Performance Rights Organizations: Complete PRO Comparison Guide

If you write or publish music, you are owed performance royalties every time your songs are played publicly, whether on the radio, in a restaurant, at a concert, or on a streaming platform. But those royalties do not collect themselves. You need to register with a Performance Rights Organization, commonly called a PRO, to make sure you get paid.

Choosing the right PRO is one of the most important business decisions you will make as a songwriter or publisher. This guide compares the major US organizations, covers international options, and helps you decide which one fits your career. It connects directly to our music publishing guide and our publishing royalty split calculator for modeling your income.

What Do Performance Rights Organizations Do?

A PRO acts as the middleman between music users (radio stations, streaming services, venues, TV networks) and rights holders (songwriters and publishers). Here is the basic process:

Without a PRO, you would need to individually negotiate with every radio station, venue, and streaming service that plays your music. PROs handle this at scale for millions of songs.

What PROs Do Not Do

PROs only collect performance royalties on the composition (the underlying song). They do not collect:

Understanding these distinctions is critical. Many artists think their PRO collects all their royalties, and that misunderstanding costs them thousands of dollars per year.

The Big Three US PROs Compared

ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)

Founded: 1914

Members: 900,000+

Annual revenue: $1.8 billion+ (2024)

Membership fee: $50 one-time

ASCAP is the oldest and largest PRO in the United States. It operates as a membership association, meaning members have voting rights and a say in how the organization is run.

Pros:

Cons:

BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)

Founded: 1939

Members: 1.4 million+

Annual revenue: $1.9 billion+ (2024)

Membership fee: Free for songwriters, $250 for publishers

BMI is the largest PRO in the US by membership count. It was founded to represent genres that ASCAP initially overlooked, including blues, jazz, country, and R&B.

Pros:

Cons:

SESAC

Founded: 1930

Members: Invitation-only (30,000+)

Annual revenue: Not publicly disclosed

Membership fee: None (invite only)

SESAC is the smallest of the three major US PROs and operates on an invitation-only basis. It represents a selective roster of high-profile writers and publishers.

Pros:

Cons:

ASCAP vs BMI vs SESAC: Head-to-Head

Here is a direct comparison of the key factors:

Membership access: ASCAP and BMI are open to anyone. SESAC is invitation-only.

Cost: BMI is free for songwriters. ASCAP charges a one-time $50 fee. SESAC has no fee but you must be invited.

Payment speed: SESAC pays quarterly. ASCAP and BMI typically pay on a 6 to 9 month delay after the quarter in which royalties were earned.

Catalog size: BMI has the largest catalog, followed by ASCAP. SESAC is significantly smaller.

International reach: ASCAP and BMI both have extensive reciprocal agreements with international PROs. SESAC's international network is smaller but growing.

Transparency: ASCAP is generally considered the most transparent in its payment calculations. BMI has improved but remains less open. SESAC provides limited public data.

International PROs

If your music is played outside the United States, international PROs collect performance royalties in their territories. Here are some of the largest:

Your US PRO should have reciprocal agreements with most international societies, meaning they collect foreign royalties on your behalf. However, some territories have gaps in coverage. Explore our PRO directory for a complete list of organizations worldwide.

For comprehensive international royalty collection, you may also want to register for neighboring rights, which cover a separate type of royalty not handled by traditional PROs.

How to Choose the Right PRO

Consider These Factors

Your genre: BMI has historically been stronger in country, hip-hop, and R&B. ASCAP has deep roots in pop, rock, and classical. SESAC represents a curated mix across genres.

Payment speed: If cash flow is a concern, SESAC's quarterly payments are a significant advantage over the 6 to 12 month delays at ASCAP and BMI.

Career stage: If you are just starting out, BMI's free membership makes it the easiest entry point. ASCAP's $50 fee is minimal. SESAC is typically only accessible once you have a track record.

Publisher status: If you also act as your own publisher (which we recommend for independent artists), note that BMI charges $250 for publisher registration while ASCAP charges $50.

International presence: If your music has significant international play, ASCAP and BMI's broader reciprocal agreements may collect more efficiently.

Our Recommendation

For most independent artists starting out, BMI is the simplest choice because it is free to join and has the largest membership base. ASCAP is equally strong and worth the $50 investment if you prefer its transparency and member-governance model. SESAC is ideal if you are invited, particularly for the faster payment schedule.

You can only belong to one US PRO at a time, so choose carefully. However, you can switch later if needed, though there is typically a waiting period.

Registration Process

Registering as a Songwriter

Registering as a Publisher

If you self-publish (which every independent artist should consider), you also need to register a publishing entity:

This ensures you collect both the writer's share and the publisher's share of performance royalties. Use our publishing royalty split calculator to understand how these shares work.

Payment Schedules

ASCAP: Pays quarterly, approximately 6 to 9 months after the performance quarter. Q1 performances are typically paid in Q3 or Q4.

BMI: Pays quarterly with a similar 6 to 9 month lag. Some payments can take up to 12 months depending on the source.

SESAC: Pays quarterly with the fastest turnaround, typically 3 to 4 months after the performance quarter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I be a member of both ASCAP and BMI?

No. US PROs require exclusive membership for writers. You must choose one. However, if you co-write a song with someone registered at a different PRO, both organizations will still collect and distribute royalties for their respective members.

Q: Do I need a PRO if my music is only on Spotify?

Yes. Streaming services pay performance royalties to PROs separately from the royalties paid to your distributor. Without a PRO registration, you are leaving money on the table. Estimate your potential earnings with our streaming royalty calculator.

Q: How do PROs know when my music is played?

PROs use a combination of direct reporting from digital services, broadcast monitoring technology (like audio fingerprinting), and survey sampling for smaller venues. Digital platforms like Spotify and Apple Music provide detailed play data directly to PROs.

Q: Can I switch PROs later?

Yes, but there is typically a transition period of 3 to 12 months. You will need to resign from your current PRO and apply to the new one. Pending royalties from your previous PRO will still be paid out.

Q: Should I register as both a songwriter and publisher?

Absolutely. If you do not have a publishing deal, registering as your own publisher ensures you collect both the writer's share (typically 50%) and the publisher's share (typically 50%) of performance royalties. Without a publisher registration, the publisher's share may go uncollected.

Start Collecting Your Performance Royalties

Performance royalties are one of the most reliable income streams for songwriters, and they are completely separate from the streaming royalties your distributor pays you. Registering with a PRO takes less than 30 minutes and can mean thousands of dollars in additional income over your career.

Choose your PRO, register your songs, and make sure you are set up as both a writer and publisher. Then explore the other royalty streams you should be collecting, including mechanical royalties and SoundExchange digital performance royalties.

Next Steps: