How to Register Your Music for Royalties: ASCAP vs BMI Guide

How to Actually Get Paid: A No-BS Guide to Registering with ASCAP or BMI

You’ve finished the track, the mix is tight, and you just hit “distribute.” It feels like the hard part is over, right? Well, not exactly. If you haven’t registered that song with a Performance Rights Organization (PRO), you’re essentially letting your hard-earned money sit in a giant pot that someone else is going to claim.

Every time your music plays in a bar, on a radio station, or even in a curated Spotify playlist, you’re owed performance royalties. In the U.S., the two big players who hunt down that money for you are ASCAP and BMI.

Here is exactly how to get registered so you don’t leave your royalties on the table.

1. ASCAP vs. BMI: Which One Should You Join?

This is the age-old debate. The truth? Both do the same thing: they collect your writer and publisher royalties and send you a check. You can’t join both as a songwriter, so you have to pick one.

The Real Talk Comparison

Feature ASCAP BMI
Who Runs It? Run by songwriters and publishers. Founded by broadcasters; a non-profit.
The Cost Usually a one-time $50 application fee. Free for songwriters (which is a big draw).
The Vibe Very “community” focused with great networking. Very tech-forward and artist-friendly.

My advice? Don’t overthink it. Look at the artists you admire; if most of your idols are with one, go there. Both are industry standards, and both will get you paid.

2. The Step-by-Step Game Plan

Step 1: Get Your Paperwork Together

Don’t start the application until you have these ready, or the website will probably time out on you:

  • Tax Info: Your SSN or EIN.

  • Bank Details: Set up direct deposit. Trust me, waiting for a physical check in the mail feels like 1995.

  • Your “Work” List: Titles of your songs and the names/PRO info of anyone you co-wrote with.

Step 2: Join as a Writer (and maybe a Publisher)

  • ASCAP Tip: If you’re self-published, you’ll want to register as both a Writer and a Publisher to make sure you’re getting 100% of the pie.

  • BMI Tip: BMI allows songwriters to collect the “publisher share” without necessarily having a separate publishing entity, but many pros still set up a publishing account later as they grow.

Step 3: Register Your Songs (The “Works”)

This is the part most people forget. Joining the organization isn’t enough; you have to tell them what songs you own.

  1. Log in and find the “Register a Work” button.

  2. Split Sheets are King: Make sure you and your co-writers agree on the percentages. If you wrote 50% and your producer wrote 50%, put that in.

  3. Double Check: Ensure the total adds up to 100%. If the math is off, the PRO will “hold” the money in “purgatory” until it’s fixed.

3. The “Hidden” Royalties You’re Still Missing

Registering with ASCAP or BMI only covers performance money. To really “clean up” all your revenue, you also need:

  • Mechanical Royalties: For streams and sales. You need to register with The MLC.

  • Digital Radio: For things like SiriusXM or Pandora. You need SoundExchange.

Bottom Line: Treat Your Music Like a Business

It’s easy to get caught up in the creative side, but the “pro” version of you handles the admin. Taking thirty minutes today to register your songs ensures that months from now, when your track starts gaining traction, you actually see the reward.

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