Composers and Authors Society of Singapore

COMPASS (Composers and Authors Society of Singapore) is a non-profit organization that protects and administers the copyright interests of composers, authors, and music publishers in Singapore. Founded in 1987, it manages public performance, broadcast, diffusion, and reproduction rights for musical works and their associated lyrics, collecting licensing fees from music users and distributing royalties to rights holders.

How COMPASS Works

COMPASS operates as Singapore's primary collective management organization for musical works. Its structure and processes follow the standard CMO model:

1. Membership: Composers, authors, and publishers register as members. Membership requires proof of authorship or publishing rights over musical works. Once accepted, members register their individual works (songs, compositions, lyrics) with COMPASS, including ownership splits between writers and publishers.
2. Licensing: COMPASS issues blanket licenses to businesses and platforms that use music publicly. This includes television and radio broadcasters, streaming services, live concert venues, restaurants, retail stores, hotels, and bars. The blanket license grants the right to use any work in the COMPASS catalog for a negotiated fee.
3. Royalty collection and distribution: COMPASS collects licensing fees from all licensees, then distributes royalties to members based on usage data. Broadcast logs, streaming reports, and live performance setlists are analyzed to determine which works were used and how frequently. Royalties are paid out on a scheduled basis.
4. International coverage: As a CISAC member, COMPASS has reciprocal agreements with performing rights organizations worldwide. When a Singaporean composer's music is performed in another country, the local society collects the royalty and remits it back through COMPASS. The reverse also applies for foreign works performed in Singapore.

COMPASS also organizes the annual COMPASS Awards, which recognizes outstanding contributions by Singaporean music creators. The 29th COMPASS Awards ceremony is scheduled for 2026.

Real-World Example: Royalty Distribution in Singapore

A Singaporean songwriter registers a song with COMPASS, listing themselves as 100% writer and 100% publisher. The song gets played on a local radio station 50 times in a quarter, streamed 100,000 times on a digital platform operating in Singapore, and performed live at a licensed concert venue.

COMPASS collects license fees from the radio station, the streaming service, and the concert venue. At the end of the distribution period, COMPASS analyzes the usage data:

• Radio play generates a performance royalty based on the station's blanket license fee and the proportion of airplay the song received.
• Streaming generates a royalty based on the platform's reported usage and the service's license fee.
• Live performance generates a royalty based on the setlist submitted by the venue or promoter.

The songwriter receives a single payment combining all three revenue streams, minus COMPASS's administrative commission. If the same song is also played on radio in Malaysia, MACP (Malaysia's PRO) collects that royalty and sends it to COMPASS, who adds it to the songwriter's next distribution.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a songwriter or composer based in Singapore, joining COMPASS is essential for collecting the royalties you are owed. Without PRO membership, your music can be played on radio, TV, streaming services, and in public venues with no payment reaching you.

For independent artists:

• Join before you release: Register with COMPASS before your music goes public. You can only collect royalties for performances that occur after your membership and work registration are active.
• Register every work: Each song needs its own registration with accurate title, writer shares, and publisher shares. Incomplete registrations lead to delayed or missing payments.
• Understand the Copyright Act 2021: Singapore's Copyright Act 2021 introduced a new right of equitable remuneration for publicly performing sound recordings. This is separate from the rights COMPASS administers (which cover musical works, not recordings). You may need additional licenses for sound recording rights.
• Use the member portal: COMPASS provides an online member portal where you can manage your catalog, view earnings reports, and update your information.

Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your potential streaming earnings, and read our guide to registering your music with a PRO for step-by-step instructions.

Related Terms

• PRO (Performance Rights Organization) - The category of organizations COMPASS belongs to
• Performance Royalties - The primary royalty type COMPASS collects
• Blanket License - The licensing model COMPASS uses for music users
• CMO (Collective Management Organization) - The broader organizational category
• Copyright - The legal foundation for COMPASS's work

Read our PRO comparison guide to see how COMPASS compares to other societies worldwide, or learn about music copyright basics.

Visit the COMPASS website for membership details, licensing information, and the member portal.