What’s the Difference Between an Admin Deal and a Co-Publishing Deal?

At a Glance: Admin vs. Co-Pub

Feature

Admin Deal

Co-Publishing Deal

Ownership of Publishing

 You keep 100%

 You give up 50% (or more)

Typical Fee/Split

10–25% of income (as a fee)

50% of publisher's share (you keep writer’s)

Advances Offered?

 Rare

 Often included

Song Pitching/Placements

 Not always included

 Usually part of the deal

Contract Length

1–3 years (sometimes even song-by-song)

2–5+ years, often with extension options

Creative Support

 Minimal

 Strong (co-writes, artist connections, etc.)



 What Admin Publishers Do

  • Register songs with PROs, MLC, international societies
  • Collect royalties from all sources
  • Offer dashboards to track income
  • Examples: Songtrust, Sentric, CD Baby Pro

Ideal for:
 Independent writers who want to keep full control
 Writers with no need for advances
 Those who release music frequently and want global royalty collection


 What Co-Publishing Deals Offer

  • Admin services plus:
    • Creative pitching to artists, labels, film/TV
    • Sync licensing efforts
    • Development support (writing camps, collabs)
    • Upfront advances (recoupable)

Ideal for:
 Songwriters who want to grow through collaboration and placements
 Those seeking upfront funding
 Writers with momentum and a strong catalog


 Pro Tips

  • Admin deals = control and simplicity
  • Co-pub deals = partnership and access, but give up some ownership
  • Make sure co-pub deals include clear terms for reversion, advances, and creative obligations
  • Don’t sign either deal without understanding how they’ll promote and protect your catalog


Bottom Line:
An admin deal is great for collecting your royalties while keeping ownership. A co-publishing deal gives you help with career growth and sync—but in exchange for part of your publishing. The best choice depends on your goals, leverage, and career stage.

Back to blog