In this post, we explore what organizations are considered PROs and what role they play in music licensing in a business setting.
In the U.S., composers, lyricists, artists, and publishers become members of Performing Rights Organizations, who ensure their members are getting compensated for their creative works. PROs pay members by collecting licensing fees and then distributing funds based on the amount of times their work has been performed or played.
The main PROs in the United States are American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) and SESAC. In order to avoid fines, you need licenses from each PRO that represents each song you play.
Getting a license from each PRO can be daunting and expensive task. Download our Music Licensing for Business Guide to find more affordable solutions for legal music.
