Quick Overview
- 1#1: Songtrust - Global music publishing administration platform that registers works, collects royalties from PROs and mechanicals worldwide, and pays songwriters directly.
- 2#2: DISCO - Comprehensive music business platform for catalog management, rights tracking, deal modeling, and royalty statements for labels and artists.
- 3#3: Music Reports - Industry-leading mechanical rights licensing and royalty accounting software used by major publishers and distributors.
- 4#4: Audiam - Automates identification and collection of YouTube Content ID black box royalties for songwriters and publishers.
- 5#5: Curve Royalty Systems - Flexible royalty accounting software designed for music labels, publishers, and content owners with advanced reporting and audit capabilities.
- 6#6: Identifyy - Streamlines music rights registration with PROs worldwide and automates royalty collection and distribution.
- 7#7: TuneSat - Audio recognition technology that monitors TV, radio, online, and live performances to capture performance royalties.
- 8#8: Pex - AI-driven video and audio content recognition platform for rights enforcement, licensing, and monetization across digital platforms.
- 9#9: BMAT - Music monitoring and recognition service that detects usage for PROs, broadcasters, and rights holders to ensure proper royalty payments.
- 10#10: AdRev - YouTube partner service that handles content ID claims, monetization, and royalty distribution for music rights holders.
Tools were selected and ranked based on their strength in managing rights across global territories, accuracy in royalty tracking, ease of use, and overall value in addressing the complex demands of modern music professionals.
Comparison Table
Music rights management is critical for efficiently tracking royalties and protecting intellectual property, making the right software choice key for artists and labels. This comparison table details leading tools like Songtrust, DISCO, Music Reports, Audiam, Curve Royalty Systems, and more, highlighting features, scalability, and user needs to help readers find their ideal solution.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Songtrust Global music publishing administration platform that registers works, collects royalties from PROs and mechanicals worldwide, and pays songwriters directly. | specialized | 9.5/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 |
| 2 | DISCO Comprehensive music business platform for catalog management, rights tracking, deal modeling, and royalty statements for labels and artists. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 3 | Music Reports Industry-leading mechanical rights licensing and royalty accounting software used by major publishers and distributors. | enterprise | 8.8/10 | 9.5/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 4 | Audiam Automates identification and collection of YouTube Content ID black box royalties for songwriters and publishers. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 5 | Curve Royalty Systems Flexible royalty accounting software designed for music labels, publishers, and content owners with advanced reporting and audit capabilities. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 6 | Identifyy Streamlines music rights registration with PROs worldwide and automates royalty collection and distribution. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.8/10 |
| 7 | TuneSat Audio recognition technology that monitors TV, radio, online, and live performances to capture performance royalties. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 8 | Pex AI-driven video and audio content recognition platform for rights enforcement, licensing, and monetization across digital platforms. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 9 | BMAT Music monitoring and recognition service that detects usage for PROs, broadcasters, and rights holders to ensure proper royalty payments. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.8/10 | 7.9/10 |
| 10 | AdRev YouTube partner service that handles content ID claims, monetization, and royalty distribution for music rights holders. | specialized | 8.0/10 | 7.5/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.0/10 |
Global music publishing administration platform that registers works, collects royalties from PROs and mechanicals worldwide, and pays songwriters directly.
Comprehensive music business platform for catalog management, rights tracking, deal modeling, and royalty statements for labels and artists.
Industry-leading mechanical rights licensing and royalty accounting software used by major publishers and distributors.
Automates identification and collection of YouTube Content ID black box royalties for songwriters and publishers.
Flexible royalty accounting software designed for music labels, publishers, and content owners with advanced reporting and audit capabilities.
Streamlines music rights registration with PROs worldwide and automates royalty collection and distribution.
Audio recognition technology that monitors TV, radio, online, and live performances to capture performance royalties.
AI-driven video and audio content recognition platform for rights enforcement, licensing, and monetization across digital platforms.
Music monitoring and recognition service that detects usage for PROs, broadcasters, and rights holders to ensure proper royalty payments.
YouTube partner service that handles content ID claims, monetization, and royalty distribution for music rights holders.
Songtrust
specializedGlobal music publishing administration platform that registers works, collects royalties from PROs and mechanicals worldwide, and pays songwriters directly.
One-stop global PRO affiliations and mechanical collection partnerships spanning over 200 territories.
Songtrust is a premier music publishing administration platform designed to help songwriters, composers, and publishers collect royalties globally without upfront fees. It automates registration with PROs like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, collects mechanical, performance, and digital royalties from streaming, YouTube, and more. The intuitive dashboard provides real-time transparency into earnings and statements, making rights management accessible for independents.
Pros
- Comprehensive global royalty collection across PROs, mechanicals, and streaming
- Transparent, real-time dashboard for tracking earnings and statements
- No upfront costs—only commission on royalties collected
Cons
- 15-25% commission on collected royalties reduces net earnings
- Limited to publishing rights (no master recording royalties)
- Onboarding and song registration process can take time for large catalogs
Best For
Independent songwriters and small publishers who want a hands-off solution for worldwide publishing royalty collection.
Pricing
Commission-based: 15% on domestic royalties, 25% on international; $100 one-time signup fee, no monthly costs.
DISCO
enterpriseComprehensive music business platform for catalog management, rights tracking, deal modeling, and royalty statements for labels and artists.
AI-driven catalog valuation engine that benchmarks assets against proprietary sales data for accurate revenue forecasting
DISCO (disco.ac) is a powerful music rights management platform tailored for labels, publishers, and distributors, centralizing catalog data, ownership rights, and royalty workflows. It provides advanced tools for metadata management, rights administration, licensing negotiations, and revenue optimization through AI-driven insights. The software excels in catalog valuation, market intelligence, and secure data rooms for M&A deals, helping users maximize asset value and streamline operations.
Pros
- Comprehensive rights tracking and royalty automation across global territories
- AI-powered catalog valuation with real-time market data
- Secure data room for deal-making and investor relations
Cons
- Steep learning curve for advanced analytics features
- Enterprise-focused pricing limits accessibility for small independents
- Occasional delays in custom integrations with legacy systems
Best For
Large music labels, publishers, and distributors with extensive catalogs seeking sophisticated rights management and valuation tools.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing, typically starting at $50,000+ annually based on catalog size and features.
Music Reports
enterpriseIndustry-leading mechanical rights licensing and royalty accounting software used by major publishers and distributors.
The world's largest independent music rights database with granular data on over 100 million works
Music Reports is a comprehensive music rights management platform specializing in licensing administration, royalty accounting, and cue sheet processing for music used in TV, film, streaming, and advertising. It provides access to the world's largest independent music rights database, enabling accurate tracking of usage, mechanical royalties, performance rights, and sync licenses across global markets. The software automates compliance reporting for PROs like ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and international societies, streamlining workflows for large-scale media operations.
Pros
- Vast proprietary database covering millions of musical works for precise rights identification
- Robust automation for royalty calculations and PRO reporting
- Scalable for high-volume usage tracking in enterprise environments
Cons
- Enterprise-focused with complex onboarding and steep learning curve
- Custom pricing lacks transparency and can be prohibitively expensive for smaller users
- Limited self-service options compared to more user-friendly competitors
Best For
Large media companies, streaming platforms, and production studios handling high volumes of music rights licensing and royalties.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing, typically starting at $50,000+ annually based on usage volume and features.
Audiam
specializedAutomates identification and collection of YouTube Content ID black box royalties for songwriters and publishers.
Automated YouTube Content ID claiming that identifies and monetizes user-generated videos worldwide
Audiam is a music rights management platform designed for songwriters and publishers to register works with major U.S. PROs like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC in one go. It automates YouTube Content ID claims to monetize user-generated content featuring the user's music, collecting performance royalties from ads. The service handles metadata, ownership splits, and royalty distributions transparently.
Pros
- One-click registration across multiple PROs
- Automated YouTube Content ID claiming and matching
- Clear dashboard for tracking royalties and splits
Cons
- Takes 20% commission on collected royalties
- Primarily focused on U.S. PROs and YouTube (limited global coverage)
- No support for mechanical royalties outside YouTube
Best For
Independent songwriters and small publishers seeking simple PRO registration and YouTube monetization without managing complex admin.
Pricing
Commission-based at 20% of royalties collected; no upfront fees.
Curve Royalty Systems
enterpriseFlexible royalty accounting software designed for music labels, publishers, and content owners with advanced reporting and audit capabilities.
Advanced royalty engine supporting intricate deal terms, recoupments, and multi-currency processing
Curve Royalty Systems is a cloud-based royalty accounting platform tailored for music labels, publishers, and distributors, automating the processing of royalties from streams, downloads, mechanicals, and performance rights. It excels in generating customizable statements, handling multi-entity structures, and providing audit-ready reports compliant with PROs and CMOs. The software integrates with major DSPs and accounting systems to streamline payments and reduce manual errors.
Pros
- Exceptionally accurate royalty calculations for complex deals
- Highly customizable statements and reporting
- Robust audit trails and compliance tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve for initial setup
- Interface feels somewhat outdated
- Limited out-of-box integrations with smaller DSPs
Best For
Mid-to-large music labels and publishers with complex royalty structures and high-volume catalogs.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing upon request; typically subscription-based starting at $3,000-$10,000/month depending on catalog size and features.
Identifyy
specializedStreamlines music rights registration with PROs worldwide and automates royalty collection and distribution.
Proprietary audio fingerprinting technology that identifies music with 99% accuracy in remixed or overlaid UGC.
Identifyy is an advanced music rights management platform specializing in audio fingerprinting to detect and identify copyrighted music within user-generated content across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. It enables rights holders to monitor usage, enforce licenses, claim royalties, and generate detailed reports on music exploitation. The tool supports real-time scanning and integration via API for seamless workflow in digital rights management.
Pros
- Highly accurate audio recognition even in edited or noisy content
- Broad platform coverage for UGC monitoring
- Robust API for easy integration into existing systems
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly for high-volume users
- Limited built-in dispute resolution tools
- Requires technical setup for full API utilization
Best For
Music publishers and labels seeking precise detection and monetization of their catalogs on social media platforms.
Pricing
Freemium with pay-per-query API starting at $0.01 per minute scanned; enterprise plans custom-priced from $99/month.
TuneSat
specializedAudio recognition technology that monitors TV, radio, online, and live performances to capture performance royalties.
Real-time audio fingerprinting that detects music in noisy broadcast environments with over 99% accuracy
TuneSat is a music rights management platform specializing in automated audio recognition and monitoring across TV, radio, online streaming, and social media. It identifies music usage in real-time, generates detailed airplay reports, and assists with royalty collection and licensing enforcement. Designed for rights holders, it helps maximize revenue by tracking performances worldwide from over 20,000 stations.
Pros
- Extensive global monitoring coverage including broadcast and digital platforms
- High-accuracy audio fingerprinting for reliable track identification
- Comprehensive reporting and royalty recovery tools
Cons
- Pricing is opaque and enterprise-focused, less ideal for solo artists
- Dashboard interface has a learning curve for non-experts
- Limited integrations with other music management software
Best For
Music publishers and mid-sized labels needing robust, worldwide airplay tracking and royalty enforcement.
Pricing
Custom pricing based on catalog size and monitoring scope; typically starts at $500/month for basic plans, with enterprise quotes required.
Pex
enterpriseAI-driven video and audio content recognition platform for rights enforcement, licensing, and monetization across digital platforms.
Real-time, multi-platform audio fingerprinting with proactive infringement detection
Pex is an AI-powered music rights management platform designed to help rights holders detect, claim, and monetize their music in user-generated content across major platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitch. It employs advanced audio fingerprinting and machine learning to identify matches in real-time, enabling automated enforcement and revenue generation. The platform provides a centralized dashboard for managing claims, licensing, and analytics, making it suitable for labels, distributors, and publishers.
Pros
- Highly accurate AI-driven detection across 10+ platforms
- Comprehensive monetization and licensing tools
- Detailed analytics and reporting dashboard
Cons
- Enterprise-focused with opaque custom pricing
- Steeper learning curve for non-experts
- Limited support for smaller independent creators
Best For
Mid-to-large music labels and distributors seeking scalable, multi-platform rights enforcement and monetization.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing based on catalog size and usage; typically starts at several thousand dollars per month—contact sales for quotes.
BMAT
specializedMusic monitoring and recognition service that detects usage for PROs, broadcasters, and rights holders to ensure proper royalty payments.
Real-time audio fingerprinting technology that identifies tracks, versions, and composers with over 99% accuracy across all media formats
BMAT is a specialized music technology platform focused on rights management, offering advanced audio recognition to monitor and identify music usage across broadcast, streaming, TV, radio, and online platforms. It enables rights holders, publishers, and PROs to track performances, generate accurate reports, and facilitate royalty collection through precise fingerprinting technology. The solution integrates with global royalty systems for efficient rights administration and analytics.
Pros
- Highly accurate audio fingerprinting for reliable music identification
- Comprehensive monitoring across multiple global channels
- Strong integration with royalty collection societies and reporting tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Custom enterprise pricing can be prohibitive for independents
- Limited focus on artist-facing CRM features compared to full-suite competitors
Best For
Music publishers, labels, and performance rights organizations needing precise usage monitoring and royalty tracking at scale.
Pricing
Custom enterprise pricing based on monitoring volume and coverage; typically starts at several thousand euros per month for mid-tier plans—contact sales for quotes.
AdRev
specializedYouTube partner service that handles content ID claims, monetization, and royalty distribution for music rights holders.
100% net revenue pass-through policy, ensuring rights holders receive all eligible earnings without AdRev taking a cut.
AdRev is a specialized music rights management platform focused on YouTube Content ID monetization, enabling rights holders to upload catalogs, claim matching user-generated videos, and collect ad revenue. It automates claims, handles disputes, and provides detailed analytics through an intuitive dashboard. The service emphasizes transparency with monthly payouts and passes 100% of net revenue to users after platform fees.
Pros
- Expertise in YouTube Content ID claiming and monetization
- No upfront fees with 100% net revenue passed to rights holders
- User-friendly interface and monthly payouts
Cons
- Limited to YouTube and select platforms, not full distribution
- Payouts dependent on fluctuating ad revenue
- Manual intervention sometimes needed for complex disputes
Best For
Independent artists and labels primarily seeking to monetize music on YouTube without upfront costs.
Pricing
Free to join; 100% of net ad revenue (after YouTube's cut) paid monthly to rights holders, no commissions from AdRev.
Conclusion
The reviewed music rights management tools highlight diverse strengths, with Songtrust emerging as the top choice, excelling in global publishing administration, royalty collection from PROs and mechanicals, and direct songwriter payments. DISCO follows with a comprehensive platform for catalog management and deal modeling, while Music Reports stands out for its robust mechanical licensing and accounting, making it a strong alternative for specific needs.
Explore the top-ranked tools, starting with Songtrust, to streamline your rights management and secure fair, efficient compensation for your work.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison