TL;DR
TuneCore distributes music to streaming platforms and collects master recording revenue. Its optional TuneCore Publishing service handles basic PRO registration and US mechanical royalty collection through The MLC — but it takes a percentage, doesn't handle international CMO filings, doesn't correct ISRC mismatches, and doesn't cover SoundExchange or neighboring rights. For artists paying for TuneCore Publishing, understanding exactly what's covered and what isn't is essential to knowing how much of your royalty stack is still uncollected.
TuneCore is one of the major music distribution services for independent artists, offering per-release or annual subscription plans and paying artists 100% of their distribution revenue. Like other distributors, its core function is delivering recordings to streaming platforms and passing through master recording revenue.
TuneCore differentiates itself from DistroKid by offering more built-in publishing services through TuneCore Publishing — a service that attempts to address some of the royalty gaps that exist beyond distribution. Understanding where TuneCore Publishing actually ends is as important as understanding what it covers.
What TuneCore Does
Music distribution. TuneCore delivers your recordings to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, and hundreds of other platforms globally.
ISRC assignment. TuneCore assigns ISRCs to your tracks at upload, same as other distributors. These ISRCs are what streaming platforms use in their reporting.
Master recording revenue collection. TuneCore pays artists 100% of master recording revenue from all platforms they distribute to, minus their subscription or per-release fee.
UPC codes. TuneCore assigns barcodes for each release.
TuneCore Publishing (add-on). TuneCore's publishing service registers works with PROs and The MLC and collects publishing royalties on your behalf for a percentage of collections (currently 20% for publishing royalties).
What TuneCore Publishing Actually Covers
TuneCore Publishing's scope is worth reading carefully:
What it does:
- Registers your songs with ASCAP or BMI (or switches you to their preferred PRO partner) on your behalf
- Registers your songs with The MLC for US mechanical royalties
- Collects performance royalties from your PRO
- Collects US mechanical royalties from The MLC
- Claims publishing royalties from international societies through standard reciprocal agreements
What it doesn't do:
- File CWR (Common Works Registration) registrations with international CMOs for complete propagation
- Register or collect neighboring rights through SoundExchange or PPL
- Correct ISRC mismatches between TuneCore records and PRO/MLC databases
- Audit your catalog for metadata errors that cause royalties to go unmatched
- Handle direct registration with GEMA, PRS, or other major international CMOs
- Recover retroactive royalties from The MLC's unmatched pool for pre-TuneCore-Publishing songs
TuneCore Publishing covers the standard domestic royalty stack with some international exposure through reciprocal agreements. The gaps it doesn't address are the same gaps that cost independent artists the most money: metadata mismatches, missing CWR filings, and neighboring rights.
The 20% Question
TuneCore Publishing charges 20% of all publishing royalties it collects. For perspective:
- The MLC charges nothing — direct registration is free and you keep 100%
- ASCAP and BMI direct registration is free for the songwriter share; ASCAP charges ~$150 one-time for publisher registration; BMI publisher registration is free
- SoundExchange registration is free
If TuneCore Publishing is registering you for things you could register for free, the 20% represents the cost of convenience. That's a legitimate trade-off for some artists. For others — particularly those with significant royalty income — the 20% quickly becomes a meaningful number.
The question isn't whether TuneCore Publishing is bad. It's whether you understand what you're paying for and what it doesn't cover.
The ISRC Problem Specific to TuneCore Users
TuneCore assigns ISRCs at upload. If you registered songs with your PRO or The MLC before uploading to TuneCore (using self-generated ISRCs), the ISRCs in your PRO registrations won't match the ISRCs TuneCore assigned. Streaming platforms report plays using TuneCore's ISRCs. The mismatch causes royalties to go unmatched.
This is not unique to TuneCore — it's a problem with any distributor when works are pre-registered. But TuneCore users who also use TuneCore Publishing may assume the publishing service has handled the ISRC alignment. It typically hasn't — or at least, there's no guarantee without verification.
Checking that the ISRCs in your PRO and MLC registrations match the ISRCs TuneCore assigned is a 15-minute task with potentially significant financial upside.
What TuneCore Doesn't Cover: The Full Picture
For a TuneCore artist with 500,000 monthly streams who uses TuneCore Publishing:
| Royalty stream | TuneCore Publishing handles? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Master recording revenue | Yes (100%) | Core distribution function |
| US performance royalties | Yes (takes 20%) | Via PRO registration |
| US mechanical royalties (MLC) | Yes (takes 20%) | Via MLC registration |
| SoundExchange digital performance | No | Separate registration required |
| International neighboring rights | No | PPL, GVL, etc. require additional steps |
| CWR international CMO filings | Partial | Standard reciprocal, not full CWR coverage |
| ISRC mismatch correction | No | Must verify manually |
| Retroactive unmatched MLC claims | No | Must file separately with The MLC |
The gaps in the right column represent the uncollected portion. For an artist generating meaningful royalties, these gaps can represent hundreds to thousands of dollars per year.
What CreateBase Does for TuneCore Users
CreateBase audits your full royalty stack regardless of which distributor or publishing service you use:
- We audit your TuneCore ISRCs against your PRO and MLC registrations to find and correct mismatches
- We register you with SoundExchange as featured artist and sound recording copyright owner
- We file CWR registrations for key international markets beyond what TuneCore Publishing's reciprocal agreements cover
- We identify retroactive MLC claims for any songs in your pre-TuneCore Publishing catalog
- We register you for neighboring rights through PPL, GVL, and other key societies
- We document exactly which royalties TuneCore Publishing is handling (and verifying those flows are correct) vs. what requires additional action
Find out what TuneCore isn't collecting for you → CreateBase delivers a free personalized royalty gap report within 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: If I use TuneCore Publishing, do I still need to register with ASCAP or BMI myself?
A: TuneCore Publishing registers your works with a PRO on your behalf. However, you should verify which PRO they register with and confirm that you have a songwriter/publisher account in your own name that you can access independently. Relying entirely on TuneCore Publishing without your own PRO access creates dependency — if you ever leave TuneCore, you need to ensure your PRO registrations remain intact and accessible.
Q: What does TuneCore Publishing charge?
A: TuneCore Publishing charges 20% of all publishing royalties collected through the service. This covers performance royalties from PROs and mechanical royalties from The MLC. Given that direct registration with ASCAP/BMI and The MLC is free, the 20% is a convenience fee for having TuneCore handle registration and collection on your behalf.
Q: Does TuneCore Publishing cover SoundExchange?
A: No. SoundExchange digital performance royalties are separate from publishing royalties. TuneCore Publishing's scope is performance and mechanical royalties. SoundExchange registration must be done separately and directly at soundexchange.com at no cost.
Q: What ISRCs should I use for my PRO registrations if I use TuneCore?
A: Use the ISRCs TuneCore assigned at upload. Find them in your TuneCore release dashboard. These are the ISRCs streaming platforms use when reporting plays. Your PRO registrations, MLC registration, and SoundExchange registration all need to use these same ISRCs for matching to work.
Q: How do I know if TuneCore Publishing has correctly registered my songs internationally?
A: Check your PRO account (ASCAP or BMI) to verify that each song has an ISWC assigned. Then verify through your PRO's dashboard or by contacting them that your works have been submitted via CWR to GEMA, PRS, SOCAN, and other major international CMOs. If ISWCs are missing or international submissions are not confirmed, your international royalties may not be flowing correctly even with TuneCore Publishing active.
Sources
- The MLC — Unmatched Royalties — Over $1B in unmatched US mechanical royalties
- SoundExchange — Digital performance royalty registration
- ASCAP and BMI — PRO registration and publisher enrollment
- Copyright Royalty Board — Streaming royalty rates