ASCAP vs BMI vs SESAC: How to Register with a PRO

ASCAP and BMI are the two major US performing rights organizations. Both are free to join (ASCAP charges a one-time $50 fee) and collect the same types of royalties from the same sources. The practical differences are minimal for most songwriters. SESAC is smaller and invite-only. Pick one, register your songs, and start collecting performance royalties.

A Performing Rights Organization collects performance royalties on your behalf whenever your composition is played publicly. That includes radio airplay, streaming, TV broadcasts, live venues, and businesses playing background music.

If you write songs and have not registered with a PRO, you are leaving money uncollected. Registration takes 15 minutes. There is no minimum income requirement, no audition, and no approval process for ASCAP or BMI.

The question every songwriter asks: which one? The honest answer is that it barely matters. This guide covers how PROs fit into the revenue picture, the real differences between the three organizations, and exactly how to register. For a broader look at where PRO income fits alongside your other revenue streams, see Music Income: How Artists Actually Get Paid.

The Three US PROs Compared

How PROs Collect and Pay You

PROs operate on a blanket license model. Radio stations, TV networks, streaming platforms, venues, restaurants, and any business that plays music publicly pays an annual blanket license fee to each PRO. That fee covers the right to play anything in that PRO's catalog without negotiating song by song.

PROs then track which songs get performed. Streaming platforms and radio stations report playlists directly. Some sources report every play. Others rely on sample surveys where complete tracking is impractical.

Each quarter, PROs calculate payments based on tracked performances and the total pool of collected license fees. More performances means a larger share of the pool. The money flows back to registered songwriters whose songs have been matched.

ASCAP vs BMI: The Real Differences

Most articles comparing these two exaggerate the gap. Here is what is actually different and what is not.

What is identical: Both collect from the same sources (radio, TV, streaming, venues). Both pay quarterly with similar delays. Both have online portals for registering works and tracking earnings. Both have reciprocal agreements with international PROs. Both use similar tracking methodologies.

What is different: ASCAP charges a one-time $50 registration fee. BMI is free. Payment calculations differ slightly due to proprietary formulas, but the differences are marginal for most songwriters. ASCAP uses a "Follow the Dollar" system for international royalties. BMI calculates differently. Neither is consistently better. Portal interfaces differ, which is personal preference.

The practical advice: If $50 matters to you right now, join BMI. If it does not, flip a coin. The differences will not affect your income until you are earning significant royalties. At that point you can evaluate switching.

Why SESAC Is Different

SESAC is a for-profit company. ASCAP and BMI are nonprofits. SESAC is selective about membership and actively recruits songwriters whose catalogs fit their strategy.

The pitch is more personalized service, faster payments (monthly instead of quarterly), and more aggressive pursuit of licensing fees from certain industries. The reality for new artists: you cannot just sign up. SESAC reviews applications and only accepts songwriters they want to represent. If you have a catalog generating significant income or a track record of placements, they may reach out. If you are starting out, SESAC is not an option.

Ignore SESAC until you have a reason to consider it. Register with ASCAP or BMI now.

How to Register with ASCAP (Step by Step)

1. Go to ascap.com and click "Join ASCAP"

2. Choose Songwriter/Composer (most independent artists start here, not Publisher)

3. Complete the application: legal name, stage name, contact info, Social Security Number, date of birth

4. Pay the $50 one-time lifetime membership fee

5. Receive your ASCAP member number and IPI number by email. Save both.

6. Log into the member portal and register every song as a "work" under Title Registration

Each work registration requires the song title, all writers with ownership percentages, the ISRC code from your distributor, and the release date. Registering as a member without registering your songs means no matched payments.

How to Register with BMI (Step by Step)

1. Go to bmi.com and click "Join BMI"

2. Select "Songwriter" affiliation (BMI uses "affiliate" instead of "member")

3. Complete the application: legal name, performing name, contact info, Social Security Number, date of birth

4. Accept the agreement. No payment required.

5. Receive your BMI affiliation number and IPI number (usually instant)

6. Log into BMI Online Services and register every song under "Works Registration" with the same details: title, writers, splits, ISRC, release info

After You Register: The Steps That Actually Matter

Register every existing song. If you released music before joining a PRO, go back and register every song. Royalties may have been sitting in holding.

Register every new song on release day. Build the habit. When you upload to your distributor, also add the work to your PRO catalog. Treat it as part of the same workflow.

Keep split agreements documented. If you co-write, make sure all writers register the same song with the same ownership percentages. Mismatched splits cause payment delays and disputes. Agree on splits in writing before registering.

Check your dashboard quarterly. Log in, review performance data, and verify payments are arriving. If you have meaningful streaming numbers but zero PRO payments, something is wrong with your work registrations.

For the full picture on all six royalty types you should be collecting, see Music Royalties Explained: The 6 Types You Earn.

Can You Switch PROs?

Yes, but it takes time. Each PRO has a membership term (typically 1-3 years for ASCAP, 2 years for BMI). You resign at the end of your term and join the other.

The process: submit a resignation letter before your term expires, wait for it to take effect, register with the new PRO, and re-register all your songs as works. There will be a gap in collection during the transition.

Most songwriters find that switching is not worth the administrative burden. The differences are marginal unless you have specific data showing one PRO underperforms for your catalog. Staying put is usually the right call.

International Royalties

If your music plays in other countries, international PROs collect those royalties and route them back to your US PRO through reciprocal agreements.

Your song plays on UK radio. PRS (the UK's PRO) collects the royalty and sends it to ASCAP or BMI based on your registration. Your US PRO then pays you. The delay is 12-18 months from the play date, which is normal.

Some songwriters with significant international activity register directly with foreign PROs for faster payment. This is complex and only worth pursuing at scale.

Independent artists building a global presence can explore Orphiq's resources for artists to keep release planning and royalty registrations organized across markets.

Common Registration Mistakes

Not registering at all. The most expensive mistake. BMI is free. ASCAP is $50 once. Every month without registration is money redistributed to other rights holders.

Registering yourself but not your songs. Membership alone does nothing. You must add each song as a work. The PRO cannot match payments to songs it does not know you wrote.

Mismatched splits between co-writers. If you claim 50% and your co-writer claims 70%, the song gets flagged and payments freeze until the dispute resolves. Agree on splits in writing before anyone registers.

Forgetting new releases. Every song needs to be added. Build it into your release checklist so nothing slips through.

Overthinking the ASCAP vs BMI decision. Analysis paralysis costs more in uncollected royalties than any difference between the two organizations. Pick one and move forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I register with both ASCAP and BMI?

No. You affiliate with one US PRO at a time. Co-writers can be with different PROs. Each writer registers with their own and claims their split.

How much will I earn from my PRO?

It depends on your performance volume. A song with one million streams might generate $1,000-$2,000 annually in performance royalties. Radio rotation generates significantly more.

What is an IPI number and why does it matter?

Your IPI is a unique international identifier assigned when you join a PRO. It matches royalties to the correct songwriter across borders. Keep it on file.

Do I need a PRO if I only release on Spotify?

Yes. Spotify pays performance royalties to PROs separate from what it pays your distributor. Without registration, you miss those royalties entirely.

Read Next

• Music Royalties Explained: The 6 Types You Earn

• Music Income: How Artists Actually Get Paid

• Music Publishing: How It Works

Get Your Royalties in Order:

Orphiq helps you coordinate releases alongside the registrations that make sure you get paid for every play.