Understanding Performing Rights Organizations (PROs)
A performance rights organization (PRO), performing rights society, or copyright collective acts as a group representative of artists to collect royalties and protect intellectual property. The algorithms used to determine payments to artists is kept secret and varies from organization to organization. There really isn’t any value in joining a PRO until you have a composition entering the market and is being marketed in a way that media outlets will take notice of the product. The United States has three PROs, ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. As an artist you can only have one represent you and your music.
By Jack Johnston MA TESOL, MBA, MSML