What Should Royalty Software Cost in 2026?
Compare royalty software pricing models with three illustrative Roster usage examples. See how allowances, optional subscriptions and prepaid row credits affect the estimate.
By RosterRoyalties · Published · Updated
insight
The useful question is what a normal reporting period will cost — and what changes when volume or specialist work increases. Compare the charging unit, included allowances and paid feature access before comparing headline fees.
Key Takeaways
- Compare account, revenue, usage and custom pricing against the same workload.
- Roster's default label workspace has a $0 fixed base fee, with no artist-count cap or royalty percentage.
- Included allowances apply before eligible existing credits and additional processing charges.
- Specialist feature access and processing can be separate costs. The examples below show both.
Four pricing models — four things to check
Accounts or catalogue size
A subscription can depend on artists, payees or catalogue size. Check which accounts count, whether inactive artists count and what happens when you cross a tier. Compare your current catalogue with your expected next release cycle.
Revenue bands or a revenue percentage
A vendor may price by income bands or take a percentage. Those are different models: a revenue band does not necessarily mean a percentage deduction. Ask which income is counted, how the band is assessed and how higher earnings would affect the subscription.
Processing usage
Check the charging unit: statement rows, AI processing actions, contract compute or modelling runs. Then separate the included allowance, eligible prepaid credits and additional usage. A subscription for specialist feature access can still sit alongside those processing charges.
Custom agreements
Complex reporting, migration, support or deployment requirements may need a quote. Compare one-off implementation services and recurring charges separately, and record what the quoted scope actually includes.
Price is one part of fit. Review the supported royalty accounting workflow and the artist statement and reporting workflow alongside your data formats, deal terms and approval process.
How Roster's default label workspace is priced
The default label workspace has a $0.00 fixed monthly base fee, no artist-count cap and no percentage of royalty income. The processing you record determines additional usage. A card is required for additional usage.
| Processing | Included per period | Additional usage |
|---|---|---|
| Statement rowsRows processed beyond your included statement allowance. | 10,000 rows | $0.60 / 1,000 rows |
| AI processing actionsMetered workspace processing. Product help and support chat are free. | 10 actions | $0.01 / action |
| Contract processingCompute for contract ingestion and interpretation. A unit is not a contract; review the action estimate in your workspace. | None | $0.25 / compute unit |
| Catalogue modellingMetered catalogue valuation runs. Specialist feature access is separate. | None | $2.50 / run |
| Evidence storageRecorded evidence storage beyond the included allowance. | 0.25 GB | $1.50 / GB |
Included allowances apply first, then eligible existing prepaid credits, then additional usage. A contract compute unit is a processing unit, not one uploaded contract. Product help and support chat are free.
Feature access is separate from processing
- Label Split Sheets: $8.99/month. Separate feature subscription.
- Catalogue Valuation: $19.00/month. Modelling usage is charged separately.
- Compliance & Contract-to-Accounting: $29.00/month. Contract compute is charged separately.
Optional feature subscriptions offer a 7-day trial. The independent Artist Plan is separate at $8.99/month after its trial. Existing paid workspace agreements retain their own terms. Subscribing does not remove permissions, supported-input or availability requirements.
Read all rates and access detailsThree illustrative usage examples
Each example covers one billing period in USD for the default label workspace. These are assumed workloads, not customer results or quotes. Monthly subscriptions use their standard prices after any trial. Taxes, separately quoted services and purchases of new credit packs are excluded.
Illustrative example 1
A reporting period within the included allowances
A routine reporting period, with no specialist processing or optional subscriptions selected. The assumed quantities are shown below.
| Processing | Assumed usage | Billable units | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statement rows | 8,000 rows | 0 | $0.00 |
| AI processing actions | 8 actions | 0 | $0.00 |
| Contract processing | 0 compute units | 0 | $0.00 |
| Catalogue modelling | 0 runs | 0 | $0.00 |
| Evidence storage | 0.2 GB | 0 | $0.00 |
Rows: 8,000 processed − 8,000 included − 0 existing credits = 0 billable. 0 rows at $0.60 / 1,000 rows = $0.00.
- Additional processing subtotal
- $0.00
- Optional subscriptions · none selected
- $0.00
- Estimated period total · USD
- $0.00
Illustrative example 2
A larger royalty run with Label Split Sheets
A larger recurring statement run, with Label Split Sheets at its standard monthly price. The assumed quantities are shown below; no existing prepaid credits are available.
| Processing | Assumed usage | Billable units | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statement rows | 100,000 rows | 90,000 | $54.00 |
| AI processing actions | 30 actions | 20 | $0.20 |
| Contract processing | 0 compute units | 0 | $0.00 |
| Catalogue modelling | 0 runs | 0 | $0.00 |
| Evidence storage | 0.75 GB | 0.5 | $0.75 |
Rows: 100,000 processed − 10,000 included − 0 existing credits = 90,000 billable. 90,000 rows at $0.60 / 1,000 rows = $54.00.
- Additional processing subtotal
- $54.95
- Label Split Sheets · monthly
- $8.99
- Estimated period total · USD
- $63.94
Illustrative example 3
A catalogue import with specialist review and existing row credits
A catalogue import alongside contract and catalogue review, with Catalogue Valuation and Compliance selected. The quantities below are illustrative; the row-credit balance was purchased previously.
| Processing | Assumed usage | Billable units | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statement rows | 300,000 rows | 190,000 | $114.00 |
| AI processing actions | 100 actions | 90 | $0.90 |
| Contract processing | 40 compute units | 40 | $10.00 |
| Catalogue modelling | 4 runs | 4 | $10.00 |
| Evidence storage | 2.25 GB | 2 | $3.00 |
Rows: 300,000 processed − 10,000 included − 100,000 existing credits = 190,000 billable. 190,000 rows at $0.60 / 1,000 rows = $114.00.
- Additional processing subtotal
- $137.90
- Catalogue Valuation · monthly
- $19.00
- Compliance & Contract-to-Accounting · monthly
- $29.00
- Estimated period total · USD
- $185.90
This total uses credits already purchased. Their purchase cost is separate and is not included again. Credits cover rows only; contract compute, modelling, storage and subscriptions remain chargeable.
Actual recorded usage, workspace billing settings and agreed terms determine your bill. Check the action estimate and feature access before processing. Other prepaid categories are not modelled in these examples.
Prepaid rows change the estimate, not every charge
Example 3 starts with 100,000 existing row credits. The current published 100,000-row pack costs $39.00 to purchase separately. That purchase is distinct from this period's additional usage estimate. A row pack does not include feature subscriptions, contract compute or modelling runs.
Compare the amount of processing you expect to use, when you expect to use it and the current credit terms in Billing. Do not compare a post-credit estimate with another vendor's full bill without including the credit purchase.
Calculate your own usageFor an example of a label's workflow, read how Origins Inconclusive accounts for 46 artists with Roster. Its reported timings describe its own process; the usage examples here are illustrative and are not that label's bill.
Compare a normal period and a busy one
Count the rows you expect to process, rather than using artist count as a proxy. For example, two catalogues with the same number of artists can produce different file volumes. Add any planned specialist processing and feature subscriptions, then repeat the estimate for a back-catalogue import or another unusually busy period.
- What is included, when does each allowance reset and which workspace agreement applies?
- Which actions consume usage, and can you review an estimate before processing? How are repeated imports, retries and extra review runs recorded?
- Does the feature require a subscription, processing charges, permissions or assisted onboarding — and which are included in the quote?
- When are prepaid credits eligible to be used, what are their current terms and what purchase cost needs to be included in the comparison?
- What will a typical period and a large import cost after taxes, services and any separate existing subscription terms are considered?
Use your own workload
For the wider buying decision, read the record label accounting guide and the sourced comparison of vendor pricing models. Ask each vendor to price the same workload so you can compare scope and total cost.
Ready to get started?
Put this into practice with RosterRoyalties
Explore the supported workflows and access details in Roster. Start a usage-based workspace and see how it works with your own data.