How to Choose Who to Register Your Music With
Releasing music as a musician opens up a number of avenues for you to get paid, and keeping track of them is important. Luckily for you, there are many different organisations who work on your behalf to collect royalties and ensure you get paid properly.
The two main categories are: Performance Rights Organisations and Mechanical Rights Organisations.
It’s important to make sure that you are registered with the relevant organisations so that you are properly compensated for your work.
Read on to understand the difference and learn who the main agencies are.
Performance Rights Organisations (PROs)
PROs track and collect royalties whenever your song is played publicly. This includes radio play, live performances, TV, streaming and more.
Here are some examples of the main international PROs:
ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)
- Amongst the largest PROs in the U.S, it collects royalties for songwriters, composers and music publishers.
PRS for Music (Performing Rights Society)
- The leading PRO in the UK, collecting royalties for public performances of music.
BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)
- Like ASCAP, BMI collects royalties for public performances of music.
SESAC (Society Of European Stage Authors and Composers)
- This PRO offers membership by invitation. As well as performance royalties, it offers some additional services. To register you should have a representative, such as a lawyer, manager, or agent, contact them on your behalf.
SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada)
- The leading PRO in Canada, collecting royalties for songwriters, composers and publishers.
For a full list of international Performance Rights Organisations, head to the full list here
Mechanical Rights Organisations (MROs)
Mechanical royalties are earned from physical and digital copies of your music. MROs collect royalties from the reproduction of your music, for example when your music is sold on CDs, vinyl or downloaded/streamed.
Here are some key agencies to look out for:
The Harry Fox Agency (U.S)
- A leading agency in the U.S that collects royalties for songwriters, composers and publishers
Music Reports (U.S)
- Also collects royalties from services such as Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
MCPS (Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society) (UK)
- Leading organisation working closely with PRS for Music
SACEM (Société des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Éditeurs de Musique) (France)
- Agency representing authors, composers, and publishers, also collecting performance royalties.
International agencies
You are also able to sign up to CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers), which is an umbrella agency for PROs and MROs. If you’re collecting royalties internationally i.e. generating sales from abroad, then consider signing up with CISAC to help global compensation.
How Do I Register?
Each agency will have a different registration process. The first step is to find an organisation relevant to your needs. When making this decision, there are a few things to consider:
- Territory - do they collect royalties where your music is being played or sold?
- Fee Structure - agencies have commission rates, so look for one with a transparent fee structure that suits your goals.
- Royalties collection - if you’re unsure which royalties you need to be collecting (PRO or MRO), then register for both types of agency to make sure you’re covered.
Once you’ve found your best partner, head to their website and follow the instructions to register.
After registering, make sure all of your metadata is correct so that all parties involved are fairly compensated.
Ready to take control of your royalties?
Head back to the un:hurd app to explore more tools and resources for managing your music career.
Not an un:hurd user yet?
Join thousands of independent artists who are using un:hurd to streamline their music marketing and maximize their impact. Sign up today!