ASCAP
ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) is a U.S. performing rights organization (PRO) that licenses and collects Performance Royalties for its songwriter, composer, and music publisher members.
Founded in 1914, ASCAP is one of the oldest and largest PROs in the world. Its primary function is to represent the public performance rights of its members' musical compositions. This means that whenever a song written by an ASCAP member is performed publicly—whether on radio, television, in a concert venue, a restaurant, or via streaming services—ASCAP licenses that use, collects the Performance Royalties, and then distributes those royalties to its affiliated songwriters, composers, and publishers. ASCAP operates on a non-profit basis, distributing nearly all of the royalties it collects back to its members after deducting operating expenses.
ASCAP issues Blanket Licenses to businesses that use music publicly, granting them legal permission to play any song in ASCAP's vast repertoire. This simplifies the licensing process for music users while ensuring that creators are compensated for their intellectual property. For songwriters and publishers, affiliating with a PRO like ASCAP is a fundamental step to monetize their compositions and protect their Performance Royalties, which are a significant income stream in the music industry.
If a song written by an ASCAP member is played on a local radio station, ASCAP collects a fee from that station (via a Blanket License) and then pays a portion of that fee as a Performance Royalty to the songwriter and their publisher. This ensures creators are compensated for their work being broadcast.
While melabel focuses on distribution and analytics, understanding the role of PROs like ASCAP is crucial for artists. melabel’s Music Analytics can help you track the performance of your compositions, ensuring you are properly registered with organizations like ASCAP to collect your Performance Royalties.