Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers

FILSCAP (Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc.) is a non-stock, non-profit collective management organization based in Quezon City that administers public performance, mechanical reproduction, and synchronization rights for approximately 1,900 Filipino composers, lyricists, and music publishers. Founded on May 14, 1965, it is the only government-accredited CMO authorized to license the public performance of copyrighted music in the Philippines, with a repertoire covering over 40 million local and international musical works.

How FILSCAP Works

FILSCAP operates under accreditation from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) as the country's sole collective management organization for music creators. It has been a CISAC member since January 1, 1986 (CISAC Code 32), giving it reciprocal representation agreements with over 50 foreign societies including ASCAP, BMI, and CASH (Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong).

The organization licenses music usage across three rights categories:

• Public performance rights: Covers live music at concerts, background music in restaurants, retail stores, hotels, gyms, and other venues. FILSCAP issues blanket licenses to businesses that play copyrighted music publicly.
• Mechanical reproduction rights: Covers the reproduction of musical works on physical formats (CDs, vinyl) and digital downloads.
• Synchronization rights: Covers the use of musical compositions in films, television shows, advertisements, and other audiovisual media.

When a business in the Philippines plays copyrighted music, FILSCAP collects license fees and distributes them to its members based on usage reports. For foreign works performed in the Philippines, FILSCAP collects on behalf of its 50+ affiliate societies and remits the royalties to them. Conversely, when Filipino works are performed abroad, those affiliate societies collect royalties and send them back to FILSCAP for distribution to its members.

FILSCAP uses an internationally recognized system of recording where songs played on radio and television stations are logged and matched to their respective copyright holders. The organization follows CISAC distribution rules, with royalties allocated based on actual usage data from licensees.

Real-World Example

A Filipino songwriter registers 15 original compositions with FILSCAP. A Manila radio station plays 6 of those songs in a given quarter, a Quezon City restaurant holds a blanket license covering background music, and a television network uses 2 songs in a drama series soundtrack.

FILSCAP collects license fees from all three sources. The radio station's usage logs show which songs were played and how often. The restaurant pays an annual blanket fee that covers all music played on its premises. The television network pays a synchronization fee for the songs used in the drama series.

The songwriter receives a royalty distribution based on the frequency and type of use. If the same songs are played on radio in the United States, FILSCAP's affiliate society ASCAP collects those royalties and remits them to FILSCAP, which then distributes them to the songwriter in the next distribution cycle.

For non-ticketed concerts and events, FILSCAP's standard rates include a minimum fee of P10,000 per concert and P5,000 per other event. The organization has offered preferential licensing terms through agreements with local government leagues, with annual blanket fees ranging from P6,000 to P10,000 depending on city classification.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a Filipino songwriter, composer, or publisher, FILSCAP membership is the only practical way to collect performance, mechanical, and synchronization royalties for your works in the Philippines. Without it, you would need to individually license every radio station, television network, restaurant, and venue that plays your music.

Membership requires assigning your performing, mechanical, and synchronization rights to FILSCAP for collective management. Once registered, submit your song registrations with correct metadata, split shares, and ISRC codes so your works can be matched to usage data. Accurate metadata speeds up your payments.

For non-Filipino artists, FILSCAP matters if your music is performed in the Philippines. Your home PRO should collect from FILSCAP through reciprocal agreements. However, some smaller PROs and publishing administrators may not have direct relationships with FILSCAP, so verify with your PRO that Philippine collections are covered.

FILSCAP continues to push for music licensing compliance across the Philippines. In June 2026, the organization actively campaigned for businesses to secure proper licenses, noting that many establishments play copyrighted music without authorization. This enforcement benefits all rights holders whose works generate revenue in the Philippine market.

Related Resources

• Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - What a PRO is and how it functions
• Performance Royalties - How performance royalties are generated and collected
• Mechanical Royalties - How mechanical royalties work alongside performance royalties
• Blanket License - The licensing model used by FILSCAP
• Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
• FILSCAP Official Website - Visit FILSCAP for membership and licensing information
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings