The Essential Memberships Every Professional Musician Should Consider

 

Navigating the music industry isn’t just about talent, grit, and luck—it’s also about making sure you’re connected to the right organizations that protect your rights and ensure you get paid fairly. Whether you’re a songwriter, recording artist, or session player, the companies you join play a critical role in your career.

At the core, every musician should understand two pillars of professional membership: performing rights organizations (PROs) and the musicians’ union. From there, additional organizations handle other royalty streams and distribution needs.

Performing Rights Organizations (PROs)

A PRO collects public performance royalties for songwriters, composers, and publishers when music is played publicly—on radio, TV, in venues, or online. In the U.S., you can only affiliate with one PRO at a time.

Open Membership:

ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)

A non-profit, member-owned PRO with one of the widest catalogs of licensed music. Writer membership is free, making it accessible for new and seasoned songwriters alike.

BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)

With over 1.4 million affiliated songwriters and publishers, BMI is one of the most influential PROs across genres. Songwriters pay a one-time affiliation fee.

Invitation-Only Membership

SESAC

A for-profit, selective PRO offering personalized services and, in some cases, higher payout rates. Membership is by invitation only.

Global Music Rights (GMR)

A smaller, invitation-only PRO known for aggressive advocacy and rapidly expanding influence in the industry.

Who needs a PRO: If you write or compose original music, affiliating with a PRO is non-negotiable. It’s the only way to collect royalties from public performances of your songs.

Musicians’ Union

For instrumentalists and performers, the American Federation of Musicians (AFM)
is the primary union in North America.

Who should join: Orchestral players, Broadway musicians, film/TV recording artists, and session players.

Benefits: The AFM negotiates fair contracts, sets minimum wage scales, ensures safe working conditions, and provides pension and healthcare benefits.

If you regularly perform live or do studio work, union membership safeguards your pay and professional rights.

Other Essential Music Companies

The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC)

Required for songwriters and publishers in the U.S. to collect mechanical royalties from digital streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.).

SoundExchange

Collects and distributes digital performance royalties when your sound recordings are played on non-interactive streaming services like Pandora, SiriusXM, or iHeartRadio. Registration ensures you’re paid as both the featured artist and (if applicable) the copyright owner.

Music Distribution Companies
Independent artists need a distributor to upload and monetize their music on streaming platforms worldwide:

DistroKid

TuneCore

Memberships Based on Your Role

Songwriter/Composer:

Affiliate with a PRO (ASCAP
, BMI
, SESAC
, or GMR

Register with the MLC
to collect mechanical royalties.

Recording Artist/Session Musician:

Join the AFM
for fair pay and protections.

Register with SoundExchange
for digital performance royalties.

Doing Both:

Cover all bases—join a PRO for songwriting royalties, the AFM for performance protections, and SoundExchange for your recordings.

Final Thoughts

Joining the right organizations isn’t glamorous, but it’s one of the smartest moves you can make as a professional musician. Before signing up, take stock of your career goals and revenue streams. Are you writing songs? Recording? Touring? Doing session work? Each path requires different memberships—but together, they ensure your art is protected, your career is sustainable, and your royalties don’t slip through the cracks.

The Essential Memberships Every Professional Musician Should Cons:

Navigating the music industry isn’t just about talent, grit, and luck—it’s also about making sure you’re connected to the right organizations that protect your rights and ensure you get paid fairly. Whether you’re a songwriter, recording artist, or session player, the companies you join play a critical role in your career.

At the core, every musician should understand two pillars of professional membership: performing rights organizations (PROs) and the musicians’ union. From there, additional organizations handle other royalty streams and distribution needs.

Performing Rights Organizations (PROs)

A PRO collects public performance royalties for songwriters, composers, and publishers when music is played publicly—on radio, TV, in venues, or online. In the U.S., you can only affiliate with one PRO at a time.

     Open Membership

• ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)
  A non-profit, member-owned PRO with one of the widest catalogs of licensed music. Writer membership is free, making it accessible for new and seasoned songwriters alike.
  
  
• BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)
  With over 1.4 million affiliated songwriters and publishers, BMI is one of the most influential PROs across genres. Songwriters pay a one-time affiliation fee.
  Invitation-Only Membership
• SESAC
  A for-profit, selective PRO offering personalized services and, in some cases, higher payout rates. Membership is by invitation only.
  
  
• Global Music Rights (GMR)
  A smaller, invitation-only PRO known for aggressive advocacy and rapidly expanding influence in the industry.
  Who needs a PRO: If you write or compose original music, affiliating with a PRO is non-negotiable. It’s the only way to collect royalties from public performances of your songs.                                              

                                                  

• Who should join: Orchestral players, Broadway musicians, film/TV recording artists, and session players.
  
  
• Benefits: The AFM negotiates fair contracts, sets minimum wage scales, ensures safe working conditions, and provides pension and healthcare benefits.
  
  

If you regularly perform live or do studio work, union membership safeguards your pay and professional rights.

Other Essential Music Companies

• The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC)
  Required for songwriters and publishers in the U.S. to collect mechanical royalties from digital streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.).
  
  
• SoundExchange
  Collects and distributes digital performance royalties when your sound recordings are played on non-interactive streaming services like Pandora, SiriusXM, or iHeartRadio. Registration ensures you’re paid as both the featured artist and (if applicable) the copyright owner.
  
  
• Music Distribution Companies
  Independent artists need a distributor to upload and monetize their music on streaming platforms worldwide:
  
  
  • DistroKid
    
    
  • TuneCore
    
    

Memberships Based on Your Role

• Songwriter/Composer:
  
  
  • Affiliate with a PRO (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or GMR).
    
    
  • Register with the MLC to collect mechanical royalties.
    
    
• Recording Artist/Session Musician:
  
  
  • Join the AFM for fair pay and protections.
    
    
  • Register with SoundExchange for digital performance royalties.
    
    
• Doing Both:
  
  
  • Cover all bases—join a PRO for songwriting royalties, the AFM for performance protections, and SoundExchange for your recordings.
    
    

Final Thoughts

Joining the right organizations isn’t glamorous, but it’s one of the smartest moves you can make as a professional musician. Before signing up, take stock of your career goals and revenue streams. Are you writing songs? Recording? Touring? Doing session work? Each path requires different memberships—but together, they ensure your art is protected, your career is sustainable, and your royalties don’t slip through the cracks.

 Resources for Musicians & Songwriters

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