TL;DR: CD Baby distributes music to streaming platforms and collects master recording revenue. Its "CD Baby Pro" add-on handles basic PRO registration and some mechanical licensing — but it does not collect international CMO royalties, does not generate ISWCs, does not fix metadata mismatches, and does not register with SoundExchange or neighboring rights organizations.
What CD Baby Does
CD Baby (now part of Downtown Music Holdings) is one of the oldest independent music distributors, founded in 1998. It delivers your music to streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, etc.) and collects the master recording revenue (streaming payouts) on your behalf.
CD Baby's core service covers:
- Distribution to 150+ streaming platforms and stores
- Master recording revenue from streaming and downloads
- YouTube Content ID monetization
- Sync licensing opportunities through its licensing marketplace
What Is CD Baby Pro?
CD Baby Pro is an optional add-on that expands CD Baby's scope into publishing administration. For a one-time fee per album or single, CD Baby Pro:
- Registers your songs with a US PRO (ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC) if you're not already registered
- Registers your songs with The MLC for US mechanical royalties
- Collects some international publishing royalties through reciprocal agreements
CD Baby Pro does collect more than basic distribution. But it has significant limitations that most artists don't realize until royalties fail to arrive.
What CD Baby Pro Does NOT Collect
1. SoundExchange Royalties
SoundExchange collects digital performance royalties when your recordings are played on internet radio (Pandora, iHeartRadio), satellite radio (SiriusXM), and webcasts. CD Baby Pro does not register you with SoundExchange. You must do this directly at soundexchange.com. SoundExchange distributed $1.05B in 2024 — none of it goes to unregistered artists.
2. International Neighboring Rights
PPL (UK), GVL (Germany), SENA (Netherlands), and dozens of other neighboring rights organizations collect royalties for recording artists when recordings are broadcast internationally. CD Baby Pro does not handle neighboring rights registration. According to the IFPI, $2.7B in neighboring rights were collected globally in 2023 — most independent artists see none of this.
3. ISWC Generation and Verification
ISWCs (International Standard Work Codes) are required for compositions to be matched in streaming logs and broadcast data worldwide. CD Baby Pro registers works with PROs, but it does not verify that the ISWCs assigned are consistent across all international CMO systems.
4. Metadata Mismatch Repair
If your artist name, song title, or ISRC in CD Baby's system doesn't match what your PRO registered, royalties from those plays go unmatched. CD Baby Pro does not audit or repair these mismatches. This is one of the most common causes of missed royalties.
5. GEMA, SACEM, and Direct CMO Registrations
CD Baby Pro collects international royalties through reciprocal agreements — it does not file directly with GEMA, SACEM, PRS, SOCAN, or APRA AMCOS. If those CMOs' reciprocal systems have data gaps or ISWC inconsistencies, royalties are lost in transit.
CD Baby Pro vs. a Publishing Administrator
| Feature | CD Baby Pro | Full Publishing Admin |
|---|---|---|
| US PRO registration | Yes | Yes |
| MLC registration | Yes | Yes |
| SoundExchange | No | Usually yes |
| International CMO filing | Via reciprocal only | Direct in major markets |
| ISWC generation | Basic | Verified |
| Metadata mismatch repair | No | Yes |
| Neighboring rights | No | Often yes |
| Ongoing monitoring | No | Yes |
Who Is CD Baby Pro Best For?
CD Baby Pro is a reasonable starting point for artists who:
- Are just beginning to build a catalog
- Have most of their listeners in the US
- Want a single-fee, low-maintenance publishing solution
- Don't yet have enough commercial activity to justify a full publishing administrator
As your catalog grows and your listeners become more international, the limitations of CD Baby Pro become more costly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CD Baby Pro replace my need for ASCAP or BMI registration? CD Baby Pro registers your works with your PRO as part of its service — it doesn't replace the PRO. It acts as the publisher filing on your behalf. You still need to be a PRO member.
Does CD Baby collect performance royalties from radio? Yes, through your PRO — if your works are correctly registered. CD Baby Pro registers your works with your PRO, which then collects radio performance royalties. But CD Baby itself does not collect radio royalties directly.
What happens to my SoundExchange royalties if I'm not registered? SoundExchange holds royalties in escrow for artists who have not registered. After a period of time, unclaimed royalties may be redistributed. Register directly at soundexchange.com — it's free.
Can I use CD Baby Pro and a separate publishing administrator? You should not have two publishers administering the same works simultaneously — it creates conflicts. If you move to a publishing administrator, you would typically terminate the CD Baby Pro publishing relationship for those works.
Sources
- SoundExchange 2024: $1.05B distributed to artists and labels
- IFPI Global Music Report 2024: $2.7B in neighboring rights collected globally in 2023
- The MLC 2023 Annual Royalty Recap: $400M+ in blanket and historical unmatched royalties
- CISAC Global Collections Report 2024: €12.59B collected globally