PRO (Performing Rights Organization)
An organization that collects and distributes performance royalties on behalf of songwriters and publishers.
What it means
A Performing Rights Organization (PRO) is an entity that acts as an intermediary between music creators and music users to collect and distribute performance royalties. PROs license the public performance of musical compositions to businesses, broadcasters, streaming services, venues, and other entities that play music publicly. They then distribute the collected license fees to their affiliated songwriters, composers, and music publishers. In the United States, the three major PROs are ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), and SESAC (which is now invitation-only). Internationally, each country typically has its own PRO — PRS for Music in the UK, SOCAN in Canada, APRA AMCOS in Australia, GEMA in Germany, and SACEM in France, among many others. Songwriters can only affiliate with one PRO at a time in the US, and each PRO has different distribution methodologies, payment schedules, and membership benefits. For ambient and meditation music creators, choosing the right PRO and properly registering all works is essential to ensure royalty collection from streaming platforms, wellness apps, yoga studios, and other venues where their music is performed publicly.
Technical details
PROs operate under consent decrees (ASCAP and BMI in the US) or through direct negotiation (SESAC). They issue blanket licenses to music users, which grant the right to perform any work in the PRO's catalog for a set fee. License fees are typically based on the type and size of the business, audience reach, and revenue. Distribution is based on performance data collected through digital tracking, broadcast monitoring, and sample surveys. ASCAP operates on a non-profit basis, SESAC is a for-profit company, and BMI became a for-profit company whose sale to a group led by New Mountain Capital was completed in 2024. PROs typically distribute royalties quarterly, and payment usually arrives several months after the performance period. Writers can register with only one US PRO at a time, but publishers can affiliate with multiple PROs simultaneously by creating separate publishing entities.
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