Quick Answer
For most independent U.S. songwriters choosing their first performance-rights organization, ASCAP and BMI are the practical open-access options. Both license public performances of compositions, register works, and distribute royalties to affiliated writers and publishers. The better choice is usually the organization whose agreement, tools, and support process you are most comfortable managing—not a promise that one always pays more.
ASCAP is free for a new writer, and it also waives the publisher application fee when a new writer joins as writer and publisher at the same time. BMI offers free songwriter affiliation and charges a separate publisher affiliation fee. SESAC is invitation-only and does not accept unsolicited songwriter submissions. AllTrack is open to independent creators and combines performance-rights administration with optional mechanical- and neighboring-rights services.
Whichever organization you select, accurate registrations matter more than delaying the decision in search of a universal winner. Confirm every writer, IPI number, title, alternate title, and ownership split before submitting a work.
What a PRO Collects
A performance-rights organization licenses public performances of musical compositions. Those performances can include radio and television broadcasts, live performances at licensed venues, music used by businesses, and eligible uses on digital services. The organization matches usage data to registered works and distributes the resulting writer and publisher shares under its own distribution rules.
A PRO does not replace every other royalty service. The rights attached to a composition and the rights attached to a sound recording travel through different systems:
- A PRO handles eligible public-performance royalties for the composition.
- The Mechanical Licensing Collective administers eligible U.S. digital audio mechanical royalties for compositions under the blanket license.
- SoundExchange administers eligible U.S. non-interactive digital performance royalties for sound recordings.
- A distributor collects master-recording income from the stores and streaming services to which it delivers a release, subject to the distribution agreement.
- A publishing administrator may register and collect composition royalties across additional territories and right types, subject to its agreement and commission.
Self-administered songwriters should identify who controls the publisher share of each work. Depending on the arrangement, that may mean creating a publisher affiliation with the PRO, registering directly where eligible, or authorizing a publishing administrator. Do not create overlapping mandates for the same rights and territories.
PRO Comparison
| Organization | Songwriter access | Writer application cost | Publisher setup | Rights scope highlighted here | Distribution pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASCAP | Open to eligible writers | Free for new writers | Free when a new writer joins as writer and publisher together; publisher-only applications cost $50 | Composition performance rights | Domestic writer and publisher distributions are quarterly, with separate international distributions |
| BMI | Open to eligible writers | Free | Separate paid publisher affiliation | Composition performance rights | Quarterly royalty distributions |
| SESAC | Invitation-only | No unsolicited applications | Publisher accounts support represented catalogs | Composition performance rights; the wider SESAC Music Group also includes mechanical-rights services | Affiliate distributions follow SESAC’s schedule |
| AllTrack | Open application for independent creators | Free for creator membership | Publisher membership available | Performance rights, plus mechanical and neighboring-rights programs | Published schedules vary by right type and territory |
ASCAP
ASCAP operates on a not-for-profit basis and is governed by its songwriter, composer, and publisher members. Its one-year agreement cycle can appeal to writers who value a shorter affiliation term. ASCAP’s current joining policy makes a combined new writer-and-publisher application free, while a publisher-only application carries a one-time fee.
BMI
BMI is a for-profit performance-rights organization owned by New Mountain Capital. Songwriter affiliation is free, while publisher affiliation is a separate paid application. Its standard writer agreement uses a two-year term, so the resignation window deserves attention before joining or switching.
SESAC
SESAC uses a selective affiliation model. Its official guidance says a lawyer, manager, agent, or other representative can approach the company on a writer’s behalf, but SESAC does not accept unsolicited submissions. That makes it relevant mainly when an invitation or direct relationship already exists.
AllTrack
AllTrack positions its performance-rights service for independent creators worldwide. Creator membership has no signup or annual fee. Its broader platform also offers mechanical- and neighboring-rights collection, with separate eligibility, commission, and payment terms for those programs. Read each mandate carefully before combining services in one account.
How to Choose
Use contract and administration details to narrow the choice:
- Access: ASCAP, BMI, and AllTrack accept eligible applications; SESAC requires an invitation.
- Publisher share: Decide whether you will create a publisher entity, remain self-administered through another permitted route, or appoint an administrator.
- Agreement term: Review the initial term, renewal rules, and resignation window before signing. Switching later is possible, but it is not instantaneous.
- Catalog workflow: Compare bulk registration, co-writer handling, setlist reporting, statement detail, and conflict-resolution tools.
- Additional mandates: Treat mechanical and neighboring rights as separate decisions even when one platform offers them alongside performance rights.
Genre reputation is a weak tie-breaker. Large U.S. PROs represent writers across genres, and royalty results depend on where performances occur, how each use is measured, and whether the work data matches correctly. No organization can compensate for missing registrations or inconsistent ownership information.
Registration Checklist
Before applying, gather your legal and tax details, banking information, publisher information if applicable, and the agreed splits for every co-written work. Then:
- Read the affiliation agreement and note the resignation window.
- Apply as a writer and complete the publisher-side setup appropriate to your catalog.
- Save the IPI or CAE number assigned to each writer and publisher.
- Register each composition with exact titles, writer names, and splits.
- Add alternate titles only when they are genuinely used for the same work.
- Use the organization’s live-performance reporting tool when eligible.
- Review statements and resolve duplicate or conflicting registrations promptly.
Complete the Royalty Stack
After the PRO setup, self-administered U.S. songwriters should determine whether they are eligible to become members of The MLC and register the shares they control. Membership and work registration are free. Writers whose works are already administered should avoid registering rights they no longer control.
Recording artists and sound-recording copyright owners should also register with SoundExchange when eligible. Registration is free, but creators still need to claim and maintain their recordings. International neighboring-rights collection may require additional society memberships or an administrator, depending on territory and agreements.
Common Mistakes
- Registering the writer account but never registering the works.
- Assuming a distributor also registered the composition.
- Leaving co-writer splits unresolved or entering totals that conflict across services.
- Creating overlapping collection mandates for the same rights and territories.
- Missing live-performance reports or submitting setlists after the applicable deadline.
- Failing to update tax, address, or payment information.
- Treating The MLC, SoundExchange, and a PRO as interchangeable organizations.
The reliable approach is a clean rights map: identify the composition and sound-recording owners, assign each royalty stream to one authorized collector, and keep the metadata consistent everywhere.