What Is a PRO? Why should I Join One?

First, let's define "PRO."  PRO stands for "Performing Rights Organization."  PRO's are responsible for collecting performance royalties on behalf of composers and publishers.  Why should you join?

You may have a band, you may be well known in your area, and your music may be on the radio.  Did you know that when your music is played on the radio, you can earn money?  It's true!  If you don't have a PRO, you may be missing out on your royalties.

Let's not forget, you may decide to begin licensing your music out to be used in TV and Movie productions.  Without a PRO, you're going to have a tough time collecting your royalties.

Joining a PRO as a writer is often free, joining as a publisher is often not.  However, joining as both is essential.  Joining as a writer means you will collect a "writer's share" which is intended to pay the writer of the song(s) being broadcasted.  Joining as a Publisher will allow you to collect royalties on behalf of the musicians, writers, etc., that need to be paid for their work on the song(s) broadcasted.

The 3 major PRO's in the US are BMI, SESAC, and ASCAP.

How do PRO's work?
In the most common of scenarios, when your song is licensed to use on radio, TV, etc., cue sheets are sent by the production company, network, or cable company are sent to the PRO.  A cue sheet lists all the data on how your song is used.

Each PRO works differently in how they pay their artists.  According to BMI, one of the popular PRO choices, they generate a royalty amount by calculating your song's performance worth x viewer count.  Your song's worth is decided based on when it was aired, how long it was aired, whether it was the focus or was used as background music, whether your voice was heard, what time of day it was aired, etc.  Your song may be wroth 7 cents, it may be worth 1/2 a cent, it may be worth less.  This is mainly for TV.  For various other types of uses and how they're calculated, visit:  http://www.bmi.com/creators/royalty_print/basic

If you manage to get your music on TV, congratulations!  Now the waiting game begins.  This can be the most painstaking part of the music business - waiting for your royalties.  It can take as long as a year or longer to receive a royalty check.  It is important to stay in check with your PRO and licensees to make sure that cue sheets were sent and properly filed.

Joining a PRO is vital to your music career because your songs, no matter what anyone else thinks, are worth something.  A PRO's purpose is to prove that by demanding royalties for when your work is performed or broadcasted for others to hear.  It's free to join as a writer/composer, so there's no reason not to.  It is only going to benefit you in the long run.