Join one performing rights organization (PRO), ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, as a writer. Then register each song with its title, writer, publisher and split percentages directly on that PRO's site. A PRO pays performance royalties only. It doesn't register your song for streaming or download mechanical royalties; those go through The MLC instead.
Before you start
A PRO collects performance royalties: money owed when your song plays on the radio, streams with a public performance component, gets licensed for broadcast, or gets performed live somewhere that pays a blanket license. That's a separate right from the mechanical royalty paid when a song streams or downloads, which The MLC administers under the Music Modernization Act, not a PRO. Joining a PRO doesn't register you with The MLC, and joining The MLC doesn't register you with a PRO. You need both if you want every royalty stream.
You can only affiliate with one PRO at a time. BMI's own membership terms require that you aren't already a member of another PRO anywhere in the world before you affiliate, and the same logic applies in reverse once you've joined.
Fees and terms, as of October 2026:
| PRO | Writer membership | Publisher membership |
|---|---|---|
| ASCAP | Free | $50 one time, non-refundable; waived if you join as writer and publisher together |
| BMI | Free, no annual dues | $175 individual, $250 corporation or LLC, $500 partnership, one time |
| SESAC | Invitation only, no listed fee | Free to open, by email |
Step by step
Joining ASCAP
Apply as a writer at ascap.com. Writer membership is free. Once you get confirmation of your membership, wait five business days before trying to register your first work. ASCAP's system needs that window to activate your account. After that, sign in to Member Access, open the Works menu and click "Register a Work." Quick Registration gets you a fast writer, publisher and split entry; Guided Registration walks you through it in more detail. ASCAP doesn't ask for a copy of the recording or the lyrics. It works from the title, writer, publisher and ownership-split percentages you enter.
Joining BMI
Complete the Songwriter and/or Publisher application at bmi.com/join. You'll need a valid email address; applicants under 18 must have a custodial trust bank account at a U.S. bank. Songwriter affiliation is free, no annual dues. Once BMI approves the application, it sends a "Welcome to BMI" email with instructions to set up your Online Services account. Log in, go to Works Registration, and click "Add New Work" for each song. Same deal as ASCAP: title, writer and artist information only, no audio file required.
Timing matters more here than with ASCAP. You must affiliate with BMI before the song is first performed publicly. Affiliate late, and BMI won't pay royalties for performances that already happened before you joined.
Affiliating with SESAC
SESAC doesn't take direct writer applications. It's invitation only, so the practical route is having a lawyer, manager or agent contact SESAC on your behalf. SESAC states it doesn't accept unsolicited submissions from writers. If you're working with a SESAC writer and need a publisher account to keep the publisher's share, email publisher@sesac.com with the writer's name and email address. Opening that publisher account is free.
What every PRO needs for the work itself
Whichever PRO you pick, a work registration asks for the same core facts: the song title, every writer's name and PRO affiliation, every publisher's name, and the royalty split percentages between them. None of the three requires a copy of the audio or the lyrics to process a registration.
If a song has more than one writer, list every co-writer's PRO affiliation on the registration, even if some of them belong to a different PRO than you. The PROs reconcile shared works between societies on the back end, so you don't need to file separately with a co-writer's PRO. Keep the split percentages consistent across every PRO registration for the same song. If ASCAP has you at 50% and a co-writer's BMI filing also lists you at 50%, the two societies' records agree and payment processes cleanly. A mismatch between what you filed and what a co-writer filed is one of the more common reasons a registration gets flagged for manual review before royalties get released.
Common mistakes
Registering after the first performance, not before. BMI is explicit: late affiliation means no royalty for the performance that already happened. ASCAP's five business day wait catches writers who try to register the same day they join, before the account's ready.
Assuming a PRO covers streaming mechanicals too. It doesn't. If your song streams or gets downloaded in the US, register it with The MLC separately. Membership and registration with The MLC are both free, including for a self-published songwriter who wants to collect their own mechanical royalties directly instead of through a publisher.
Trying to affiliate with two PROs at once, or moving to a second PRO without first resigning from the one you're in. Check the resignation terms with your current PRO before you apply anywhere else.
Skipping the publisher share. If you're self-published, you may need a separate publisher registration on top of your writer registration to collect the full royalty rather than only the writer's half. That's the $50 ASCAP fee, the BMI publisher fee by entity type, or the free SESAC publisher account described above.
Letting a registration sit unfiled because the song is still "unfinished." A rough mix with a settled title and a settled writer split is enough to register. None of the three PROs asks for a final master. Producers who wait for a finished release often end up registering months after the first gig, livestream or sync placement that should have paid, which is exactly the late affiliation problem this article opened with.
By the DTA editorial desk. Facts checked October 2026. General information, not legal, tax or medical advice: see our disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register with more than one PRO at once?
No. A songwriter affiliates with exactly one PRO, ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, at a time. BMI's eligibility terms require that you aren't already a member of another PRO anywhere in the world before you affiliate with BMI.
Does registering with a PRO also register my song for mechanical royalties?
No. A PRO pays performance royalties for public performances and broadcasts. Streaming and download mechanical royalties in the US are administered separately by The MLC, which is free to join and free to register works with.
Do I need to submit audio or lyrics to register a song with ASCAP or BMI?
No. Both ASCAP and BMI register works from the title, writer, publisher and ownership split information you submit. Neither asks for a copy of the recording or the lyrics.
How fast should I register a new song after I join a PRO?
As soon as you can, and before the song is first performed publicly. BMI's guidance states that late affiliation means royalties from an early performance go unpaid, and ASCAP asks new writers to wait five business days after joining before registering their first work.
How do I affiliate with SESAC if it doesn't take direct applications?
Have a lawyer, manager or agent contact SESAC on your behalf. SESAC is invitation only and doesn't accept unsolicited writer submissions, though anyone working with a SESAC writer can open a free publisher account by emailing publisher@sesac.com.
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