DistroKid is a digital music distribution platform that helps you get your music on streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Google Play. However, DistroKid only collects mechanical royalties from streams and downloads. To collect performance royalties when your music is played publicly, you need to register with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) like ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers).
ASCAP and BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) are the two largest PROs in the United States. They collect royalties when your music is played on the radio, television, in public venues like cafes, restaurants, shopping malls, and even during live performances. Both organizations operate under US copyright law, ensuring the rights of musicians and publishers.
Registering your songs with ASCAP is fairly straightforward. You need to create an account on the ASCAP website and fill out the song registration form. During registration, you’ll be asked to provide information about the song, including the song title, songwriter(s), publisher(s) (if applicable), and the royalty split between the songwriter(s) and publisher(s). For independent artists, this is often 100% for the songwriter and 0% for the publisher.
ASCAP and BMI split performance royalties between the songwriter and the publisher. You can decide on the percentage of royalties you will receive from each type during the song registration process. If you are an independent artist without a label or publishing deal, you can receive 100% of the writer’s share.
BMI Song Registration
Companies and organizations that use copyrighted music must report song usage to ASCAP and BMI. These PROs collect money from these businesses through blanket licenses, allowing them to use copyrighted music for business purposes. At the end of each quarter, ASCAP and BMI distribute the money collected from blanket licenses and pay royalties to artists based on the ratio of their song usage compared to the total number of songs used in the music industry.
The difference between ASCAP and BMI lies in the registration fees. BMI allows free registration as a writer, while ASCAP charges a one-time registration fee of $50. However, if you want to register as a publisher, ASCAP is more cost-effective. Both organizations offer member benefits, such as discounts on travel services, healthcare, and online courses.
If you don’t live in the United States but want to register with ASCAP or BMI, you can still do so. Refer to the ASCAP and BMI FAQs for more information on registering as an international artist.
Registering with a PRO like ASCAP is crucial to ensure you receive all the royalties you deserve. DistroKid only handles mechanical royalties, while ASCAP handles performance royalties. Therefore, you need both to maximize your music income.
