Why You Should Join a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) like BMI or ASCAP

If you write songs, one of the smartest moves you can make is joining a Performing Rights Organization (PRO). Why? Because a PRO makes sure you actually get paid when your music is played in public whether it’s blasting on the radio, streaming on Spotify, or even performed live in a coffee shop.

In the U.S., there are t3 main PROs to know about:

• ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers)
• BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)
• SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers) — this one is invite-only, but worth being aware of.

Most independent artists start with ASCAP or BMI since anyone can apply.

What a PRO Actually Does

Think of a PRO as your music’s watchdog. When your song gets played somewhere — on the radio, at a venue, on TV — the business playing it (radio stations, bars, streaming platforms, etc.) pays license fees to the PRO. Then, the PRO makes sure those fees are turned into royalty checks for you.

Basically: they track your music’s plays so you don’t have to chase down every bar or radio station yourself.

How to Join a PRO (Step by Step)

1. Pick the one that feels right

• ASCAP and BMI are both great options and offer similar services.
• SESAC is invite-only, so unless you’ve already been approached by them, you’ll be choosing between ASCAP and BMI.
• Each has slightly different fees and perks, but at the end of the day, they all do the same core job: collect your royalties.

👉 Tip: Plenty of indie musicians flip a coin between ASCAP and BMI — the important thing is just joining one.

2. Apply online

Head to ASCAP.com or BMI.com, create an account, and fill out the application.
You’ll need some basic info (name, contact details, and usually your Social Security Number since they’ll eventually send you royalty payments).

3. Pay the fee (if there is one)

• ASCAP charges a one-time $50 fee for songwriters.
• BMI is free for songwriters (there’s a fee if you also set up a publishing company).
• SESAC doesn’t charge a fee, but again, it’s invite-only.

4. Register your songs

Once your account is approved, you can start adding your songs to the PRO’s database. This step is huge — the PRO can’t pay you for a song they don’t know exists!

5. (Optional) Start a publishing company

Here’s the deal: every royalty is split into two halves — the writer’s share and the publisher’s share. When you first join, you’ll collect the writer’s share. If you also want to collect the publisher’s share, you’ll need to set up a publishing company through your PRO (that’s where the extra fees come in).

For beginners, don’t stress about this. Focus on signing up as a songwriter first. You can always circle back and set up publishing later.

Performer Royalties vs. Songwriter Royalties

One common point of confusion: getting paid for a recording is not the same as getting paid for writing the song.

• Songwriter Royalties (handled by PROs):
  These go to the person who wrote the music and/or lyrics. Even if someone else records your song, you still get paid when it’s performed.
• Recording (Performer) Royalties:
  These go to the people who performed on the recording. They’re handled by different organizations (like SoundExchange in the U.S.) and cover royalties from digital plays (e.g., Pandora, SiriusXM).

👉 Example: If you wrote a song, recorded it with your band, and it gets played on the radio:

• You get paid as a songwriter through your PRO.
• You also get paid as a performer on the recording through SoundExchange.

Both matter — but joining a PRO is step one for protecting your rights as a songwriter.

Quick Q&A

Do I need to be signed to a label to join?
Nope! Anyone writing original songs can join.

Do I need to register my recordings too?
PROs handle compositions (the song itself). Recordings are covered separately by SoundExchange and other groups.

Can I join more than one PRO?
In the U.S., you can only belong to one PRO at a time as a songwriter. So choose carefully — but remember, you can always switch later if you change your mind.

Why This Matters

At the end of the day, joining a PRO is one of the easiest, most important steps you can take as a songwriter. Whether you’re writing songs in your bedroom or playing them on stage every weekend, your music deserves to be recognized — and you deserve to be paid when it’s performed.

So don’t overthink it. Head over to ASCAP or BMI, fill out the form, and take the leap. Your future royalties (and your bank account) will thank you.