If your music is being streamed, played on the radio, performed live, or used in any public setting, there are royalties being generated. The question is whether you're collecting them.
That's what a PRO does. And if you're not registered with one, the answer is no.
What Is a PRO?
A Performance Rights Organization (PRO) collects performance royalties on behalf of songwriters, composers, and publishers. Every time your song is played publicly (streaming platforms, radio, TV, film, live venues, restaurants, retail stores), a performance royalty is generated. Your PRO tracks those plays and sends you the money.
The two major PROs in the United States are ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.). There's also SESAC, but it's invitation-only, so most independent artists choose between ASCAP and BMI.
Important clarification: PROs collect performance royalties only. They don't collect mechanical royalties (downloads, on-demand streams) or sync fees (TV/film placements). Those come from other sources. But performance royalties are a significant revenue stream, and most independent artists leave them uncollected.
ASCAP vs BMI: The Key Differences
Both organizations do the same fundamental job. The differences are mostly operational.
Application fee: - ASCAP: $50 one-time fee (covers both writer and publisher registration) - BMI: Free for writers. Publisher registration is approximately $150.
Payment schedule: - ASCAP: Pays quarterly, roughly 6-9 months after a performance. Direct deposit available. - BMI: Pays quarterly as well, with a similar lag. Direct deposit available.
Ownership of your works: - Neither owns your music. You're granting them the right to license and collect on your behalf. You can switch PROs, though you'll need to re-register your catalog.
The honest answer: For most independent artists, the difference is minimal. Both collect from the same performances, both pay on similar schedules. Pick one, register, and start building your catalog.
Who Needs to Register?
If any of the following are true, you should be registered with a PRO:
- Your music is on streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, etc.)
- Your music has been played on radio (including internet radio and college stations)
- You perform live at venues, festivals, or events
- Your music has been used in a YouTube video, podcast, or any visual media
- You've had or are pursuing sync placements (TV, film, commercials, games)
If you're an independent artist releasing music in any capacity, the answer is almost certainly yes.
The Big Misconception
Uploading your music to Spotify through a distributor does not mean you're collecting performance royalties.
Your distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, etc.) collects your share of the streaming revenue that goes to the master recording. That's one revenue stream.
Performance royalties from streaming are a separate stream, collected by your PRO. If you're not registered with a PRO and haven't registered your songs in their system, that money sits uncollected.
This is the single most common gap in independent artists' revenue setup. The music is out there generating royalties. Nobody is picking them up.
How to Register: Step by Step
ASCAP
- Go to ascap.com and click "Join ASCAP"
- Choose whether you're joining as a Writer, Publisher, or both
- Fill out the application with your legal name, contact info, and music details
- Pay the $50 application fee
- Once approved, log into your Member Access portal
- Register each of your songs individually
- Set up direct deposit for payments
BMI
- Go to bmi.com and click "Join BMI"
- Select Writer (free) or Publisher (approximately $150)
- Complete the application with your legal name, performing name, and contact info
- Once approved, log into BMI Online
- Register your works: song title, writers, publishers, ownership percentages
- Set up direct deposit
After Registration
Registering with the PRO is step one. Registering your individual songs is step two, and it's the step most people skip. Your PRO can only collect royalties for songs they know about. Every time you release new music, add it to your PRO catalog.
What About Publishing?
If you don't have a publishing deal, you are both the songwriter AND the publisher. That means there are two sets of performance royalties for each song: the writer's share and the publisher's share.
Registering as a writer captures the writer's share. To capture the publisher's share, you also need to register as a publisher.
Many independent artists skip this step, leaving roughly half their performance royalties uncollected.
Getting Started
The entire registration process takes about 30 minutes. Once you're set up, registering new songs takes a few minutes each. Every public performance of your music generates royalties that actually reach you.
9toVibe's protection checklist walks you through PRO registration as part of getting Sovereign Verified on the platform. Clear steps, nothing missed, including the publisher setup that most guides skip.
Not sure how much you're leaving on the table? Use the free royalty calculator at 9tovibe.com/tools/royalty-calculator to see what your streams should be earning across every revenue stream.
Before you register your songs with a PRO, make sure every collaboration has a signed split sheet documenting who owns what. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our guide at 9tovibe.com/blog/how-to-create-a-split-sheet.
Register, add your songs, and close the gap between your music being played and you getting paid.