There are well over two hundred (200) Performing Rights Organizations; commonly referred to as PROs, or as a Performing Rights Society. The largest Performing Rights Organizations include the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publisher (ASCAP); Broadcasting Music, Inc. (BMI); and SESAC. PROs are organizations that act on behalf of musicians, authors, composers and other related non-dramatic music artists.

In general, Performing Rights Organizations collect and oversee the distribution of performance royalties through various venues including the Internet, Movies, Television, Radio and other public performances. In addition, PROs are the organizations that issue performing rights licenses to broadcasters that publicly use non-dramatic music works.

Performing Rights Organizations collect performing rights license fees when any public performance of a copyrighted song produces royalties for a copyright owner; who are then paid performance royalties through the PRO.

PROs maintain these earnings based on a catalog of songs that are aired on radio stations; and typically, Performing Rights Organizations distribute a percentage of that fee to copyright owners as a performance royalty.

While this is a general overview of Performing Rights Organizations, if you would like to contribute your own article or expertise about this particular topic, feel free to do so at Media Positive Radio today.