For music publishers
Run the catalog you did not write.
Pitch it from the same place.
DropCue keeps writer and publisher splits, PRO registrations and alternate versions attached to every copyright, then lets you pitch that catalog to clients with per-recipient analytics.
7-day free trial · no card required · Pro from $15/mo annual
How it works
- Import the catalog. Bulk upload WAV, AIFF, FLAC or MP3 with each writer's split, PRO and IPI applied as defaults.
- Group the copyrights. Alt mixes, instrumentals and cutdowns nest under the parent master.
- Answer the brief. Filter by genre, mood, BPM and key, then send one branded link.
Collect and review your writers' music
Watch: The DropCue Inbox: collect music submissions from composers (1:23)
Collect tracks from every composer with one link. Review each track beside the list, pin notes to exact moments, rate with your team, send feedback, and add the best tracks to your library, a playlist or an album.
Watch: Music library software: brief composers and track every album (1:44)
Follow one library album from brief to release in DropCue: plan it as a project, send one brief link to your roster, review submissions as a team, send revision notes, move accepted tracks into the album, and see every album on one board.
Running a library or briefing a roster? See music library software.
Splits live on the track. Not in a spreadsheet.
Writer and publisher rows carry name, role, split percentage, PRO and IPI as real fields on every track. Track defaults let you onboard a signed writer's catalog without typing the same split on every file, and embedded file metadata still wins where it exists. When a cue airs, the cue sheet data comes out of the same place it went in.
One copyright. Every version under it.
Upload the master, instrumental, cutdowns and beds, and DropCue nests the variants under the parent track. It reads filename markers like “(Instrumental)” or “(60)”, and you can set the parent by hand. Clients see one entry per copyright and expand it for the versions.
Pitch from the same catalog. See what landed.
Filter on genre, mood, BPM and key to answer a brief, then share the result as a branded link with a password and expiry. Per-recipient analytics show which writer's tracks actually got played, which helps at renewal time and when deciding which corner of the catalog to push.
Common questions from publishers
What is the best catalog management software for music publishers?
It depends on which half of the job you are optimizing for. Enterprise rights platforms like Synchtank handle administration and collection well and are priced for companies with a dedicated admin team. SourceAudio is strong on searchable client-facing catalogs. DropCue sits where most independent publishers actually live: structured writer and publisher splits attached to every track, alternate versions grouped under their master, and the same catalog used to pitch clients with per-recipient analytics. From $15 per month annually for 1,000 tracks.
Can I manage multiple writers under one publishing account?
Yes. Writer and publisher splits are stored per track, so one catalog can span any number of writers with completely different split structures. Track defaults are applied per upload batch, so onboarding writer A's catalog and writer B's catalog uses different defaults without conflicting. There is no per-writer fee.
Does DropCue replace a royalty administration system?
No, and it should not be sold as one. DropCue holds split and registration data on the track and gets it onto cue sheets and into pitches. It does not collect from PROs or process statements on your behalf. Publishers running full administration usually keep their collection system and use DropCue for catalog presentation and delivery. The Studio tier adds a royalty tracker for importing PRO statements, which covers reporting but not collection.
How much does DropCue cost for a publishing catalog?
Pro is priced by catalog size: $15 per month for 1,000 tracks, $20 for 3,000, $30 for 5,000, $42 for 10,000, and $69 for 20,000, all billed annually. Publishers who also want the Business Suite (pitch pipeline, royalty tracker, agreement generator, clients and license tracker) move to Studio, from $29 per month on the same ladder. There is no per-placement fee and no revenue share.
Run the catalog properly.
Keep splits, alternates and client delivery in one catalog, and know which writers are actually getting played. 7-day free trial, no credit card required.
Start my free trial →Pro from $15/mo annual. Studio from $29/mo annual. Cancel anytime.