What Is a PRO and Why Does Every Songwriter Need One?
If you've written a song and you're not registered with a Performing Rights Organization, you're leaving money on the table. Here's the plain-English version of what PROs do and how to get set up.
What a PRO Actually Does
A Performing Rights Organization collects royalties on your behalf any time your music is publicly performed. “Performed” in this context is broader than you might think — it includes radio airplay, live performances at venues, background music in restaurants and retail stores, music in TV shows and films, and streaming (the performance royalty portion, specifically).
When a business plays your music, they pay a blanket license fee to PROs like ASCAP or BMI. The PRO then distributes those collected fees to songwriters and publishers based on tracked usage. Without a PRO registration, that money has nowhere to go — it doesn't disappear, but it sits uncollected and eventually gets redistributed to other writers.
Bottom line: PROs collect money that is legally yours. Registration is free. Not registering means leaving that money behind.
ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR — What's the Difference?
There are four main PROs in the United States. You can only belong to one as a writer.
ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers):
Member-owned, non-profit structure
Free to join as a writer; $50 one-time fee to register a publishing entity
Strong in pop, country, and film/TV
ascap.com
BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.):
Free to join as a writer and as a publisher
Historically strong in country, R&B, hip-hop, and rock
bmi.com
SESAC:
Invitation-only — you must be referred or apply and be accepted
Smaller roster but known for faster and more transparent payments
sesac.com
GMR (Global Music Rights):
Invitation-only, boutique roster of high-profile songwriters
Not relevant for most independent artists at this stage
For most independent artists starting out, the choice is between ASCAP and BMI. Both are reputable and collect from the same licensees. Pick one, join, and move on — the difference in payouts at an independent level is negligible.
What Is an IPI Number?
When you register with a PRO as a writer, you're assigned an IPI (Interested Parties Information) number. This is a unique identifier — think of it as your social security number for the music industry. It's what links you, as a writer, to your registered songs across all global royalty collection systems.
If you register a publishing entity (your own publishing company), that entity gets its own separate IPI number. Both the writer IPI and the publisher IPI matter when registering your works — more on that below.
Keep your IPI number somewhere you can easily find it. You'll use it repeatedly.
How to Register Your Songs
Joining a PRO is step one. Step two — which many writers miss — is actually registering each individual song in the PRO's database. Just being a member doesn't automatically connect your name to your music.
For each song, you'll need:
Song title
All writer names and their IPI numbers
Writer splits (percentages that add up to 100%)
Publisher name and IPI (if applicable)
ISRC code (assigned by your distributor)
Register your songs before the release date. PROs track usage from the point of registration, and retro-collecting missed royalties from before you registered is much harder — sometimes impossible for certain licensing categories.
DistroDad's publishing administration service handles PRO registration as part of our publishing admin offering. If you're managing it yourself, set a calendar reminder to register each new release at least two weeks before it goes live.
Not sure if your songs are registered correctly? Request a free catalog audit and we'll check for you.