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July 1, 2025

Jeff Ponchick and Bo Liebman

Do I need a publishing administrator (pub admin) in 2025?

Do I Need a Publishing Administrator in 2025?

Understanding Music Royalties and Modern Alternatives for Independent Artists

For many independent artists, collecting music royalties can feel just as complex and time-consuming as writing, recording, and releasing music. Ensuring you’re properly registered with the right royalty-collecting organizations—such as SoundExchange for neighboring rights, ASCAP or BMI for performance rights, and The MLC for mechanical royalties—is essential. And having someone handle licensing your music can save you time using music licensing platforms.

Historically, artists relied on music publishing administrators to manage this intricate process. But in the global music industry of 2025, is hiring a music publishing administrator still necessary?

In this article, we’ll break down what publishing administrators do, when you might still need one, and how modern tools like Mogul are helping artists collect 100% of their music royalties without giving up a cut.

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What Is a Publishing Administrator?

A publishing administrator (also called a "pub admin") is a professional or company that helps songwriters and publishers manage the administrative tasks associated with music publishing, along with other music administrative services. Their primary role is to ensure songwriters receive all the royalties they’re entitled to.

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Responsibilities of a Publishing Administrator

Royalty Tracking: Monitoring income from various revenue streams, including digital audio mechanical royalties and PRO payouts.
Music Royalty Collection: Ensuring timely and accurate collection of royalties from physical sales, streaming, radio plays, and public performances.
Registration: Registering compositions with Performing Rights Organizations (PROs), mechanical royalty societies, and neighboring rights agencies.
Licensing: Managing licenses for media usage such as streaming services, TV, and film.
Paperwork and Administration: Handling complex documentation related to copyright and royalty collection.
Global Royalty Collection: Facilitating royalty collection outside of the U.S., where U.S.-based organizations may not operate.

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Publishing Administrator Fees

Unlike traditional music publishers, pub admins don’t take ownership of your music or handle copyright management for musicians. Instead, they typically take 10%–25% commission on royalties they collect. This can add up significantly over time, especially as your catalog grows.

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Why You May Not Need a Publishing Administrator in 2025

Thanks to new tools and platforms, independent artists now have more control over their royalty collection and digital music rights than ever before.

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You Can Collect Most Royalties Yourself

With the exception of internationally earned mechanical royalties, you can collect all royalties yourself using the services below:

The MLC (for digital mechanical royalties)
ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC (for performance royalties)
SoundExchange (for neighboring rights/digital performance royalties)

These organizations now offer more transparent tools and services, making it easier for songwriters to collect what they're owed—without third-party intervention.

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The Only Major Gap: International Mechanical Royalties

The one area where a pub admin may still offer value is in collecting international mechanical royalties. If your music has significant traction in markets outside the U.S., such as Europe, South America, or Asia, hiring an admin—or using a global platform—might still make sense.

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Modern Alternatives: Platforms Like Mogul

Instead of giving away a percentage of your income to a publishing administrator, platforms like Mogul empower artists to manage and collect royalties independently.

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How Mogul Works

Connect Royalties: Link all your royalty-generating sources (MLC, ASCAP, SoundExchange, etc.) through the Mogul dashboard.
Automated Audits: Mogul analyzes your royalty statements and public databases to uncover missing registrations or unpaid royalties.
Done-for-You Registration: The platform handles all the necessary registrations on your behalf to ensure you receive 100% of the royalties you’re owed.
Transparent and Fast: Unlike many publishing administrators, Mogul offers real-time status updates, responsive customer support, and no long-term contracts.

By using Mogul, artists get full royalty visibility and control—without giving up ownership or paying commission fees.

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Conclusion: Should You Hire a Publishing Administrator?

For most independent music artists in 2025, the answer is no—you likely don’t need a publishing administrator to collect your music royalties. Thanks to tools like Mogul, you can manage the entire process yourself.

However, if you’re earning significant income from international streams or licensing deals, a pub admin might still be worth considering for global royalty collection.

But for everything else? You’ve got options—and they don’t require giving up a cut.

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