ASCAP membership...???

[matto]

Quote:Anyone correct me if I'm wrong, but there is more than enough lead time to sign up with ASCAP or BMI after your first placement, hit, or CD in order to collect royalties, right? What I was referring to is that membership in ASCAP or BMI is for the collection and payment of performance royalties (from film, television, radio, etc). If there aren't any songs being played in the public venues covered by ASCAP/BMI then it's all a moot point other than various discounts. Correct, there's no NEED to join a PRO until you have royalty generating "performances".It may still be beneficial to join (where possible) for the perks some PROs offer, such as various discounts, insurance, showcase opps and the like.

[slimcharm]

Does PRO stand for Professional Recording Organization?

[hummingbird]

PRO is Performing Rights Organization... they collect the royalties for Performances of your music.H

[roughly]

I have a question about joining ASCAP too. I co-write songs with people at work (which happen to be my husband and his brother). We were going to signup, but should we sign up each separately and all take 33% of the songwriting, or have one person sign up and split royalties from that? Would it be inconvenient for people to fill out the cue sheets with 3 names all the time or does that not really matter. Thanks!-Theresawww.callthecow.com

[hummingbird]

Hi - I['m no expert, but I think you should all join. You each will be paid your share through the PRO, and you'll each have to claim the income & pay the tax. I think this is also important for the future - if the song is still making money 50 years from now, you don't want to be reliant on one person's family paying the other two. I think it's important to register the song shares correctly with the PRO to avoid any possible future issues with collection of royalties, etc.Hummin'bird

[matto]

Vikki is right, you should all join. Nobody will frown on registering songs with 3-way splits, it's not uncommon in any way. Having one person collect the royalties and then pay the others is asking for all kinds of trouble, no matter how well the parties get along. Besides, any one of you may and probably will co-write with other people in the future anyway.It should also be pointed out that you don't all have to belong to the same PRO, as Ascap and Bmi (and Sesac, Socan etc) writers can collaborate freely.matto

[roughly]

Thanks Hummin'bird and Matto. I was kind of leaning that way anyhow so now I'll definitely go that way. It does make more sense. Thanks!Theresawww.callthecow.com