Pro Music Rights (PMR) is a US-based performing rights organization and the fifth PRO to be formed in the United States, after ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR. Now operating under its parent company Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG), it licenses the public performance rights of songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Its stated licensees include TikTok, iHeart Media, Triller, Napster, 7Digital, and Vevo. It is best suited for songwriters and publishers seeking an alternative to the four established US PROs, though its market share and royalty distributions are a fraction of what ASCAP and BMI collect.
How Pro Music Rights Works
PMR issues blanket licenses to businesses that play music publicly, including radio stations, streaming platforms, television networks, venues, and retail establishments. It collects license fees and distributes them to affiliated songwriters and publishers based on reported usage data. The organization was officially recognized in the Federal Register of the United States in February 2025, confirming its status as a PRO under US copyright law.
PMR went public via a reverse merger with Nuvus Gro Corp (OTC: NUVG) and now trades as Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG). The company has announced acquisition targets ranging from $36 million to $250 million for 2025, and has reported receiving royalty payments from intellectual property stakes, including a Listerine IP stake. The company also entered a retainer agreement with a PCAOB-registered accounting firm as part of its push for transparency and uplisting to higher trading tiers.
PMR's history includes a settled billion-dollar copyright infringement lawsuit against Spotify in 2021, brought jointly with Sosa Entertainment. In December 2025, PMR and Music Licensing, Inc. announced they were exploring legal action against US Representative Scott Fitzgerald for statements the company characterized as false and defamatory. Also in December 2025, the FTC declined to comment on whether an investigation into PMR and AllTrack (another small US PRO) was underway, as reported by Digital Music News.
The company does not publicly disclose its total annual collections, overhead rate, or number of members in the same structured format as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC. This makes direct comparisons difficult. Songwriters considering PMR should request specific data on distribution schedules, commission rates, and average per-work payouts before affiliating.
Real-World Example
A songwriter affiliates with PMR and registers 30 songs. One of those songs is played on a TikTok video that receives 2 million views. TikTok holds a PMR blanket license, so PMR collects a fee from TikTok that covers all uses of PMR-affiliated works on the platform.
The songwriter receives a distribution based on PMR's internal calculation of their share of TikTok's license fee relative to all PMR-affiliated works used on the platform. The exact per-stream or per-view rate is not publicly disclosed in the way ASCAP and BMI publish their rate court settlements and distribution formulas.
If the same songwriter had affiliated with ASCAP instead, they would receive a distribution from ASCAP's $1.945 billion 2025 revenue pool, based on ASCAP's publicly documented census-based monitoring and quarterly payment schedule. The songwriter would need to compare PMR's actual payout against what they would have earned from ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or GMR for the same usage.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
PMR offers an alternative to the four established US PROs, and its TikTok license is a distinguishing feature. If your music is heavily used on TikTok, Triller, or iHeart Media platforms, PMR may collect royalties from those specific licensees.
However, you can only belong to one US PRO at a time for the same catalog of works. Before affiliating with PMR, request concrete data: total annual collections, overhead rate, distribution schedule, average per-work payout, and number of affiliated members. Compare these numbers against ASCAP (free to join, 10% overhead, $1.945 billion in 2025 collections) and BMI (free to join, approximately $1.6 billion in annual collections).
PMR's status as a publicly traded company (OTC: SONG) adds a layer of financial complexity that ASCAP and BMI do not have. The company's acquisition strategy and IP investment activities are separate from its core PRO function of collecting and distributing performance royalties. Make sure you understand how your royalties are handled relative to the company's broader business activities.
The FTC's December 2025 inquiry (though it declined to comment) and PMR's own legal actions against public officials suggest the organization operates in a more adversarial regulatory environment than the established PROs. Monitor these developments before making a long-term affiliation commitment.
Territory Covered
Pro Music Rights covers the United States. It licenses public performance rights for songwriters, composers, and music publishers within US territory. Its stated licensees include digital platforms (TikTok, Triller, Napster, 7Digital, Vevo), broadcast networks (iHeart Media), and traditional venues such as radio stations, television networks, nightclubs, hotels, bars, restaurants, and live concert venues. PMR was officially recognized in the Federal Register of the United States in February 2025, confirming its status as a PRO under US copyright law.
How to Join and Membership Fees
PMR does not publicly disclose its membership process, fees, or requirements in the same structured format as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC. The organization's website states that it represents songwriters, composers, and music publishers, and that it issues music licenses for a monthly or annual fee to businesses that use music.
PMR has announced a standardized Public Performance Rights license with the following structure:
- Usage rate: $0.01 per usage, paid fractionally based on the percentage controlled by each musical composition under PMR's catalog.
- Flat monthly licensing fee: $2,500 charged to licensees (businesses that use music), separate from usage fees.
- Royalty distribution: PMR states that 100% of usage fees go directly to rights holders, with the flat monthly fee retained as PMR revenue.
For songwriters and publishers seeking to affiliate, PMR claims to represent over 2.5 million musical works. However, the organization does not publish a structured membership application process, admission requirements, or affiliation fees on its website. Songwriters considering PMR should contact the organization directly to request specific information on affiliation terms, distribution schedules, and commission rates.
Overhead Rate
PMR's overhead rate is not publicly disclosed in a standardized format. The organization states that 100% of usage fees collected from licensees go directly to rights holders, with PMR retaining a flat monthly licensing fee of $2,500 per licensee as its revenue. This model differs from the percentage-based overhead used by ASCAP (approximately 10-12%), BMI (approximately 10-11%), and SESAC (not publicly disclosed, invitation-only).
However, the US Copyright Office and members of Congress have questioned PMR's transparency. In December 2025, US Representative Scott Fitzgerald sent a letter to the FTC urging an investigation into PMR and AllTrack, citing concerns about the accessibility of PMR's public repertoire data and the accuracy of its claimed 7.4% market share. The FTC declined to comment on whether an investigation was underway.
Royalty Distribution Schedule
PMR does not publicly disclose its royalty distribution schedule. The organization has not published information on how frequently royalties are distributed to affiliated songwriters and publishers, nor the methodology used to calculate per-work payouts.
For context, established US PROs distribute on the following schedules:
- ASCAP distributes quarterly
- BMI distributes quarterly
- SESAC distributes quarterly
- GMR distributes periodically
Songwriters considering PMR should request specific distribution schedule information before affiliating, as the timing and frequency of payments directly impact cash flow.
Reciprocal Agreements
PMR does not publicly list any reciprocal agreements with foreign performing rights organizations. Unlike ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, which maintain extensive reciprocal networks with CISAC-member societies worldwide, PMR's international collection capabilities are not documented in public filings or on its website.
This means that if a PMR-affiliated songwriter's works are performed internationally, there is no publicly available evidence that PMR can collect those royalties through reciprocal agreements. Songwriters whose music is performed outside the United States should verify PMR's international collection capabilities before affiliating, or consider a PRO with established reciprocal networks.
Notable Members
PMR claims to represent over 2.5 million musical works featuring notable artists. According to PMR's own website and SEC filings by its parent company Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG), the catalog includes works by:
- A$AP Rocky
- Wiz Khalifa
- Pharrell
- Young Jeezy
- Juelz Santana
- Lil Yachty
- MoneyBagg Yo
- Nipsey Hussle
- 2 Chainz
- Migos
- Gucci Mane
- Young Dolph
- Fall Out Boy
- Lil Uzi Vert
- Dej Loaf
- Soulja Boy
- Rich The Kid
- Famous Dex
- Boosie Badazz
- Shy Glizzy
- Trinidad James
- Chingy
- Curren$y
- OG Maco
- Lex Luger
PMR's SEC filings also reference royalty interests linked to The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Elton John, Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, Lil Wayne, XXXTentacion, and Rihanna, though these are described as broader portfolio holdings rather than direct PRO affiliations.
It is important to note that BMI has publicly questioned PMR's claimed 7.4% market share, stating in comments to the US Copyright Office that the figure would exceed the combined rights managed by SESAC and GMR, which BMI considers implausible. Songwriters should verify the actual scope of PMR's catalog before affiliating.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Pro Music Rights | ASCAP | BMI | SESAC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overhead Rate | Not disclosed (flat fee model) | ~10-12% | ~10-11% | Not disclosed |
| Join Fee | Not disclosed | Free | Free | Invitation only |
| Territory | United States | United States | United States | United States |
| Distribution Frequency | Not disclosed | Quarterly | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| 2025 Collections | Not disclosed | $1.945 billion | ~$1.6 billion | Not disclosed |
| Market Share (claimed) | 7.4% | ~35% | ~33% | ~5-7% |
| Federal Recognition | Yes (Feb 2025) | Yes (1914) | Yes (1939) | Yes (1931) |
Videos
Similar PROs
- ASCAP - The largest US PRO by membership, free to join, with quarterly distributions
- BMI - The second-largest US PRO, free to join, with quarterly distributions
- GMR - Global Music Rights, a smaller US PRO focused on high-value catalogs
- AllTrack - Another small US PRO, also subject to FTC scrutiny alongside PMR
Related Resources
- Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - What a PRO is and how it functions
- Performance Royalties - How performance royalties are generated and collected
- Blanket License - The licensing model used by PMR and other PROs
- PRO Comparison Guide - Detailed comparison of US PROs
- Pro Music Rights Official Website - Visit PMR for membership and licensing information
- Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings
