PROs: Why Writers Need Them

Performance Rights Organizations.  You may have heard of these companies before, but if you haven't, they are businesses in the music publishing stream of the music industry.  Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) have contracts with all sorts of businesses to collect money on behalf of their members.  Businesses they collect from include radio stations, restaurants, music venues, and even universities.  After collecting this money, they pay out their members, writer and publishing companies alike.  You may think that signed writers and established music publishers are the only ones who can benefit from these PROs, but fortunately, you are wrong.

All song writers should join one of these PROs, especially if they are playing their music around town. These venues are required by law to pay for the music being performed.  If you're performing your music in any (reputable) venue, you should be getting paid for it. There are currently three U.S. companies that collect for music performances: 

What They Have in Common: 

All three companies have great member services.  They each have their own login portal for members to register their songs.  (Yes, you must manually register your song on their site so they know to look out for it and pay you for the performance.)  All three PRO's actively search out music venues and other businesses to make sure that they have proper licenses and are paying for performances.

What Makes Them Different: 

ASCAP

Largest PRO
Views their writers and publishers as Members, meaning you may attend meetings and conferences throughout the year
Extremely active in the Songwriter Equity Act

BMI

No fees to join
Allows writer/artist to upload Set List directly to site to ensure payment for performance


SESAC

Exclusivity - to become a member of SESAC, you must be invited by a current member
Less writers, more payout.  Each PRO pays out of their own pie, so the less people to eat the pie, the larger the slice. 


No matter your choice, each of these companies looks out for their members.  They ensure that writers can be paid for the performance of their work. This way, writers and artists can make a living off what they do best, creating. So, songwriter, which PRO will you be joining?