How to register your songs with BMI or ASCAP (step by step)
A step-by-step guide to joining a PRO and registering every song you write with BMI or ASCAP, plus The MLC, and what to have ready so the money finds you.
Quick answer
To get paid performance royalties, join one PRO as a writer, then register every song individually. You'll need the title, every co-writer's legal name, PRO, and IPI number, the agreed percentages, and publisher info. Then register with The MLC too, since BMI and ASCAP don't collect US streaming mechanicals.
On this page
I'll be honest. I'm pretty bad at registering songs.
When I was building Songstage, I tried to pull all of my songs into the app with our catalog importer. That's when I found out I hadn't registered hundreds of my songs. Granted, most of them weren't being recorded. They were just written, so it's not like I was sitting on missing money.
But none of them were ready for an opportunity. If a huge band wanted to record one of those songs tomorrow, I'd have to track down all the information from scratch.
So this is the guide I needed. Here's how to register with BMI or ASCAP, why joining a PRO isn't the same thing as registering, and the second registration most writers don't know exists.
Step 1: Pick one PRO #
A PRO (performing rights organization) collects money when your songs are performed publicly: radio, TV, streaming, live shows, businesses playing music. In the US, the big two open to anyone are BMI and ASCAP. SESAC and GMR work by invitation.
As a songwriter, you affiliate with one PRO at a time. Your co-writers can be with different ones, and that's completely normal.
| BMI | ASCAP | |
|---|---|---|
| Writer membership | Free | Free |
| Publisher setup | One-time fee ($175 individual, $250 corporation or LLC) | Encouraged for writers who self-publish |
| Where you register songs | Online Services, Works Registration | Member Access, "Register a Work" |
| Mobile option | Online | ASCAP app has a guided registration |
I'm with BMI. Honestly, the reason is that the first co-writer I wrote with in town told me to sign up with BMI and said it was free, so I just picked it. That's fine. The bigger mistake is not joining at all.
Check each PRO's site for current fees and terms.
Step 2: Joining isn't registering #
This is the part that trips people up. Joining a PRO doesn't register your songs. You have to register each song, one by one, or the money it earns has nowhere to land.
Step 3: Get your info ready #
Before you register anything, have this in front of you. Most of it should already be on your split sheet.
- Song title, exactly as it'll appear on the release, plus any working titles
- Every co-writer's legal name, PRO, and IPI number (how to find an IPI)
- Each writer's percentage, adding up to 100%
- Publisher info and publisher IPIs for each writer, if they have one
- ISRC, if the song has been recorded and released (your distributor assigns it)
- Samples or interpolations, if any
Free song catalog template (spreadsheet)
Step 4: Register the song #
With BMI #
- Log into your BMI Online Services account.
- Go to Works Registration and click Add New Work.
- Work Info: title and details about the song.
- Other Works: anything the song is based on or uses.
- Publishers & Writers: add every writer and publisher with their percentages.
- Artists & Recordings: the recording details if it's been released.
- Summary: review everything and submit.
BMI processes the registration before it shows up in your works catalog, and emails you once it's done.
With ASCAP #
- Sign into ASCAP Member Access.
- Under the Works menu, choose Register a Work.
- Enter the title and any alternate titles.
- Add every writer and publisher with their shares. Use the tooltips in the form if you're unsure about a field.
- Add recording details if you have them, then submit.
ASCAP also lets you register from its mobile app with a guided, step-by-step flow.
Step 5: Decide who's registering #
In my co-writes, I usually count on the writers who have publishers to register the song, since their publishers handle it. If nobody in the room has a publisher, decide together who's going to do it. And if someone wants to cut a song we've written, that's when I'll chase down anything that's missing.
Whoever registers, every writer's registration has to match the percentages you signed. If your numbers say 50/50 and your co-writer's say 60/40, the PROs have a conflict, and conflicts slow payment down for everybody.
Step 6: Register with The MLC too #
I only learned about The MLC a few years ago, and I think a lot of writers still don't realize it's out there.
The MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective) is a nonprofit created by the Music Modernization Act. Since January 1, 2021, it has collected mechanical royalties in the US from digital services, meaning interactive streams and downloads.
That's a different kind of money than what your PRO collects:
| Your PRO (BMI, ASCAP) | The MLC | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of royalty | Performance | Mechanical |
| Comes from | Songs being performed publicly: radio, TV, venues, streaming | Songs being reproduced digitally: streams and downloads |
| Covers US streaming mechanicals? | No | Yes |
| Cost for self-published writers | Free to join as a writer | Free to connect |
If you have a publisher or an admin company, they're usually handling your MLC registrations. If you're self-published, you can connect with The MLC yourself and register your songs through its Member Hub, one at a time or in bulk with their template.
Just released your first song? #
First of all, congratulations. That's a big deal.
Second, get all of this information together now. Titles, co-writers, IPIs, percentages, publishers. Having it ready is how you make all the money you possibly can from a song that's already out there.
Common registration mistakes #
- Assuming joining a PRO registers your songs. It doesn't.
- Forgetting The MLC. It's a separate registration for a separate kind of money.
- Registering with artist names instead of legal names.
- Leaving out co-writers' IPI numbers.
- Percentages that don't match the split sheet.
- Registering an album as one work. Each song gets its own registration.
- Forgetting the publisher's share. Read writer's share vs publisher's share to make sure you're collecting both halves.
Have it ready before you need it #
We built Songstage so every song is ready to register the moment you finish it. When you write a song in Songstage, it lists everything you need to register it: writer IPIs, publisher IPIs, each writer's percentage, and the rest. Share it or export it, and you or a co-writer with a publisher can register the song with BMI, ASCAP, or any other PRO without chasing anything down.
Frequently asked questions
Can I join both BMI and ASCAP?
Not as a writer. In the US you affiliate with one PRO as a songwriter at a time. Your co-writers can belong to different PROs, and each PRO pays its own members.
Does it cost money to join?
BMI says writer affiliation is free, and ASCAP advertises free membership. BMI charges a one-time fee to set up a publishing company ($175 for individuals). The MLC says connecting with them is free. Check each for current details.
What's the difference between a PRO and The MLC?
PROs like BMI and ASCAP collect performance royalties. The MLC collects mechanical royalties from streaming and download services in the US. They're two different kinds of money, so you want to be registered with both.
Do I need to register songs that haven't been released?
It's smart to register once the song is finished and the split is agreed, so everything's in place before the song starts earning. At minimum, have all the registration info ready for every song you write.