One of the most common questions we’re asked is: I’m already affiliated with ASCAP (or BMI or SESAC or SOCAN). Do you replace them? Do I need TuneCore Music Publishing Administration if I’m already affiliated with one of these Performing Rights Organizations?
The short answer to that question is: YES, you need BOTH!
So let’s dig a little deeper and explain why you need both.
ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and SOCAN are Performing Rights Organizations. They monitor radio stations, television, the Internet, jukeboxes and live performance venues and more, and pay the composers when any versions of their compositions are performed or broadcasted publicly (and yes, when compositions are streamed or played on the Internet, that’s considered “public”).
We at TuneCore believe very strongly that these Performing Rights Organizations are an incredibly important and necessary tool for songwriters and publishers. They are the watchdogs of the airwaves so to speak, and we don’t view TuneCore as a replacement for the services they provide. Instead, we work with them so you can take full advantage of their services.
So why do songwriters and publishers need TuneCore Music Publishing Administration?
Performing Rights Organizations (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and SOCAN) take on the enormous task of collecting performance royalties from thousands of sources (as listed above), but there are other royalty types generated by your compositions that you aren’t receiving—mechanicals, download mechanicals, streaming mechanicals, print, synchronization, ringtones, just to name a few.
As we’ve explained in previous articles, in order to collect these additional royalties, you need to be represented by a Publishing Administrator. If you choose TuneCore to fill this role, we’ll register your compositions with the following entities:
- The Performing Rights Organizations (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and SOCAN)
- Other societies around the globe that collect beyond performance royalties (e.g. they also collect mechanicals for downloads and streams)
- The digital stores in the U.S. that offer interactive streaming (like Spotify and Rhapsody).
So to sum it all up, TuneCore Music Publishing Administration is here to register your compositions worldwide to all applicable sources, so that you receive your due royalties—from performances, mechanicals, ringtones, print, synchronization or other revenue sources.
We also take care of issuing any licenses needed for your compositions (e.g. for synchronization, physical mechanicals for album sales, print, etc).
We’ve got all of your Publishing Administration needs under one roof!
Here’s a graphic breakdown of who collects what:
(click on the image below to enlarge)
For more information about the royalties TuneCore Music Publishing Administration collects and those the PRO’s collect, click here.
Coming next month…
What is TuneCore Publishing Administration doing to help promote my compositions in Film & Television?
Stay Tuned!
President TuneCore Music Publishing