fee structure. You could have a royalty share format that also has one-time set-up costs, or you might choose a service that gives you 100% of your royalties in exchange for a monthly subscription fee.

If I use a music publishing service, do I give up the rights to my songs?

Not necessarily. Many of today's most popular providers let you keep full copyright on any music you publish through their platform.

Do I have to sign a contract to use a music publishing service?

Most services do not require you to commit to a long-term business relationship in order to get your music published. However, it's always wise to read the terms and conditions before you make a commitment to any publishing platform.

I want my music to be available on a streaming platform like Spotify or iTunes. Can a music publishing service make it happen?

Absolutely. In fact, that's one of the reasons most musicians choose to use a music publisher. There's no better way to streamline the process - and start getting royalty money! - than to use a service that knows exactly how to get your songs out to the public.

Can a music publishing service get my songs into commercials, ringtones, and so on?

Yes! There are a few platforms that specialize in marketing musicians' creations for commercials, TV shows and movies, etc.

How do I know which music publishing service is right for me?

Your best bet is to look at client reviews. Are they happy with the service? Has their music been successful because of the publisher's efforts? Have clients been able to get help from customer service representatives when needed? If a music publishing service has a good track record with other musicians, chances are high that you'll be satisfied too.

Best Music Publishing Companies for April 2026

Item: The Best Music Publishing Companies - Summary Reviews
Rating: 5
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

Friday, April 17th We evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

2026 Music Publishing Company Reviews

Where is the best place to sign up for music publishing? Music has been said to be a form of communication that works when words fail, and making music is just part of what it means to be alive. Whether you play in a symphony or you just like humming along to your favorite Taylor Swift song in the car, music is something that impacts everyone. Considered divine in some cultures and just a way to connect emotions and ideas in other cultures, music - especially creating and publishing your own music - can be the ultimate expression of your personal style, emotions, and the story you want to tell.

5.0

EXCELLENT

Best Option

Ditto

Yearly subscription from $19.99 to $319
0% royalties paid to the publisher
150+ streaming services in network

Read Full Review

EXCELLENT

5.0

On the Ditto website

Ditto is a subscription-based music publisher that has been operating for more than 20 years and specializes in distributing both music and official music videos. With low subscription fees, Ditto gives you unlimited releases, keeps your royalties in your hands, and connects you to over 150 platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok. Ditto also holds a strong 4.2-star average on Trustpilot, making it our top pick for artists who want a simple, hands-off way to publish their music.

4.5

GREAT

Great

TuneCore

Subscription from $22.99 to $49.99 and just publishing for $75
No royalties, you keep your money
150+ streaming services in network

Read Full Review

GREAT

4.5

On the TuneCore website

TuneCore is a music publishing platform that lets you keep full ownership of your work while reaching more than 150 digital stores and streaming services. Plans are offered on yearly payment plans, or you can pay per release, making it a flexible option for both new and experienced artists. With a 4.1-star average on Trustpilot and strong customer service feedback, TuneCore stands out as a fantastic choice for musicians who want control, support, and tools to grow their careers.

4.0

VERY GOOD

Very Good

Music Gateway

Subscription of $89 to $199 per year
5%-20% royalty fees paid to the publisher
150+ streaming services in network

Read Full Review

VERY GOOD

4.0

On the Music Gateway website

Music Gateway offers artists worldwide distribution along with unique perks like AI mastering, playlist submissions, and even connections to TV and film studios such as Netflix and HBO. While Music Gateway charges higher costs per year, it allows you to keep full ownership of your music and helps with copyright protection. The service holds a solid 4.1 stars on Trustpilot and is especially praised for boosting exposure on TikTok, making it a strong publishing option if you want your music noticed.

3.5

GOOD

Good

CD Baby

Pricing at $9.99 for a single and $14.99 for an album
One-time fees
9% royalties paid to the publisher

Read Full Review

GOOD

3.5

On the CD Baby website

CD Baby has been helping independent artists with music publishing since 1998, and it stands out for paying out over $1 billion in royalties while letting you keep more than 90% of your earnings. CD Baby gives you access to more than 150 platforms, including Spotify, TikTok, and Apple Music, along with tools like YouTube monetization and playlist pitching. While CD Baby gets mixed reviews, it is still seen as an affordable and straightforward option for beginners who want control of their music rights.

3.0

AVERAGE

Average

Songtrust

One-time sign-up fee of $100
15%-20% royalty fees paid to the publisher
Visibility in 215 countries and territories

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AVERAGE

3.0

On the Songtrust website

Songtrust is designed to help you manage your music publishing with a simple way to track and collect royalties, offering global registration in more than 215 countries and helpful analytics that break down earnings by time and location. The platform charges a sign-up fee plus a percentage of royalties, but it lets you keep full ownership of your music while consolidating everything into one dashboard. Songtrust is best used alongside other distributors since it focuses on royalty management rather than getting your music onto streaming platforms.

2.5

FAIR

Fair

TAXI

Pricing at $299.95 per year
Visibility to TV and movie networks and publishers
Gives you feedback

Read Full Review

FAIR

2.5

On the TAXI website

TAXI is a music publishing service that focuses on connecting artists with record labels, film, and TV licensing rather than handling distribution directly. A yearly membership includes access to exclusive listings and even a free ticket to its networking convention, though artists still need to manage streaming platforms like Spotify on their own, and the company has strict guidelines for acceptable music. For these reasons, TAXI is a better fit for experienced musicians who already have polished work and want opportunities to pitch at a higher industry level.

2.0

SUBPAR

Subpar

Easy Song

No fees or payments for publishing
15%-25% royalties paid to the publisher
200+ streaming services in network

Read Full Review

SUBPAR

2.0

On the Easy Song website

Easy Song is a music publishing service that works with its partner Monetunes to help artists collect global royalties while still keeping ownership of their work. The platform charges no upfront publishing fee, but Easy Song takes between 15% and 25% in commissions depending on whether your music is registered or used in TV, film, or ads. While Easy Song earns strong ratings with a 4.6-star Trustpilot score and an "A+" from the BBB, the confusing setup with Monetunes and limited transparency make it best suited for musicians who mainly need help with complex copyright issues.

1.5

WEAK

Weak

Sentric Music

No fee to join
20% royalty fees paid to the publisher
Visibility with TV and film networks

Read Full Review

WEAK

1.5

On the Sentric Music website

Sentric Music is a UK-based music publisher that appeals to independent artists with a 28-day rolling contract, letting you keep most of your earnings while still holding full ownership of your music. The platform highlights past placements in major projects like John Wick, Barbie, and EA Sports trailers, which makes it appealing if you want your music considered for film or advertising. However, Sentric Music has gotten a low 2.8-star average rating across client reviews, due to frequent complaints about verification problems, payment delays, and limited customer support, so it may not be the most reliable option.

1.4

WEAK

Weak

SongCast

Subscription for $5 to $17.98 per month
0%-30% royalty fees paid to the publisher
Visibility in just 13 networks

Read Full Review

WEAK

1.4

On the SongCast website

SongCast is one of the older music publishing platforms and keeps costs low with monthly plans, while still letting you keep the rights to your music. The service is distributed to 13 major outlets, including Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and TikTok. Despite its affordable pricing, SongCast has a middling Trustpilot rating and growing complaints about frozen accounts and payout issues, which makes it a risky choice for music publishing.

1.0

POOR

Poor

Music Diffusion

No fees or payments for publishing
20% royalties paid to the publisher
200+ streaming services in network

Read Full Review

POOR

1.0

On the Music Diffusion website

Music Diffusion promotes itself as a low-cost music publisher and distributor with access to over 200 platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok, along with options for per-song uploads or a yearly plan. While Music Diffusion offers fast signup and the promise of keeping your rights, artists face fees to remove albums and a royalty structure that gives the service a significant cut. With growing complaints about unpaid royalties, Music Diffusion has earned a reputation that makes it hard to recommend.

Continued from above...

Where is the Best Place to Sign Up for Music Publishing?

Music has been said to be a form of communication that works when words fail, and making music is just part of what it means to be alive. Whether you play in a symphony or you just like humming along to your favorite Taylor Swift song in the car, music is something that impacts everyone. Considered divine in some cultures and just a way to connect emotions and ideas in other cultures, music - especially creating and publishing your own music - can be the ultimate expression of your personal style, emotions, and the story you want to tell.

If you're creating music, publishing your pieces is the next natural step. In basic terms, music publishing is the business side of managing music compositions (including the song rights, lyrics, and melody/notes). Publishing your music allows you to earn money on your hard work through film, TV, radio, and streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music.

You can choose to self-publish music or work with a music publisher. If you work with someone, you'll get benefits like copyright management, promotion of your music, and assistance with royalties through the publishing networks. If you prefer to keep your music 100% in your own hands, you can register your work yourself and collect all of your money without giving a percentage to a publisher.

When deciding to start music publishing, you'll need to decide what kind of earnings you're hoping for and how much help you want. Keep an eye out for green flags like royalty reporting, so you get real-time updates on your current music earnings. You also want to find a publisher that will allow you to retain ownership of your work. Finally, check on the distribution network offered by a particular music publishing firm. Make sure that your work will be shopped out to the major streaming services and storefronts.

If you decide to go through a more self-publishing-style service, you're going to be responsible for a lot more of the heavy lifting. You'll need to be prepared to do the business management for the distribution of your music, marketing and promotions, and tracking your royalties yourself. Some industry experts explain that it isn't necessarily harder to get your music on major streaming services when you do your music publishing yourself, but there are extra steps you need to take since you can't directly upload music to Spotify. So, depending on how tech-savvy you are, a service that does the work for you may be more up your alley.

Regardless of how you want to do your music publishing, you're ready to start putting your music out there. Congrats. Whether you're new to the industry or just want a change, it can be hard to know which music publishing services to trust. Here are some factors to help you out:

Distribution network. Whether you're saving some money by self-publishing or paying for a music publishing service to handle your work, you'll want to check out the distribution network. Do you see major services like Spotify, YouTube, or TikTok? You can also check to see if the service helps shop you to major TV or film studios as well.
Cost. Even self-publishing-style services generally charge small fees for publishing your music. While you handle the details, you still need to pay to use the site and music library. So, make sure that whether you want professional help or a self-music publishing service, you choose one that's within your budget. Look for differences like one-time fees or ongoing percentages in royalties.
Rights. Make sure you check what rights you grant to a publishing site. Ideally, you want to retain ownership of your music. So, check on the licensing details and the length of time your contract may be active. Some music publishing agreements will last for a shorter period, while others will last for the entire life of the copyright. You'll want a music publisher that will help you keep control of your creative work.
Customer reviews. Finally, if you want to see how a music publishing service works out for other musicians like you, check it out on third-party review sites with verified feedback. Sites like Trustpilot and Sitejabber will give you honest feedback from musicians that will help guide you on which services to trust. You can also check out a specific publisher on the Better Business Bureau, too.

Whether this is your first single release or you're an old hat with albums to your name already, finding the best place to finish your music publishing is the first step to getting to the top of the charts. To help you get your indie, pop, rock, metal, or film score out there for people to enjoy, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the top music publishing services out there today. This way, you can relax and feel confident that your music publisher will have your back, and you can enjoy earning money doing what you love!