BMI vs ASCAP: Which PRO Should You Join as an Independent Artist?

You released a song, it's getting streams, and now everyone tells you to "sign up with a PRO." In the US that usually means picking between BMI and ASCAP. Both collect the same kind of money for songwriters, so the choice feels bigger than it is. Here's what a PRO actually does, where BMI and ASCAP differ, and what else you need so you don't leave money on the table.

What does a PRO do?

A PRO (performing rights organization) licenses the public performance of songs and pays the songwriters and publishers. Think radio, TV, live venues, businesses playing music and streaming. The MLC describes a PRO's main job as granting public performance licenses and collecting and distributing royalties for public performances of musical works.

Important: a PRO pays for the song (lyrics and music), not for the recording. That's why other organizations exist next to it. More on that below.

BMI vs ASCAP: the short answer

For most independent artists, both are fine. They do the same core job, and you can only pick one at a time. BMI's own FAQ says you can affiliate as long as you're not a member of any other performing rights organization in the world. So don't overthink it: the differences that matter are in the paperwork, not in your royalties per play.

The differences you'll actually notice

How the organization is run

ASCAP says it's the only US PRO with a Board of Directors made up of music writers and publishers, elected by its members. If that matters to you, it's a real point in ASCAP's favor. BMI is run differently, so read up on both on their own sites.

How long you're locked in

• BMI: the standard writer agreement starts with a two-year term and then renews automatically. To leave, you send a signed notice by mail within a set window: no more than six months and no less than three months before your term ends. BMI does not accept email notice.
• ASCAP: you can resign during an annual three-month window based on the date you became a member. You do it through the Member Access portal. Miss the window and you wait until next year.

Either way, note your dates in your calendar the day you join. Switching later is possible, but only at the right moment.

Joining costs and the publisher share

Fees differ for writers and for publishing companies, and they change, so check the current numbers on the BMI and ASCAP join pages. What matters more is the publisher share. ASCAP explains that performance royalties are split 50% to the writers and 50% to the publishers, and that you need to set up a publishing company with ASCAP if you want to access the publisher's share yourself. BMI says that if you're just getting started, you won't need a publishing company. Ask your PRO how they handle the publisher share when you self-publish, before you register your first song.

Step by step: joining and registering your songs

1. Pick one PRO. BMI or ASCAP. Check their current terms and fees first.
2. Join as a writer. Fill in your details online. Write down your agreement dates.
3. Decide on the publisher share. Ask whether you need your own publishing entity to collect it.
4. Register every song. Add the title, every writer and the split in percentages. Make sure your co-writers register the same split with their own PRO.
5. Keep your split sheet. Agree on the split before release and put it on paper. Here's how a split sheet works.

Rapping on a beat? You're not the only writer

If a producer made the beat, they wrote the music and you wrote the lyrics. That makes you co-writers. Check your beat license for an agreed split, and if it says nothing, talk to the producer before you register the song. Looking for a beat to write on? Browse the beats and settle the split before you drop the track.

A PRO alone isn't enough

A PRO only covers performance royalties. Two other US organizations collect different money:

• The MLC collects mechanical royalties for digital uses in the US, like on-demand streaming and downloads. The MLC itself says you need both a PRO and The MLC, because they cover different royalty types. A publisher or publishing administrator can handle The MLC for you if you have one.
• SoundExchange pays recording artists and sound recording owners for digital performances on non-interactive services like SiriusXM and Pandora. It's about the recording, not the song, and SoundExchange says registering is free.

So a self-releasing rapper who writes their own lyrics can earn from all three: the PRO and The MLC for the song, SoundExchange for the recording. Your distributor pays you the master side from Spotify and Apple Music. You'll also need an ISRC for each recording: see ISRC and UPC explained.

Not living in the US?

ASCAP says creators outside the US can join directly, but for most of them the local society is the main route. ASCAP has reciprocal agreements with over 100 societies: it collects in the US and sends the royalties to your local society, which pays you. In the Netherlands that's BumaStemra and Sena. Read how to sign up with BumaStemra and Sena.

How much will you get?

Performance royalties are only one slice of what a stream earns. Want a rough idea of what your streams bring in across platforms? Try the free streams calculator, and read how much Spotify pays per stream for the full picture.

FAQ

Can I join both BMI and ASCAP?

Not at the same time as a writer. BMI requires that you're not a member of any other PRO in the world. Different co-writers on one song can belong to different PROs, though.

Can I switch from BMI to ASCAP later?

Yes, but only in your exit window. BMI wants written notice three to six months before your term ends. ASCAP has a yearly three-month resignation window. ASCAP advises avoiding a gap between leaving one PRO and joining another.

Do I need a PRO if my music is only on Spotify?

Streaming counts as a performance, so yes, there can be performance royalties for your songs. Add The MLC for the mechanical side.

Does my distributor handle this?

A distributor gets your recording into stores and pays you the master royalties. PRO registration of your songs is something you usually do yourself, unless you work with a publisher or admin service.

This is general information, not legal advice. Always check the current terms on the sites of BMI, ASCAP, The MLC and SoundExchange.