How To: Collect Live Performance Royalties

For songwriters and bands performing their own material, there’s an opportunity to earn additional royalties from live performances. All three US Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) can pay royalties from live performances at bars, clubs, restaurants and other music venues.

In order to collect these royalties, each PRO requires writers to alert them of live performances. Below is the best way for writers affiliated with ASCAP, BMI or SESAC to maximise their live performance royalties.

ASCAP OnStage

You can receive royalties when your music is performed live at venues of all sizes throughout the US. You need to provide the basic details of the performance and which of your songs were performed and you’ll receive an OnStage payment with your normal ASCAP distribution.

OnStage is available 24/7 via your Member Access account for convenience and flexibility. Coming in November: OnStage will be available via ASCAP Mobile

More info: ASCAP OnStage

BMI Live

To sign up for BMI Live, songwriters should log into the BMI Live section of bmi.com and register their set lists, with the date and venue where they performed. They will then be eligible for quarterly royalty payments for the public performance of their original songs and compositions.

For Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users, BMI Live can be accessed from the BMI Mobile app, while Android users will find BMI Live on the BMI Mobile website. BMI Live’s mobile platforms offer all the same services that are available online via laptop and desktop computers.

More info: BMI Live

SESAC

Register your sets via your publishing account on SESAC Affiliate Services. Once you’ve logged in, complete live performance forms for any live gigs.

You’re able to create a set list (e.g. Fall Tour 2011) and copy / paste it into each venue. You’ll need each venue’s address, date of show, venue capacity, if there was a music charge and the list of songs to submit.

More info: SESAC Live Performance Royalties