Applications for ASCAP writer & publisher memberships can be obtained on our website: www.ascap.com/join

You can join ASCAP as a writer if you've written or co-written music or lyrics for at least one musical work that is available to the public. It could be a song that you perform live or on a CD that you sell at your concerts, a song on a streaming service or in a YouTube video, a digital download or sheet music - if it's out there, you're eligible to join. You can join ASCAP as a publisher if you (or your business, partnership, corporation, etc.) are actively engaged in the music publishing business, and assume the financial risk involved in publishing music. You are also eligible for a publisher membership if you are a writer and have not assigned your publishing rights to someone else. A publisher membership allows you to collect the publisher share of a song's performance royalties.

Joining ASCAP is free for all new ASCAP writer members. If you join as both a writer and a publisher at the same time, we’ll waive both application fees. If you are only joining as a publisher, there is a one-time, non-refundable $50 application processing fee.

All ASCAP applications are processed online*. If you don’t have a computer, you can apply on a mobile device with an internet connection. The ASCAP website can also be accessed at a public library.

Keep in mind that you will need to submit sensitive personal and financial data as part of the application, so please use caution if you’re filling out the application on a device that others can access.

*With the exception of applications for minors. We require printed applications for those.

You can only belong to one society at a time as a writer for licensing public performances in the United States; however, you can be a publisher at multiple societies. You can transfer as a writer to ASCAP from your current society, but you will need to contact your current society to obtain the appropriate information to make the switch.

Each member of the group must complete a separate writer application and each member of the group must meet the eligibility criteria. It is recommended that each member apply for a separate publisher membership; however, only one application needs to be submitted if the group chooses to join as a collective publisher member. If this is the case, the publisher membership must be structured as a partnership, corporation or LLC.

Yes, we permit minors to join ASCAP with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. We cannot process a minor’s application online. If you haven’t reached the age of majority in your state or territory of residence, download the appropriate form(s) and follow the instructions for mailing your application: 
The legal definition of “minor” varies by territory. Here are the definitions that ASCAP follows:
For new publisher memberships, the person submitting the application must meet the age of majority in their state/territory of residence, even if they are not an officer or partner of the publishing entity.

As part of the application process, all applicants for an ASCAP writer and/or publisher membership will be required to provide a government issued ID and undergo a “liveness check.” You will need to present the front and back of your government-issued ID, and a photo of that ID will be taken using the camera on the computer or mobile device you’re using to apply. The liveness check is a verification that the person in front of the camera is a real, live person, and not a photo or recording. A photo of your face will be taken during the liveness check. Some of this information and data may constitute biometric and/or consumer health data under, and as defined in, laws that may be applicable to you (“ID Data”). 

For new publisher members who are joining as an LLC, C-Corporation, S-Corporation, Partnership or other corporate entity (excluding Individual/Sole Proprietorships or Single-member LLCs), you will be asked for two types of additional documentation:
To be clear, ASCAP does not require the above two documents for new publisher members joining as an Individual/Sole Proprietor or Single-member LLC.

New publisher members applying as a Trust/Estate need to submit a secondary form of ID.

You can use your driver’s license, passport, or a national/state ID issued by the country or state where you reside. All other forms of ID will be rejected by our system.

ASCAP has joined with performing rights organizations throughout the world in an effort to protect our members’ royalties and improve the integrity of the data that we use to pay the songwriters, composers and publishers we represent. As part of that effort, we require that each new ASCAP member/applicant verify their identity so we can prevent fraudulent applications.

The photos and ID-related documents you submit are sent to an external ID verification vendor. They are used to verify your identity, in order to identify, monitor and prevent fraud, and are stored for a limited time, all to the extent set forth in our Biometric Information Retention and Handling Policy and ASCAP Consumer Health Data Privacy Policy.

Some information and data collected based on your ID may constitute biometric and/or consumer health data under, and as defined in, laws that may be applicable to you (“ID Data”). You cannot delete or withdraw this ID Data once you’ve sent it, but rest assured that ASCAP and our ID verification vendor will only use your ID Data (as defined above) to verify your identity, in order to identify, monitor, and prevent fraud. ASCAP values your privacy. To the extent set forth in our Biometric Information Retention and Handling Policy and ASCAP Consumer Health Data Privacy Policy, neither ASCAP nor our vendors sell, lease, trade or otherwise profit from this ID Data, and neither ASCAP nor our vendors will disclose or disseminate this ID Data unless such disclosure is required by laws applicable to such data.

An officer or partner is one of the core people involved with your publishing company’s leadership. It could be an owner, manager, partner in your company, etc. You can add up to three officers/partners in your application.

The designated representative is the person who acts on behalf of the company for the purposes of ASCAP business. They will be the first point of contact if ASCAP needs to communicate with the publishing company. The designated representative has to be one of the officers listed on the membership.

A designated representative is a person entrusted to act on behalf of an ASCAP publisher member, for the purposes of ASCAP business. They are typically the first point of contact if ASCAP needs to communicate with the member. For a publisher member set up as an individual/sole proprietorship, the designated representative is by default the same individual who is listed on the membership. For any other type of publisher member (e.g. a C-Corporation, S-Corporation, LLC or Partnership), the designated representative must be listed as an officer/partner on the ASCAP membership.

A designated user (DU) is someone who has been authorized by an ASCAP member to view or manage their Member Access account. It might be a trusted advisor, business manager, employee, etc. The member can change or delete permissions for a DU at any time; the DU gets their own username and password, so the member doesn’t have to provide them with their private credentials. Both writer and publisher members can assign a DU.

In order to avoid the possibility of fraudulent applications, we require that all new writer members submit their own applications for ASCAP membership. The application process involves a “liveness check” to confirm that the person in front of the camera is a real, live person. A photo of your face will be taken during the liveness check, and if the photo doesn’t show the same person as your government-issued ID, you will be prevented from completing and submitting the application. 

For publisher members joining as an LLC, C-Corporation, S-Corporation, Partnership or other corporate entity: we do allow applicants to submit even if the applicant’s name isn’t specified as an officer of the company. However, we still require that the person submitting the application go through the ID verification process, to confirm that they are who they say they are. 

In the publisher application (“Officer/Partner Name and Title” section), you will need to choose “Applicant only” or “Applicant and Officer/Partner” from the dropdown to indicate the relationship between the applicant and the new ASCAP publishing company. The applicant’s name will be pre-filled.

If you did not pass the ID verification step, you won’t be able to continue with your application. 

If you passed the ID verification step, and your application was then declined after you submitted it, the reason for your ineligibility was sent to the email address you provided.

If you need us to review your application, please send us a message via our contact page (https://www.ascap.com/message) using the “Membership Application Inquiry” topic.

Include the following information in your message:

1. The type of membership you applied for (writer, publisher, or both), and the date you submitted it
2. The automated response you received (via email, after submitting the application or at the ID step)
3. The name of the applicant or business 
4. Your home or business address 
5. Your phone number and email address

FOR PUBLISHER MEMBERS APPLYING AS AN LLC, C-CORPORATION, S-CORPORATION, PARTNERSHIP OR OTHER CORPORATE ENTITY, please upload along with your message a document that verifies the valid creation of your business entity. This could be your articles of incorporation, articles of association, certificate of organization or LLC operating agreement.

Please do NOT send copies of your tax forms or ID documents through our contact page. 

The last couple years have been tough for music creators. Suspending the fee temporarily will help aspiring music creators launch their careers and start making money faster. ASCAP is here to support creators at every stage of their life in music.

We are waiving the fee for all new ASCAP writer members. If you join as both a writer and a publisher at the same time, we’ll waive both application fees.

Our goal in suspending the application fee is to eliminate one of the hurdles for new songwriters and composers to start making money from their music. The majority of our new writer members don’t already have a publishing entity, so now they can set themselves up to earn 100% of their ASCAP royalties, at no cost to them. 

It’s a great move to join ASCAP as a publisher, even with the $50 application fee for publishers who aren’t joining as writers at the same time. When ASCAP distributes royalties for a performance of your music, 50% goes to the writer(s), and 50% to the publisher(s). If you want to collect your publisher’s share, you will need to have a publishing company with ASCAP. 

Click here for more reasons why an ASCAP writer should join as a publisher, too.

We are suspending application fees temporarily, to help out new music creators who struggled to start their careers during the pandemic. Next year, we’ll evaluate how the change has impacted ASCAP and our membership, and decide whether to continue. 

We are only waiving fees for new members who join on February 13, 2023 or later.

We charge a one-time application fee for new members who choose to join only as a publisher. The one-time fees help to offset some of the administrative costs associated with electing new members. 

As of February 13, 2023, we are temporarily suspending application fees for new writer members. If you join as both a writer and a publisher at the same time, we’ll waive both fees.

For the time being, if you join as both a writer and a publisher at the same time, we will waive the application fee for both memberships.

If you join only as a writer now, you can do so for free. But you will need to pay a $50 application fee if you decide to join as a publisher later.

We are only waiving the fee for new ASCAP publisher memberships if they are connected to a new writer joining at the same time. The goal here is to encourage new music creators for whom an application fee might be a hurdle to start making money from their music.  

It is still a great move to join ASCAP as a publisher. When we distribute royalties for a performance of your music, 50% goes to the writer(s), and 50% to the publisher(s). If you want to collect your publisher’s share, you will need to set up a publishing company with ASCAP.

Click here for more reasons why an ASCAP writer should join as a publisher, too.

The application processing fee is non-refundable.

The application processing fee is non-refundable.

The fee is associated with the costs of processing the membership application and therefore cannot be returned.

If you don't have a US-issued Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit or debit card, you must first supply ASCAP with another form of payment using the ASCAP Processing Fee Form. Upon receipt and processing of your payment you will be supplied with instructions to complete your application. 

The fee for processing a check, money order or foreign credit card payment is $50. Keep in mind this is in addition to the $50 publisher application fee.

You may join ASCAP if you do not have a valid US Social Security Number or are not a US citizen; however, additional income reporting documentation must be provided with your application. Please go to the IRS website (irs.gov) to obtain a W8-BEN form. When you have completed the application please mail the original completed W8-BEN with your application number written on the top to:

ASCAP
Attn: Applications
7920 West Sunset Blvd.
Third Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90046

The availability of the publisher name will be checked automatically by the ASCAP system prior to submission of your application. If the name is not available you will not be able to submit the application until you choose another available name.

No.

You will receive information from ASCAP regarding your online application immediately upon submission. If additional documentation is required to process your application please provide the information within 90 business days of submission. Upon receipt of this documentation your application will be processed within 10 business days.

We can check the status of your application without an Application ID; however, we will require the Social Security Number or TIN that you provided on your application to confirm your identity.

If your application is automatically declined, the application fee and any donations you made during your application will be refunded.

If your application requires manual review before it is declined, the fee will not be returned, as it is associated with the costs of processing your application. Your donations will still be accepted. 

Work registrations are essential to the proper distribution of performance royalties and should be submitted to ASCAP once a musical work has been fully created. After you receive confirmation of your election to ASCAP membership, please allow five (5) business days before you attempt to register your works with ASCAP for the first time. Once this time has elapsed, ASCAP members should register their works through the Online Work Registration system.

To start using ASCAP's Online Work Registration system, sign in to your Member Access account and click "Register a Work" under the "Works" menu on the left navigation bar.

You can also register your music with the ASCAP mobile app. Use Quick Registration to send us the basic writer, publisher and royalty split breakdown for your music, or go with Guided Registration for a more comprehensive walkthrough, where you’ll learn about all the data ASCAP needs to track performances of your music, and pay you accurately. Either way, the ASCAP mobile app makes it easy with an intuitive, step-by-step approach.

Member Access is ASCAP's secure online web portal that provides you with access to your ASCAP information. Once you activate your Member Access account, you will have the ability to update personal details (e.g., address, bank account information, etc.), view and print the entitled party and share details of your Works, view and download ASCAP performance statements, register your works and electronically create and track service requests to ASCAP. Important programs like ASCAP OnStage and the ASCAP Plus Awards are only available via Member Access, so activation of your account is highly recommended.

Activate your Member Access account at www.ascap.com/members.

ASCAP does not register music for the purpose of copyright protection; this is the responsibility of the writer(s) and publisher(s) of any given work. You can register your music for copyright protection through the Library of Congress which can be reached at 202-707-3000 or on the web at www.loc.gov. For information on bar codes, please visit www.discmakers.com.

Whether or not you receive royalties for performances of your work(s) that occurred before you became an ASCAP member will depend upon when the performance(s) of the work(s) occurred. As a newly elected writer member, you can receive royalties for surveyed performances that took place in the performance period covered by the distribution quarter in which you are elected. For writers, there is a time lag of approximately seven (7) to eight (8) months between performances and royalty processing. As in the case of writers, a newly elected publisher member can receive royalties for surveyed performances that took place in the performance period covered in the distribution quarter in which the publisher is elected. For publishers, there is a time lag of approximately six (6) months between performance and royalty processing. Please note that ASCAP ONLY distributes public performance royalties, not royalties associated with record sales.

If you completed an online application, you should have received an e-mail from ASCAP within fifteen (15) days of submitting your application regardless of whether your election to ASCAP membership was successful. Please check your spam filter on your e-mail account. If you still cannot locate the e-mail, please contact Member Services at 800-95-ASCAP.

If you were elected to ASCAP membership, Member Services can confirm your Member ID; however, you will be asked to verify your identity by providing your Social Security Number or TIN.

Before speaking with an ASCAP representative, we recommend you review the ASCAP Help Center and public calendar on our website. These links take you to FAQs and support opportunities that can help you further your career. If you still wish to speak with someone, please contact our Global Member Services department at 1-800-95-ASCAP from 9am-6pm ET, Monday through Friday. Have your ASCAP member ID on hand for faster service.

Unfortunately, we cannot disclose phone numbers for specific companies unless they have agreed to allow us to do so. The following companies have agreed to allow us to provide their phone numbers to prospective or current members:

AFTRA (American Federation of TV & Radio Artists): (212) 532-0800
Harry Fox Agency: (212) 834-0100
Songwriter's Guild: (615) 742-9945 
US Copyright Office: (202) 707-5959 / (877) 476-0778
US Library of Congress: (202) 707-5000
US Patent & Trademark Office: (800) 786-9199

Examples of music classified as "Concert" are: classical, symphonic, chamber, choral, concert band/wind ensemble, electro-acoustic and opera.

Yes. An e-mail adress is required for Member Access.

Go to www.ascap.com/members to activate your Member Access account.

Your Member ID is the private number used by ASCAP to uniquely identify you. Your Member ID can be found on any ASCAP royalty statement or by calling our Global Member Services department at 1-800-95-ASCAP.

There is no fee to sign up for Member Access; it's free for all ASCAP members.

Any current or resigned Writer or Publisher member can activate a Member Access account.

Member Access allows 24/7 access to your ASCAP membership. You can register your music, view your royalty history, change your address, submit a message to our Global Member Services team, review your catalog of works and more. In addition, important programs like ASCAP OnStage and the ASCAP Plus Awards are only available via Member Access.

Activate your Member Access account at www.ascap.com/members.

To change your password, enter your username on the Member Access login page and click the "I forgot my password" link.

If you forgot your username for Member Access, please call 1-800-95-ASCAP.

Yes, ASCAP Member Access is a secure web portal with 128-bit encryption.

As a policy, ASCAP does not share information about its members without their express consent. During the account activation process, you can opt in to allow ASCAP to share your information with outside entities.

Yes, Member Access is compatible with Macs as well as PCs.

Member Access works best with the latest versions of Firefox or Chrome.

Member Access is a member only portal. When you first join ASCAP, your membership is pending approval. Upon election to membership, you can activate your Member Access account.

ASCAP no longer offers membership cards. You can always find your ASCAP member ID by logging into Member Access or the ASCAP mobile app. It's also listed on your ASCAP royalty statements. 

Visit www.ascap.com/join to join ASCAP as a writer, publisher or both.

A direct license is any license agreement between an ASCAP member and a music user (for example, a radio station, TV network, website, live venue or background music service) granting the user the rights to perform publicly the member's music.

A source license is any license agreement between an ASCAP member and an entity that produces and supplies programs containing your music (for example, a TV production company), granting the right to authorize others (for example, a TV station) to perform publicly the member's music.

Yes. The rights you grant to ASCAP are nonexclusive. Nothing in your relationship with ASCAP restricts or interferes with your right to enter into a direct or source license.

If you enter into a direct or source license, you must promptly notify ASCAP of:

To properly notify ASCAP of a direct or source license, you must complete and submit the form titled "Notice of Direct/Source Licensing." This form is available for download and submission through Member Access. The Direct License Form can be downloaded from the Messages section of Member Access. Once in Messages, you can select Category: "Statement and Payment Questions" and Topic: "Direct Licensing – Domestic" or "Direct Licensing – International." Choose the appropriate form depending on the type of Direct License you are entering into (live performance, audio/visual or audio only), and attach it to the Message.

You should also attach to the Message a copy of the license (financial terms - such as the amount of the license fee - may be redacted).

As ASCAP cannot collect license fees for direct or source licensed performances, no royalties will be paid by ASCAP for these performances. If the direct or source license includes performances for periods for which ASCAP has already paid royalties because we were not aware that such a license had been issued, a debit will be made to your account with respect to such performances.

You should consider seeking the advice of a music attorney or business advisor before entering into a direct or source license.

You should attempt to obtain as much information as possible about when and how the music will be used and the license terms being offered to others. You may also wish to assess the importance of your specific works or catalog to the music user's business.

Keep in mind that while music users and program producers may offer up-front, lump-sum payments, it may be difficult to value or predict the future commercial success of your musical works.

There may also be instances in which a direct or source license might impact your ability to earn royalties from other music users. For example, if a TV or film producer acquires the performance rights to your music through an irrevocable license, or "buy-out" deal, you will not be able to receive public performance royalties when that show or film is sold or licensed to a downstream music user, or shown or broadcast in a foreign territory.

ASCAP cannot answer inquiries concerning payments for direct or source licensed performances.

ASCAP cannot audit the music user or program producer on your behalf.

ASCAP cannot make up the difference in performance royalties if your ASCAP royalties would have been greater than what you received under the direct or source license.

Although ASCAP cannot advise you on what terms you should seek in a direct or source license, ASCAP may be able to provide you with information on what you might earn in ASCAP royalties if we were to license those performances for you.

If your music publisher enters into a direct or source license, the music user or program producer may pay the publisher, not ASCAP, for performances of the licensed works. Your agreement with the publisher may determine whether you are entitled to a share of the royalties and whether or not any fees received by the publisher on your behalf are subject to recoupment. Typically, you reserve the right to receive the "writer's share" of your performance income directly from ASCAP. When a publisher licenses directly on your behalf, this may not be the case.

To start using ASCAP's Title Registration system, sign in to Member Access and click "Register a Work" on the "My Catalog" tab.

You can also register your music with the ASCAP mobile app. Use Quick Registration to send us the basic writer, publisher and royalty split breakdown for your music, or go with Guided Registration for a more comprehensive walkthrough, where you’ll learn about all the data ASCAP needs to track performances of your music, and pay you accurately. Either way, the ASCAP mobile app makes it easy with an intuitive, step-by-step approach.

Please visit the Work Registration FAQ for help on how to register your work or use the tooltips found throughout the form.

Alternatively, you can download the ASCAP mobile app and register your music through our step-by-step Guided Registration option, where you’ll learn about all the data ASCAP needs to track performances of your music, and pay you accurately.

There is no need to start another account. Simply click the "Forgot password?" link on the Member Access page or ASCAP mobile app login screen, and you can recover your password.

ASCAP music publishers can register batches of works with ASCAP, BMI and SOCAN simultaneously via our MusicMark platform. Find out more about it at www.ascap.com/musicmark.

No. Members grant ASCAP only the right to license their musical works. Therefore, members should not register a work that consists entirely of non-musical content, such as sound effects, nature sounds, so-called "white noise" or a comedy routine.

 

You may only revise a work that you originally registered online yourself. To revise the entitled party or share information for a work, click "View/Edit an Existing Title" on the navigation bar (or if you're using the ASCAP mobile app, click "Edit a work" from the Register dashboard). If the change(s) you submit instruct(s) ASCAP to delete an entitled party other than yourself or reduce the share of another entitled party, ASCAP may require signed correspondence from that party confirming the change.

Changes to a work you did not register can be done through Member Access. Click “Messages,” and create a "New Message." Select the category “My Catalog” and the topic “Work Record Update.” You will be assigned an inquiry number and notified when the work has been updated.

No. Titles should only be registered once, and will automatically appear in the catalogs of each entitled party listed on the initial registration.

Please note: If your work is not self-published, we prefer that the work be registered only by the publisher representing your interest.

If your co-writer registered the work with ASCAP, there is no need to register the song again – though it is a good idea to check with your co-writer to ensure that he/she registered it properly.

If your co-writer belongs to a different PRO, you will also need to register your work with ASCAP before we can track it and get you paid.

Because of our privacy policy, we cannot provide your member code by email. However, you can find it in your Member Access account, on the ASCAP mobile app, on an ASCAP royalty statement, or by calling Global Member Services at 1-800-95-ASCAP.

ASCAP rules permit living members to assign some or all of his or her royalties in certain situations. Permitted assignments include (a) an assignment to repay an advance, loan or line or credit, (b) an assignment to a corporation or similar entity, at least 95% owned by one or more ASCAP writer member(s), (c) an assignment to a living trust, or (d) an assignment to a family member, non-profit, foundation, or charity. Given the unique needs of the estates of writer members, ASCAP also permits the estate to sell or irrevocably assign the right to receive ASCAP writer royalties.

All royalty assignments require a $75.00 processing fee.

If you are interested in assigning your royalties, you may request the required forms in ASCAP Member Access via Member Service Inquiry or by calling ASCAP’s Member Services department at 1-800-95ASCAP (1-800-952-7227). For more information about these assignments, see the Compendium of ASCAP Rules and Regulations, available on our Governing Documents page.

All requests to cancel and replace outstanding checks must be made through ASCAP Member Access via Member Service inquiry (Category: 'My Royalties,’ Topic: ‘Cancel and Re-issue Distribution Check’). ASCAP is unable to stop payment on royalties that have been directly deposited into a bank account.

If there is a dispute between two or more parties as to entitlement to all or part of the credits and/or royalties for a work or membership and ASCAP concludes that there is a reasonable basis for the claim, ASCAP may hold royalties attributable to the disputed portion of such interests for as long as ASCAP deems appropriate. ASCAP will hold credits and/or royalties earned by works that are subject to litigation if specifically directed to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction. For more information about ASCAP’s policy regarding claims, see Section 2.8 of the Compendium of ASCAP Rules and Regulations, available on our Governing Documents page.

ASCAP can issue a portion of your royalties directly to a former spouse as a result of a marital dissolution. You must complete ASCAP’s Marital Dissolution Notification form, which can be requested in ASCAP Member Access via Member Service Inquiry or by calling ASCAP’s Member Services department at 1-800-95ASCAP (1-800-952-7227). Note that in order to update ASCAP’s records pursuant to a marital dissolution a $250.00 processing fee is required.

If ASCAP is served with a federal or state levy, garnishment, restraining notice, judgment, child support order, or other process involving redirection of your royalties to a third party, ASCAP will notify you by First Class mail or e-mail prior to forwarding your royalties to the third party. ASCAP will deduct an administrative fee of $100.00 (or less, if required by law) from future royalties otherwise payable to you for each new process received. No fee is charged for processing a release of an active levy, garnishment, or other continuing order.

ASCAP follows all state unclaimed property law and remits unclaimed royalties according to state requirements. Once royalties have been remitted to the state, ASCAP is unable to retrieve those royalties.

OnStage allows writer members receiving royalties via direct deposit to notify ASCAP of their live performances via Member Access. This data is processed and a royalty is distributed to the writers and publishers of the songs based upon the license fee paid by the respective venue. ASCAP OnStage is not a platform for reporting classical events, i.e., performances in the Symphonic, Recital and Educational fields. To report a Symphonic, Recital or Educational performance please visit the following link: Performance Notification

No. Only one writer needs to submit a performance claim via OnStage to ensure all writers and publishers on the title registration receive a royalty. All writers can view submitted performance claims in their Member Access account.

Each performance claim will be paid during the corresponding domestic performance distribution. If you are unsure when we make our domestic distributions, please view our Distribution Schedule.

You can register any missing works through your Member Access account or the ASCAP mobile app. Confirm that your music has been properly registered by revisiting your catalog in Member Access. It may take up to seven days to process a new registration.

You can submit a claim via OnStage right after you perform live, but there is a deadline:

DATE OF PERFORMANCE SUBMISSION DEADLINE
January 1 to March 31 June 30
April 1 to June 30 September 30
July 1 to September 30 December 31
October 1 to December 31 March 31 (following year)

If you miss the deadline, we will not be able to process your claim. Make OnStage a regular part of your post-show routine!

ASCAP OnStage is not a platform for reporting classical events, i.e., performances in the symphonic, recital or educational fields. To report a symphonic, recital or educational performance, visit the following link: Performance Notification

ASCAP must be able to license the performance or the claim will be declined. Most performances not a part of the Symphonic, Recital or Educational survey are eligible for processing by OnStage, but some are not based upon US copyright law (as described within 17 USC § 110), generally including non-licensable performances such as:

• Musical theatre

• Teaching activities

• Religious services

• Livestock and agricultural exhibits

• Government-sponsored events

• Private parties

• Non-permitted events

All OnStage claims must be submitted by writers of the performed works.

The royalty generated by a live performance is based upon the license fee paid by the venue. As venues with larger capacities pay a larger license fee to ASCAP, the royalty generated by these venues will be larger than venues with smaller capacities.

Yes, and specific details of the performance will remain available in Member Access for future reference.

All ASCAP writers and publishers who are properly listed on the title registration will receive a royalty.

A claim can be withdrawn and edited in Member Access as long as it is still within the same Distribution period.

A claim must be submitted to your respective society per their specific procedures. ASCAP will then correspond with foreign societies regarding eligibility and processing.

Yes, as it ensures ASCAP receives a record of all music performed.

OnStage is not for any specific genre. Any writer members who perform their songs live can submit eligible performance claims through OnStage. However, ASCAP OnStage is not a platform for reporting classical events, i.e., performances in the Symphonic, Recital and Educational fields. To report a Symphonic, Recital or Educational performance please visit the following link: Performance Notification

ASCAP Plus Awards is not related to ASCAP OnStage. If you are a writer member who performs live, you should submit those performance claims through OnStage.

ASCAP licenses the public performances of its members' musical works. A public performance is one that occurs either in a public place where people gather (other than a small circle of a family or social acquaintances). A public performance is also one that is transmitted to the public, for example, radio or TV broadcasts, and via the Internet.

ASCAP's customer licensees include: Airlines, Amusement Parks, Bars, Restaurants & Nightclubs, Colleges & Universities, Concert Presenters, Music Venues & Clubs, Convention & Trade Shows, Fitness Clubs, Hotels, Local Government Entities, Radio & Television Stations and Networks, Mobile Entertainment, Websites, Retail Stores and music users in a wide variety of other industries. See the complete list of ASCAP license types on this website. There are over 100 different ASCAP rate schedules covering almost all businesses that perform music.

ASCAP does not license "dramatic" or "grand" rights, or dramatic performances. ASCAP members who write musical plays, operas, or ballet scores deal directly with those who want to perform our members' works "dramatically." While ASCAP does not license "dramatic" or "grand" rights, or dramatic performances of its members' music, an ASCAP license does authorize nondramatic performances of songs from dramatic productions. For more information on "dramatic" or "grand" rights and the distinction between dramatic and nondramatic performances, click here.

ASCAP does not license the right to record music on a CD, tape, or as part of an audio-visual work such as a motion picture, video or TV program. Those rights, known as mechanical and synchronization ("synch") rights, are licensed by writers or publishers.

ASCAP does not license the right to print copies of musical works nor does it license rights to make adaptations or arrangements.

ASCAP does not license rights for recording artists, musicians, singers or record labels. However, artists/musicians who are songwriters can become ASCAP members. ASCAP licenses the performance rights for the music of its members.

We often use the expression "they're playing my song," not always remembering that while we may have emotionally adopted the song, it still legally belongs to the songwriter who created it, and the music publisher who markets it. When you use other people's property, you need to ask permission

Pursuant to US copyright law, a public performance of a musical work occurs when the work is played in, or transmitted to, a place open to the public, or to a group outside a normal circle of family and social acquaintances (whether they hear it in the same place or different places or at the same time or at different times). This includes, but is not limited to, live performances; playing recorded music in businesses over speakers or by DJs; radio or television broadcasts; and digital internet streaming. Permission to perform music publicly must come from the copyright owner of the music directly or from its representative (such as ASCAP).

One of the greatest advantages of the ASCAP license is that it gives you legal permission to entertain your customers, guests and employees with our musical repertory of more than 20 million songs and scores. Whether your music is live, broadcast or played via streaming services or CDs, your ASCAP license covers your performances. And with one license fee, ASCAP saves you the time, expense and burden of contacting thousands of copyright owners.

Copyright owners enjoy a number of different rights including performance rights, print rights and recording rights. Rental or purchase of sheet music or the purchase of a record does not authorize its public performance.

If you want to make copies of, or re-record an existing record, tape or CD, you will probably need the permission of both the music publisher and the record label. A music publisher owns the song (that is, the words and music) and a record company owns the "sound recording" (that is, what you hear... the artist singing, the musicians playing, the entire production).

If you plan to hire your own musicians and singers and create an original recording of a copyrighted song, then you need the permission of only the music publisher.

ASCAP does not license recording rights. Recording rights for most publishers can be obtained through a variety of companies, including:

HFA
40 Wall Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10005
www.harryfox.com

Easy Song Licensing
2600 N 2nd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55411
800-360-5192
www.easysonglicensing.com

The name and address of the record company should appear on the record label. The Recording Industry Association of America, a trade organization for record labels, can provide you with more information on the rights of record labels.

Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
1020 19th St. NW, Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: (202) 775-0101
Fax: (202) 775-7253
www.riaa.com

Quite simply, to our members. All the fees we collect are distributed as royalties, after deducting operating expenses (currently 10%).

Check out ASCAP Repertory Search, ASCAP's searchable database of performed works, along with writer, publisher and recording artist information.

Yes, you will need permission to play records or tapes in your establishment. Permission for radio and television transmissions in your business is not needed if the performance is by means of public communication of TV or radio transmissions by eating, drinking, retail or certain other establishments of a certain size which use a limited number of speakers or TVs, and if the reception is not further transmitted (for example, from one room to another) from the place in which it is received, and there is no admission charge. Your local ASCAP licensing manager can discuss your needs and advise how ASCAP can help you.

An ASCAP license does not include the "dramatic rights" (or "grand rights") that you need to secure before you stage a musical, ballet or opera. Dramatic rights can be cleared directly with the composer, publisher or licensing agent of the music you wish to use. You can find publisher contact information at www.ascap.com/repertory.

Click here for more details about dramatic/grand rights.

The annual rate depends on the type of business. Generally, rates are based on the manner in which music is performed (live, recorded or audio only or audio/visual) and the size of the establishment or potential audience for the music. For example, rates for restaurants, nightclubs, bars and similar establishments depend on whether the music is live or recorded, whether it's audio only or audio visual, the number of nights per week music is offered, whether admission is charged and several other factors.

Concert rates are based on the ticket revenue and seating capacity of the facility. Rates for music used by corporations ("Music In Business") are based upon the number of employees. College and university rates are based upon the number of full time students; retail store rates depend on the number of speakers and square footage. Hotel rates are based on a percentage of entertainment expenses for live music and an additional charge if recorded music is used.

Because ASCAP has over a hundred different licenses and rate schedules, one will likely fit your needs. ASCAP operates under the principle that similarly situated users should be treated similarly. This assures fairness and consistency in our licensing. For example, rates for restaurants of the same size, with the same use of music are the same regardless of whether the restaurant is in Oshkosh or New York City.

Yes. When you place a caller on hold and transmit music via your telephone lines, that is a public performance of the music. It is your responsibility to obtain permission to perform ASCAP songs from ASCAP or directly from the copyright owner. ASCAP represents tens of thousands of copyright owners and millions of songs and an ASCAP license will give you the right to perform them all.

If the performance is part of face to face teaching activity at a non-profit educational institution, permission is not required. Permission is required when music is used as part of training seminars, conventions, or other commercial or business presentations.

Some people mistakenly assume that musicians and entertainers must obtain licenses to perform copyrighted music or that businesses where music is performed can shift their responsibility to musicians or entertainers. The law says all who participate in, or are responsible for, performances of music are legally responsible. Since it is the business owner who obtains the ultimate benefit from the performance, it is the business owner who obtains the license. Music license fees are one of the many costs of doing business.

Licenses for jukeboxes are available through the Jukebox License Office. The JLO makes it convenient and economical for you to obtain the permission you need for your jukebox by serving as a "clearinghouse" that provides authorization to perform virtually every copyrighted song in the United States and much of the world.

The JLO is a joint venture of the United States performing rights organizations, ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. The JLO offers a license which provides total access to all songs in the ASCAP, BMI and SESAC repertories. The Jukebox License Agreement is a single, economical, annual license that provides the authorization required to publicly perform copyrighted songs on a jukebox. Jukeboxes that are licensed by the JLO, must display a certificate in the title strip holder of each jukebox. If you see a jukebox without a certificate, please complete and return the Tips card or email the name and address of the location and name of jukebox operator (if known) to licensingexecutive@jukeboxlicense.org.

Establishments where music is performed by some means other than the jukebox (DJ's, bands, tapes, etc.), still need a separate license from ASCAP (or the individual copyright owners) covering these other performances. The Jukebox License Agreement only provides authorization for jukebox performances.

The jukebox, or "coin-operated phonorecord player," qualifies for the Jukebox License Agreement if it is a machine or device that:

• is used solely for non-dramatic public performances of music; and
• is operated by coins, tokens, currency or the like; and
• is operated by patrons of the establishment (not employees), who make their selections from a list of titles; and
• is located in an establishment making no direct or indirect charge for admission.

If your jukebox fails to meet any of these criteria, it does not qualify as a "coin-operated phonorecord player" under the Copyright law and performances on that jukebox cannot be licensed through the JLO.

Please contact the JLO with any other questions you may have or to obtain a jukebox license.

Jukebox License Office
2 Music Square W
Nashville, TN 37203
615-727-5366
licensingexecutive@jukeboxlicense.org
www.jukeboxlicense.org

A list of performed works is available on the ASCAP Clearance Express on our Website. For addition information on ASCAP's members, the variety of music in the ASCAP repertory, and the resources available to those seeking more information on ASCAP's members and the ASCAP repertory, click here.

Section 110(5)(B) provides a limited exemption for certain performances of music in food service, drinking and retail establishments by means of radio and television transmissions. 

The exemption applies only to performances of music originated by a broadcast radio or television station or a cable system or satellite carrier, only if no direct charge is made to see or hear the performances, only if the performances are not further transmitted beyond the establishment where they are received, and only if the original transmission is licensed by the copyright owners -- that is, the radio or television station, cable system or satellite carrier is licensed by the copyright owners or their performing rights organizations. 

The exemption contains objective standards which will enable both music users and copyright owners to determine whether particular radio and television performances are exempt from copyright liability. Two types of music users are exempt, under different standards: a food service or drinking establishment (defined as "a restaurant, inn, bar, tavern, or any other similar place of business in which the public or patrons assemble for the primary purpose of being served food or drink, in which the majority of the gross square feet of space that is nonresidential is used for that purpose, and in which nondramatic musical works are performed publicly") and an other establishment (defined as "a store, shop, or any similar place of business open to the general public for the primary purpose of selling goods or services in which the majority of the gross square feet of space that is nonresidential is used for that purpose, and in which nondramatic musical works are performed publicly").

A food service or drinking establishment is eligible for the exemption if it (1) has less than 3750 gross square feet of space (in measuring the space, the amount of space used for customer parking only is always excludable); or (2) has 3750 gross square feet of space or more and (a) uses no more than 6 loudspeakers of which not more than 4 loudspeakers are located in any 1 room or adjoining outdoor space; and (b) if television sets are used, there are no more than 4 televisions, of which not more than 1 is located in any 1 room and none has a diagonal screen size greater than 55 inches. 

An other establishment (e.g., a retail store) is eligible for the exemption if it (1) has less than 2000 gross square feet of space; or (2) has 2000 or more gross square feet of space and satisfies the same loudspeaker and television set requirements as for food service or drinking establishments. 

Of course, this exemption is limited to those radio or television performances; the law requires that public performances of copyrighted music by other means such as live music, karaoke, CDs, MP3 and digital files, background music services and DVDs require permission obtained either from the copyright owners or from their performing rights licensing organizations.

The ASCAP radio license does not provide the right to authorize retransmissions of broadcasts of ASCAP music over loudspeakers in stores, restaurants or other locations open to the public, or by means of music-on-hold systems.

The ASCAP license does not provide the right to record copyrighted music, or change the lyric of a copyrighted work and use it in a commercial jingle or station promotion. These are known as "mechanical" or "recording" and "synchronization" rights and you should deal directly with the copyright owners for permission to record music or change a song. You may also want to contact the Harry Fox Agency at (212) 834-0100.

• Access to every variety of music you need to attract and entertain your viewers.
• The immediate right to perform great new music written or published by our members.
• Access to perform music in the repertories of similar foreign performing rights organizations in nearly every country around the world where copyright law exists.
• The right to perform music in commercials and jingles.
• An indemnity if a claim for infringement is made against you, your staff or your advertisers based on the performance of our member's works.

ASCAP's license fees for radio are the product of negotiations between ASCAP and prominent radio broadcasters, principally members of an industry-wide committee, the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC). All of the RMLC members are broadcasters, and represent the entire spectrum of the radio industry. While a court is available to determine fees if necessary, over the years ASCAP and the committee have always been able to agree on license fees and terms.

ASCAP and the current RMLC-negotiated license agreements cover the period January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2016.

ASCAP and the Radio Music License Committee (RMLC) have concluded negotiations on a new industry-wide license agreement ("2010 Radio Station License Agreement") that covers the period January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2016. This Agreement was also approved by the ASCAP Rate Court on Friday, January 27, 2012. The Agreement, which has ended the previous federal Rate Court litigation, provides for a return to a revenue-based fee structure, and expanded coverage to accommodate the radio industry's evolving distribution platforms: Internet websites, smart phones, and other wireless devices ("new media uses"), and HD/Multicasting radio channels.

The agreement provides that interim fees paid during 2010 and 2011 are now final, subject to $75 million in credits attributable to those years. These credits will be allocated to stations in annual $15 million installments from 2012 through 2016. For the years 2012 through 2016, stations electing to operate under a blanket license will pay 1.7% of gross revenue less a standard deduction of 12% for terrestrial analog and HD/multicasting broadcasts and a 25% standard deduction for new media uses. Stations operating under a per program, or "program period," license and that have no performances of feature ASCAP music will pay a fee of 0.2958% of gross revenue less the same standard deductions. Supplemental fees for program-period stations will be consistent with those required under the 2004-2009 license agreement.

Your annual license fee reports must be submitted electronically and ASCAP and the RMLC are working together to provide stations with a simple method of reporting that will be available to all licensed stations in 2013.

• Access to every variety of music you need to attract and entertain your viewers.
• The immediate right to perform great new music written or published by our members.
• The right to perform music in the repertories of more than 90 affiliated foreign societies.
• The right to perform music in commercials and jingles.
• An indemnity if a claim for infringement is made against you, your staff or your advertisers based on the performance of our members' works.

The ASCAP television license does not provide the right to authorize retransmissions of broadcasts of ASCAP music over televisions and loudspeakers in stores, restaurants or other locations open to the public, or by means of music-on-hold systems. To learn more about ASCAP's other license agreements for these types of uses, please see General Licensing.

The ASCAP license does not provide the right to record copyrighted music, or change the lyric of a copyrighted work and use it in a commercial jingle or station promotional announcement. These are known as "mechanical" and "synchronization" rights and you should deal directly with the copyright owners for permission to record music or change a song. Contact information for specific works in the ASCAP repertory can be found on the ASCAP website, mobile.ascap.com/aceclient/AceWeb/. You may also want to contact the Harry Fox Agency at (212) 370-5330.

Each of the networks have negotiated blanket license agreements with ASCAP.

Currently, commercial local television stations may choose between two license types - Blanket or Per Program. Both licenses give the station full access to the ASCAP repertory. However, the Per Program License requires the licensee to report to us the music content of all of its local and syndicated programs (i.e., non-network programs) on a monthly basis, and the fee is based in part on that report.

On Thursday, August 9, 2012, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote approved the agreement reached between ASCAP and the Television Music License Committee (TMLC) on a new industry-wide license agreements covering the period January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2016 ("LOCAL STATION BLANKET TELEVISION LICENSE AGREEMENT" and "LOCAL STATION PER PROGRAM TELEVISION LICENSE AGREEMENT"). The parties' agreement ends the pending Rate Court litigation and provides coverage for all broadcasts by local stations, including both primary channel broadcasts and those made on secondary digital channels, and for all audio-visual content streamed on station-affiliated websites, or delivered as part of programming supplied by stations via mobile, wireless and any other digital platforms, so long as each entity involved in the transmission or retransmission of such programming other than the licensed station has an economic relationship to the licensed station.

The new agreements are being provided to all eligible stations that are either represented by the TMLC or have agreed to be bound by the terms of the ASCAP/TMLC agreement. The principal features of the new license agreement are set forth below, with links to the new license agreement and Judge Cote's Final Order.

An industry-wide flat dollar annual fee has been negotiated between ASCAP and the Television Music License Committee ("TMLC"), which is made up of representatives from local television stations. The industrywide blanket fees for the period 2012 to 2016 agreed to with the TMLC are as follows: $91.5 million for each year 2012 to 2014, and $92.0 million for 2015 and 2016.The industrywide fee is then allocated among individual stations, in accordance with a methodology devised by the Committee (and approved by a federal court) to produce each station's annual blanket license fee.

There are two steps to the TMLC's allocation formula. First, the industrywide fee is divided among all the television or "ADI " (Areas of Dominant Influence) markets across the country. For example, Omaha is a market; Dallas-Fort Worth is a market. The share of the total for each market is weighted according to size. The Dallas-Fort Worth market is weighted higher than Omaha, for instance, because Dallas-Fort Worth has more viewers. The result is that total fees paid by all of the stations in the Dallas market are greater than total fees paid by all of the stations in the Omaha market.

Once the total fee for a market has been calculated, it is allocated to the individual stations in that market. This allocation is based on verified household ratings: i.e., how many people watch each station. A highly rated station in a market will therefore pay a greater fee than a station with a low rating. And, overall, a highly rated station in a large market will have a higher blanket fee than a highly rated station in a small market.

All stations electing the Per Program license use their allocated blanket fee as a part of the calculation of their monthly Per Program fee. Each per program licensee must report electronically the music content and the advertising revenue associated with each of its local and syndicated programs on a monthly basis. The station's monthly per program fee is determined in part by the usage of ASCAP music in those programs and the amount of revenue generated by those programs for the station. The per program fee also includes an "incidental use" component. For the license term commencing January 1, 2012, per program license fees will be determined by application of a multiplier of 1.45 to a station's revenue subject to fee.

Eligible stations can switch license types twice in a calendar year, so the numbers vary from month to month.

None. Stations operating under the blanket license do not have to submit reports to ASCAP in order to determine their fee because the fee is not based upon actual usage of ASCAP music.

Call an ASCAP broadcast licensing representative toll free at 1-800-99-ASCAP. We will be happy to explain in greater detail the options available to you. Each station should choose the license most advantageous for its needs.

ASCAP and the TMLC have also agreed that beginning in 2015, commercial local television stations will be able to opt for an "adjustable fee blanket license." The AFBL will adjust a station's blanket license fee to reflect the extent to which a station licenses ASCAP works either directly with the publisher and/or composer, or through a source license negotiated with the program producer. ASCAP and the TMLC will be negotiating the terms and conditions of the AFBL, the details of which will be provided once agreement is reached.

The U.S. copyright law requires those that publicly perform copyrighted music -- including websites and other digital services that transmit music to the public -- to first obtain a license from the copyright owners of the songs performed. Just as you need permission to use other forms of property, you must also receive permission to use the musical property owned by the more than 550,000 songwriter, composer and publisher members of ASCAP. While you may receive permission directly from each copyright owner, ASCAP’s members have authorized ASCAP to license their musical works on their behalf. A single ASCAP license thereby gives you the legal right to perform through your site or digital service the entire ASCAP repertory.

A single ASCAP license provides your internet site or digital wireless service public performance rights to the entire ASCAP repertory of songs from its more than 1.1 million members, eliminating the need to obtain separate performance licenses from each individual copyright owner. An ASCAP license also gives you the right to perform on your site or service the repertories of nearly 100 affiliated foreign performing rights organizations from around the world.

ASCAP licenses public performances of its musical works repertory made by dozens of different types of businesses including radio stations, television stations and networks, concert promoters, restaurants and dance clubs, hotels, retail stores and background music services.

The ASCAP repertory contains music of every form and style including rock, pop, country, gospel, Broadway show music, film and television music, jazz, Latin, big band, soul, symphony and concert music. If you want to know if a particular work is in the ASCAP repertory (identified by title, and the name of the writer, publisher or well-known recording artist), you may access ACE, ASCAP’s extensive, online database of ASCAP works, at www.ascap.com/ACE.

An ASCAP license authorizes the public performance of the entire ASCAP repertory and the repertories of over 90 foreign societies from around the world by means of Internet and wireless digital transmissions.

An ASCAP New Media license does not authorize the public performance of the repertories of other U.S. performing rights societies (such as SESAC or BMI or GMR). Nor does it authorize the reproduction and/or distribution of musical works; and/or the performance, reproduction and/or distribution of sound recordings. Each of these uses requires separate authorizations from the respective copyright owners or licensing representative. For example, to obtain a mechanical or synchronization license for the reproduction and/or distribution of musical compositions, please contact the appropriate music publishers and/or the Harry Fox Agency. To obtain authorization to perform or reproduce sound recordings, please contact SoundExchange or the record company associated with each particular recording.

Sound recordings and their underlying songs are each protected by separate copyrights. In 1995, U.S. law provided copyright owners of sound recordings, for the first time, with their own separate public performance right, limited to performances made in the course of digital transmissions such as streaming by Internet sites and services and transmissions by digital radio services. ASCAP does not license digital public performances of sound recordings; ASCAP only licenses the public performances of the underlying song or composition. For more information regarding licensing of sound recordings please consult an attorney and/or the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

ASCAP does not grant licenses to perform individual songs in its repertory. Rather, ASCAP offers blanket licenses that authorize the public performance of the entire ASCAP repertory. If you seek authorization to perform publicly a specific song or group of songs, please contact each of the music publisher(s) for each song. Please utilize the ACE database tool for ASCAP song information assistance.

ASCAP licenses the public performance of ASCAP works occurring within the United States, its territories, dependencies, possessions and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (“ASCAP Territory”). If your service is located and performing music elsewhere, please contact the performing rights organization in the relevant territory(ies) to obtain the necessary licensing. If your service is located outside of the ASCAP Territory but you believe you are performing within the ASCAP Territory, for example, by streaming through servers or having headquarters located in ASCAP Territory, please contact ASCAP by sending an email to weblicense@ascap.com.

Public performances of ASCAP music via most third-party players are licensed through arrangements between the third parties and ASCAP and, therefore, sites or services utilizing such players do not require additional licensing by ASCAP. If you are unsure whether the player you use is already licensed by ASCAP and/or if your site or service is performing ASCAP music through other means, please contact ASCAP by sending an email to weblicense@ascap.com.

If your only performances are radio stream through Streamlicensing's player, then you do not require an additional ASCAP license.

Generally, no. ASCAP will license the site or service to which your site or service links. If, however, you are unsure whether you need a license, please contact ASCAP by sending an email to weblicense@ascap.com.

Yes. Please complete the license application at: http://www.ascap.com/licensing/types/web-mobile

Please visit www.ascap.com/licensing/types/web-mobile to obtain an ASCAP license.

Performing copyrighted music without the proper licensing in place may amount to copyright infringement. It is, therefore, strongly recommended that you obtain all necessary licenses prior to the launch of a site or digital service utilizing copyrighted music.

You should be aware of your site or service’s annual revenue (if any) and usage. Usage metrics include (1) unique engagement sessions; (2) total content streaming time and (3) total song streams. Basic website statistics may be available to you at no cost via third-party measurement tools, such as Google Analytics.

Please email weblicense@ascap.com and an ASCAP New Media Licensing representative will contact you with further information.

If you have additional questions concerning ASCAP New Media licensing, or your responsibilities under the U.S. copyright law for the use of music by way of an Internet or digital wireless service, please contact ASCAP by utilizing the chat feature at www.ascap.com, emailing weblicense@ascap.com or calling (800) 505-4052.

If actual data is not available in response to requested information, please provide a good faith estimate. All fields on an ASCAP license application and license fee report must be completed.

All revenue connected with your entire site or service, such as the amounts and value of consideration received from advertising, sponsorships, affiliation and similar programs; placement and similar fees; e-commerce and other sales revenue; and access or membership charges or subscription fees.

Music Revenue includes all revenues connected to only that portion of your site or service that provides performances of music. Include all amounts and value of consideration received from advertising, sponsorships, affiliation and similar programs; placement and similar fees; e-commerce and other sales revenue; and access or membership charges or subscription fees.

Yes, you may deduct actual and verifiable third party advertising agency commissions for the sale of advertising or sponsorships in amount no more than 10% of the advertising and sponsorship revenue. You may also deduct payable taxes.

If your service does not generate any income, enter "$0.00" in the applicable revenue space on the license application and on the applicable revenue lines of any license fee reports.

A Session is a single, continuous period of access to the site or service by a user, regardless of the length of such period. You may report your Sessions using third-party metrics such as that available through Google Analytics.

Add the total minutes of music performance minutes and divide that result by 60, and round to the nearest whole number.

Generally you must obtain a separate ASCAP license for each individual site or service. If you wish to explore obtaining a single license that covers multiple sites or services, please contact ASCAP at weblicense@ascap.com.

License fees for the initial term (first 12 months) of an ASCAP license agreement are due upon completion and submission of the license application. License fee payments for subsequent annual terms are due upon the each annual anniversary of the agreement and can be remitted through your My ASCAP License account, accessible at www.ascap.com/mylicense. Your My ASCAP License account also provides you with the ability to view and print invoices, make changes to your address or contact information and set email preferences.

No. ASCAP license agreements operate on an annual contract year, calculated at 12 months from the date you enter into the ASCAP license (sometimes known as the “effective date”).

You may only use a credit card to pay the initial term license fees when entering an ASCAP license. However, subsequent payments may be remitted by credit card, debit paper or electronic check, money order or wire transfer.

Once you have entered into an ASCAP license, you will receive by email instructions on how to register for a unique My ASCAP License account.

Yes. You can access your My ASCAP License account at your convenience at www.ascap.com/mylicense.

No. ASCAP will not accept your license application without receiving your credit card payment at the time you submit your application.

Within 5-7 business days of your submission of your application and initial fee, ASCAP will send you an email confirming that your license application and fee have been accepted. Please keep that email and the PDF copy of the license agreement that will be attached to the email as record confirmation that your site or service has been successfully licensed by ASCAP.

If your license application was accepted successfully, a PDF copy of your license agreement will have been automatically provided to you via email within 5-7 business days after your submission of the license application.

An Annual Fee Report is the means by which you calculate and inform ASCAP of your annual license fees due to ASCAP. You may access your Annual Fee Report at www.ascap.com/mylicense.

You may only submit an Annual Fee Report online through your account at www.ascap.com/mylicense.

You may obtain this information from your site or service’s Internet service provider (ISP) and/or from one of many website analytics tools, such as Google Analytics.

For license agreements requiring annual reporting, reports are due within 45 days after the annual renewal of the license agreement. Reports are available at and must submitted through your My ASCAP License account at www.ascap.com/mylicense.

Music Use Reports are reports you submit to ASCAP of your site or service’s music usage.

You will include on your Music Use Report the associated with each of the musical compositions streamed by your site or service during the report period.

Many ASCAP licenses do not require submission of a Music Use Report. Please consult Schedule A of your license agreement to determine your reporting requirements. If you are required to submit a Music Use Report, ASCAP will notify and instruct you via email of your specific reporting instructions.

ASCAP will email you the appropriate template with instructions on how to complete the report.

Please consult the Music Use Reporting instructions provided to you by ASCAP via email.

You can check your account balance by logging in anytime to your My ASCAP License user account at www.ascap.com/mylicense.

You can check what reports are due by logging in anytime to your My ASCAP License user account at www.ascap.com/mylicense.

If your site or service has changed requiring license adjustments, please contact ASCAP at weblicense@ascap.com.

Your license cannot be backdated and will be effective only from the date you submit your license application and remit your license fee. If you wish to obtain license coverage for performances occurring prior to purchasing your license please email ASCAP at weblicense@ascap.com.

License agreements for mobile or smart TV applications do not require you to enter a URL. If you desire a license for a website but do not yet have a URL, please return to ASCAP.com for a license once you have obtained a URL to enter onto the application.

To terminate your ASCAP license agreement, please send an email to weblicense@ascap.com and an ASCAP representative will contact you.

Please email weblicense@ascap.com, include your account number, and request for ASCAP to convert your license. An ASCAP New Media Licensing representative will contact you with next steps.

A copyright owner has a number of different exclusive rights contained within a single copyright (often referred to as a “bundle of rights”). One of those exclusive rights is the ‘Performance Right’ or the right to “perform the copyrighted work publicly.” See the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C § 106(4). ASCAP licenses the non-dramatic public performance right of its members’ works to music users for a fee and distributes the license fees received as royalties to ASCAP members.

For more information about music licensing, please visit our Licensing FAQ. For more information about copyright, please visit the U.S. Copyright Office’s website at http://www.copyright.gov. If you have any questions or concerns about your copyrights, you should consult an experienced attorney.

Compositions receive federal copyright protection as soon as they are fixed in a tangible medium, which is most often achieved upon writing or recording the work, but registering your works with the Copyright Office provides you with certain benefits under the law. ASCAP does not register works with the Copyright Office and submitting your work to ASCAP for registration with ASCAP is not an alternative to Copyright Office Registration.

ASCAP members are solely responsible for all issues relating to copyright, including registration, renewal, and termination. For more information about copyright registration and other copyright issues, please visit The U.S. Copyright Office’s website at http://www.copyright.gov. If you have any questions or concerns about your copyrights, you should consult an experienced attorney.

Copyrights do not have an unlimited duration. Works created on or after January 1, 1978 (or created but unpublished before 1978) have a single copyright term that extends, in most cases, for the life of the author plus 70 years (or in the case of co-written songs, plus 70 years from the last surviving author’s death). These works do not require renewal to exercise the full life of the copyright.

The concept of renewals affects only "pre-1978" works (i.e. works in copyright before January 1, 1978). For any of these works, the copyright term is divided into two terms: (1) an initial term of 28 years following the earlier of the work's (a) creation and publication with notice or (b) registration, and then (2) a renewal term of an additional 67 years. Because more than 28 years have passed since December 31, 1977 (the last day before the effective date of the "new" Copyright Act), all pre-1978 works that are still in copyright are now in their renewal terms. In order to obtain the renewal term for pre-1978 works, filing a renewal registration with the Copyright Office may be necessary. Generally, only works copyrighted prior to January 1, 1964 require renewal registration with the Copyright Office.

The renewal belongs generally to the writer. However, if a writer enters into an agreement assigning the renewal term and the writer is still alive when the renewal is to become effective, the copyright in the renewal term will belong to the assignee (e.g., the publisher). However, if the writer in such case dies prior to the renewal, then the copyright law grants to certain surviving heirs the right to claim the renewal term despite the writer’s previous agreement.

ASCAP does not file copyright renewals on behalf of its members. For more information about duration, renewal and other copyright issues, please visit http://www.copyright.gov. If you have any questions or concerns about your copyrights, you should consult an experienced attorney.

Congress provided a means for recapturing the extended term where rights had been assigned or licensed to third parties. Specifically, if a writer or one of a writer's statutory heirs entered into an agreement assigning or licensing a renewal copyright before January 1, 1978, whatever rights were granted could be recaptured for the duration of the renewal term. (Note that the only grants subject to this form of recapture are those made by the writer or a statutory heir while living, not any grants made by will.) If the writer is still alive, the writer may exercise the recapture himself. If the writer has died, the recapture may be exercised by the writer's surviving spouse and children (including grandchildren by a predeceased child), or, if there are none, by the writer's executor or administrator. The recapture provision applies only to works in copyright before 1978 and are not works made for hire.

The recapture must be exercised by following a specified notification procedure during the 5-year period beginning 56 years from the date copyright was originally secured, or beginning January 1, 1978, whichever is later. If a termination notice was not effectuated during that 5-year window, a second termination option exists to reclaim the final 20 years of the renewal term (added under the 1998 Sonny Bono Copyright term Extension Act). This second option for recapture must be exercised during 5-year period beginning 75 years after copyright was originally secured.

ASCAP does not effectuate recapture copyrights on behalf of our members. For more information about renewals and other copyright issues, please visit the U.S. Copyright Office’s website at http://www.copyright.gov. If you have any questions or concerns about your copyrights, you should consult an experienced attorney.

The Copyright Act affords a writer the opportunity to terminate any transfer or license of works made by the writer on or after January 1, 1978. This right of termination applies only to agreements that a writer has made during his or her lifetime and not to any copyright grant contained in the writer's Will.

The right can be exercised by the writer him or herself or, if the writer has died, by the writer's surviving spouse and children (including grandchildren by a predeceased child). If the writer is not survived by any spouse, child, or grandchild, the right to terminate the grant passes to the writer's executor or administrator. The result in all cases is to recover all rights that the writer had granted, regardless of any agreement about the work to the contrary.

Termination can take effect only during the 5-year period beginning 35 years after the date of the grant, but a notice is required to initiate the termination. This notice must be sent between 2 to 10 years before the effective date of the termination and recorded with the Copyright Office. Because this termination right applies only to grants related to works made on or after January 1, 1978, the year 2003 is the first year that termination notices could have been sent, and 2013 is the first year that any will take effect.

When planning for the disposition of the copyright in a work that the writer has previously transferred or licensed, keep in mind the possibility that the grant may be terminated and the rights recovered.

In order to process a member's request to update a work records pursuant to a termination, ASCAP requires:

• Correspondence from the claiming publisher describing the request, along with instruction as to the ASCAP publisher member that is to receive the reclaimed interest received by ASCAP no earlier than one quarter in advance of the effective date;

• A copy of the Notice of Termination as served on the original grantee, which should include a list of works claimed, along with evidence of recordation with the Copyright Office. (Note: Evidence of submission of the Notice of Termination to the Copyright Office is sufficient, we do not need to see evidence of completed recordation)

Cover letters and copies of notices should be submitted in ASCAP Member Access via Member Service Inquiry (Category: 'My Catalog', Topic: 'Copyright Claims - Reclamation of Post-1978 Works'). Please note that ASCAP can accept claims no more than one quarter in advance of the effective date.

Be advised that ASCAP will not make a determination of the sufficiency of the request, but will provide a copy of the Notice of Termination to the original grantee to confirm the termination before updating our records.

ASCAP does not terminate transfers of copyrights on behalf of our members. For more information about terminations and other copyright issues, please visit http://www.copyright.gov. If you have any questions or concerns about termination or your copyrights, you should consult an experienced attorney.

Please call 1-800-95ASCAP (1-800-952-7227) to speak with a representative from ASCAP’s Member Services department. We will guide you through the process of establishing a successor to the membership.

We recommend that you consult an experienced attorney to advise you as to your specific estate planning needs and to draw up the necessary papers. As a general matter, however, it is best to put your wishes in writing, including express provisions to deal with the disposition of ASCAP royalties.

If you die without a Will, state laws of intestacy will dictate who receives your membership interest (subject, of course, to the relevant provisions of the Copyright Act). Therefore, if you wish to direct that your membership interest go to your spouse, your children, a trust, or other beneficiaries, you must prepare a Will or other appropriate estate planning documentation to set forth your wishes.

Due to potential conflicts and the current state of the law, ASCAP cannot accept beneficiary forms. In order to ensure your wishes are followed, you should include your ASCAP royalties in your estate planning.

A living ASCAP member’s request to assign his or her royalties must meet certain criteria to be permitted under ASCAP’s rules. Please consult the Royalties section of this webpage and the Compendium of ASCAP Rules and Regulations, available on our Governing Documents page.

Given the unique needs of the estates of writer members, ASCAP does permit the estate to sell or irrevocably assign the right to receive ASCAP writer royalties. ASCAP also permits living members to assign royalties irrevocably to a family member, living trust, or family-held company. Other rights of membership (such as the right to vote) are not assignable. If you are an heir or a successor to a deceased writer member and you are interested in selling or irrevocably assigning the deceased writer’s royalties, you may call our Member Services department (1-800-95ASCAP) or submit a Member Service inquiry via your Member Access account.

Bequests cannot be made to ASCAP directly, but you may make a bequest to The ASCAP Foundation, a tax-exempt public charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax law. The Foundation was incorporated in 1975 to promote and support charitable and educational programs in the field of music. The Foundation is completely separate from ASCAP with its own Board of Directors and Advisory Board. It is dedicated to nurturing the music talent of tomorrow, preserving the legacy of the past and sustaining the creative incentive for today's creators through a variety of educational, professional, and humanitarian programs and activities serving the entire music community. For more information on any of the Foundation's programs, or to inquire about including the Foundation in your estate planning, please visit its web site at http://www.ascapfoundation.org.

Las solicitudes para membresías de escritores y editores de ASCAP se pueden obtener en nuestro sitio web; www.ascap.com/join.

Afiliarse con ASCAP es gratis para todos los nuevos miembros escritores de ASCAP. Si se une como escritor y editor al mismo tiempo, no le cobraremos ninguna tarifa de solicitud. Si sólo se une como editor, hay una tarifa de procesamiento de solicitud no reembolsable de $ 50 dólares por única vez, pero ASCAP no cobra cuotas anuales ni cuotas recurrentes.

Los últimos dos años han sido difíciles para los creadores de música. Suspender la tarifa temporalmente ayudará a los a los nuevos creadores de música a lanzar sus carreras y comenzar a ganar dinero más rápido. ASCAP está aquí para apoyar a los creadores en cada etapa de su vida en la música.

Estamos renunciando a la tarifa para todos los nuevos miembros escritores de ASCAP. Si se une como escritor y editor al mismo tiempo, no le cobraremos ninguna tarifa de solicitud.

Nuestro objetivo al suspender la tarifa de solicitud es eliminar uno de los obstáculos para que los nuevos escritores y compositores comiencen a ganar dinero con su música. La mayoría de nuestros nuevos miembros escritores aún no tienen una entidad editorial, por lo que ahora pueden prepararse para ganar el 100% de sus regalías de ASCAP, sin costo alguno para ellos.

Es un gran paso unirse a ASCAP como editor, incluso con la tarifa de solicitud de $ 50 dólares para los editores que no se unen como escritores al mismo tiempo. Cuando ASCAP distribuye regalías por una interpretación de su música, el 50 % va a los escritores y el otro 50 % a los editores. Si desea cobrar su parte de editor, deberá tener una editorial con ASCAP.

Haga clic aquí para conocer otras razones por las que un escritor de ASCAP también debería unirse como editor.

Estamos suspendiendo las tarifas de solicitud temporalmente para ayudar a los nuevos creadores de música que tuvieron dificultades para comenzar sus carreras durante la pandemia. El próximo año, evaluaremos como el cambio ha impactado a ASCAP y nuestra membresía y decidiremos si continuamos.

Solo eximiremos de las tarifas a los nuevos miembros que se unan el13 de febrero de 2023 o después.

Sólo estamos renunciando a la tarifa para las nuevas membresías de editores de ASCAP si están conectados a un nuevo escritor que se une simultáneamente. El objetivo aquí es alentar a los nuevos creadores de música para quienes una tarifa de solicitud podría ser un obstáculo para comenzar a ganar dinero con su música.

Todavía resulta un gran paso unirse a ASCAP como editor. Cuando distribuimos regalías por una interpretación de su música, el 50 % va a los escritores y el otro 50 % a los editores. Si desea cobrar la parte de su editor, deberá configurar una empresa editorial con ASCAP.

Haga clic aquí para conocer otras razones por las que un escritor de ASCAP también debería unirse como editor.

Nuestro proceso de solicitud implica verificar su identidad a través de su identificación fiscal. Dado que no tiene una identificación fiscal de USA para verificar, necesitamos usar la información de su tarjeta de crédito en su lugar. ¡No se preocupe, no haremos ningún cargo en su tarjeta!

Cobramos una tarifa de solicitud única para los nuevos miembros que deciden unirse sólo como editores. Las tarifas únicas ayudan a compensar algunos de los costos administrativos asociados con la elección de nuevos miembros.

 

A partir del 13 de febrero del 2023, suspenderemos temporalmente las tarifas de solicitud para los nuevos miembros escritores. Si se une como escritor y editor al mismo tiempo, no le cobraremos ambas tarifas.

Por el momento, si se une como escritor y editor al mismo tiempo, no pagará  la tarifa de solicitud para ambas membresías.

Si se une sólo como escritor ahora, puede hacerlo gratis. Pero deberá pagar una tarifa de solicitud de $ 50 dólares si decide unirse como editor posteriormente.

La tarifa de procesamiento de la solicitud no es reembolsable.

La tarifa está asociada con los costos de procesamiento de la solicitud de membresía y por lo tanto, no se puede devolver.

Si no tiene una tarjeta de crédito o débito Visa, MasterCard o American Express emitida en USA, primero debe proporcionar a ASCAP otra forma de pago utilizando el Formulario de tarifa de procesamiento de ASCAP. Al recibir y procesar su pago, se le darán instrucciones para completar su solicitud.

El cargo por procesar un cheque, giro postal o pago con tarjeta de crédito extranjera es de $50 dólares. Tenga en cuenta que esto se suma a la tarifa de solicitud de editor de $50 dólares.

Puedes registrar tus temas en tu cuenta de Member Access (members.ascap.com) Para facilitar este proceso sigue estas instrucciones. (Ingles básico es necesario).

1. Visita nuestra página de internet en www.ascap.com
2. Selecciona “Manage Account", bajo la seccion de Music Creators
3. Ingresa a tu cuenta de Member Access usando tu nombre de usuario y contraseña. Si no has activado tu cuenta de Member Access, podes activar tu cuenta hoy haciendo click en “Activate Your Account Now!”
4. Haz click en “Register A Work” y sigue las instrucciones para registrar sus canciones.

Es importante, aunque no obligatorio, que registres tus temas en la Biblioteca del Congreso para proteger tus temas. Para mas informacion por favor visite www.copyright.gov.