As a musician, it's important to understand the role of Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) and how they can benefit you. PROs collect licensing fees on behalf of songwriters and composers and then distribute those fees as royalties. There are three main PROs in the United States: BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC. Here's a breakdown of the differences between these organizations:
• BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.): BMI is a non-profit organization that represents over 1.1 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. They collect licensing fees for the public performance of music on behalf of their members and distribute those fees as royalties. BMI has a reputation for being more inclusive and accepting a wider range of genres and styles of music.
• ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers): ASCAP is a non-profit organization that represents over 700,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers. They collect licensing fees for the public performance of music on behalf of their members and distribute those fees as royalties. ASCAP is known for being more selective in the types of music they represent and generally focus on more mainstream genres.
• SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers): SESAC is a for-profit organization that represents over 30,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers. They collect licensing fees for the public performance of music on behalf of their members and distribute those fees as royalties. SESAC is known for being the smallest and most exclusive of the three PROs, generally representing more established and successful artists.
As an artist, you have the option to join one or more of these PROs in order to collect royalties for the public performance of your music. It's important to consider the differences between these organizations and choose the one that best fits your needs and goals as an artist.
We hope this information has been helpful and we wish you the best of luck in your music career!
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