Performance Royalties

Performance royalties are fees that songwriters and publishers receive when their music is performed publicly. This includes performances on radio and television broadcasts, in concert venues, in restaurants and bars, or via online streaming services.

 

These royalties are typically collected by Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) such as the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), and the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC). PROs track public performances of songs, collect the due royalties, and distribute them to the copyright owners.

 

For instance, if a song is played on a radio station, the station pays a fee to the relevant PRO, who then pays the songwriter and publisher. This is not only a crucial source of income for songwriters and publishers, but also a recognition of their rights as creators of the work.

 

As an example, if a pop song by Taylor Swift is played on a radio station, performance royalties will be collected by the relevant PRO and then distributed to Swift and her publisher.

 

 

For more detailed information, you might visit the Performance Rights page on Wikipedia.