Commonly referred to as PROs, or Performing Rights Organizations, a Performing Rights Society is an organization that acts on behalf of musicians, authors, composers and other related non-dramatic music artists. Some major Performing Rights Societies include SESAC, BMI and ASCAP; and the ‘Performing Right Society’ (PRS) in the UK.

Overall, a Performing Rights Society collects and oversees the distribution of performance royalties through various venues including the Internet, Movies, Television, Radio and other public performances. In addition, a Performing Rights Society issues performing rights licenses to broadcasters that publicly use non-dramatic music works.

Performing Rights Societies 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 that particular Performing Rights Society.

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

While this is a general overview of what a Performing Rights Society is, 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.