CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers)

CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) is the world's leading network of collective management organizations, representing more than 5 million creators across 227 member societies in 111 countries. Founded in Paris in 1926, CISAC coordinates global royalty collection, sets technical standards for data exchange, and advocates for creators' rights in music, audiovisual, drama, literature, and visual arts.

How CISAC Works

CISAC is not a performing rights organization itself. It does not issue licenses or collect royalties directly from music users. Instead, it serves as the global umbrella body for national and regional collective management organizations (CMOs) like ASCAP, BMI, PRS for Music, SACEM, and hundreds of others.

CISAC's core activities include:

• Reciprocal representation agreements: CISAC facilitates bilateral agreements between member societies so that a songwriter registered in one country can collect royalties when their music is performed in another. For example, if a Japanese composer's song is played on French radio, SACEM collects the royalty and distributes it back through JASRAC.
• Standards and tools: CISAC develops and maintains the CIS (Common Information System), a set of data standards that allow societies to identify musical works, creators, and rights shares consistently across borders. This includes the ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code) and IPI (Interested Parties Information) systems.
• Advocacy and policy: CISAC represents creators' interests at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the European Union, and other international bodies. In 2026, CISAC's advocacy focuses heavily on artificial intelligence and its impact on creators' remuneration.
• Regional offices: CISAC operates from its Paris headquarters with regional offices in Africa, South America (Chile), Asia-Pacific (China), and Europe (Hungary).

CISAC is presided over by ABBA co-founder Bjorn Ulvaeus, with Vice Presidents including Youssou N'Dour and other prominent creators from different artistic fields.

Real-World Example: Global Royalty Flow

In 2024, CISAC member societies collected a record EUR 13.97 billion in royalties on behalf of creators worldwide, a 6.6% increase from 2023. Digital revenues surpassed EUR 5 billion for the first time, driven by streaming platform growth and subscription price increases. Music accounted for approximately 90% of total collections (EUR 12.59 billion).

Here is how the system works in practice. A songwriter registered with SOCAN in Canada releases a track that gets streamed on Spotify in Germany. Spotify reports usage to GEMA (Germany's CMO). GEMA identifies the songwriter through the ISWC and IPI data, collects the royalty, and sends it to SOCAN through the reciprocal agreement framework. SOCAN then pays the songwriter. CISAC's standards ensure that the data flows correctly between the two societies.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a songwriter or composer, CISAC's work affects you whether you know it or not. The reciprocal agreements facilitated by CISAC mean that your PRO membership can earn you money in countries you have never visited. Without this global network, you would need to register with a separate society in every country where your music is played.

For independent artists, this means:

• Register with one PRO, collect globally: Join ASCAP, BMI, PRS for Music, or your local society. Through CISAC's reciprocal agreements, that single membership covers royalty collection in 111 countries.
• Ensure your metadata is correct: CISAC's standards (ISWC, IPI) only work if your works are properly registered. Incorrect metadata is the leading cause of unclaimed royalties. Always register your songs with your PRO with accurate writer, publisher, and split information.
• Stay informed about AI policy: CISAC is actively advocating for regulations that ensure AI companies pay for the use of copyrighted works. This directly affects how your music may be used by AI training datasets and generative AI platforms.

Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your potential earnings across platforms, or our Publishing Royalty Split Calculator to work out how royalties divide between co-writers and publishers.

Related Terms

• PRO (Performance Rights Organization) - The national societies that collect performance royalties on your behalf
• Performance Royalties - The royalties generated when your music is played publicly
• CMO (Collective Management Organization) - The broader category of organizations that manage rights collectively
• ISWC - The international identifier for musical works, maintained through CISAC's framework
• Neighboring Rights - Rights of performers and producers, distinct from songwriters' rights

Learn more in our PRO comparison guide or our complete guide to music publishing and royalties.

Visit the CISAC website for the full list of member societies and the latest Global Collections Report.