Why do I need to be affiliated as a writer with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) / Performing Rights Society such as BMI/ASCAP?

What is a Performing Rights Organization (PRO)?
A PRO such as BMI/ASCAP is a separate entity from a Publishing Administrator such as Master Publishing, but both work to ensure songwriters get paid. They play important roles in a songwriter’s career.

Why should I be affiliated with a PRO?
We recommend affiliating with a PRO as you’ll need to enter your CAE/IPI number during the registration process with Master Publishing. You can only get this from your PRO. We also recommend affiliating as a writer because they pay the writer’s share of public performances directly to the composer. Master Publishing service handles your publishing share, but you need to affiliate with a PRO to receive the writer’s share income, which is an additional revenue source.

What if I am not affiliated with a PRO?
If you are not affiliated with a PRO, we will automatically register your compositions with PROs as publishers, but we can’t register you as a songwriter. If you’re an artist in The USA, you can join BMI/ASCAP. We would recommend doing this first, before you sign up to Master Publishing. If from elsewhere, we would recommend joining the collection society in your country of origin. Affiliating with a PRO is essential for receiving your writer’s share.