How to report setlists to PROs after shows and why you should
Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI and SESAC collect fees from venues that play live or recorded music and distribute them to Artists. Learn how to report setlists to PROs and increase your chances of getting your share.
Most countries have a single or dominate PRO that music venues have pay. The US has many. In addition to ASCAP, BMI and SESAC, there is AllTrack, Global Music Rights (GMR) and Pro Music Rights with more rumored to be on the way.
Venues are required to buy licenses from all these PROs, even when the songs performed are registered to a single rights organization.
All this can be confusing for an artist who writes their own songs and performs them live. Its so confusing that U.S. Copyright Office is looking into the number of PROs, which songs are covered by each license, and how payments are divided among artists and rightsholders.
In fairness, none of this is easy for the PROs. How can they know what song was performed and by whom at thousands of gigs across the country each week? Thus far, accurate “Shazam for live music” exists.
Most PROs look at things like ticket sales reports and chart positions to calculate payments leaving the average band playing a club often unrepresented. So to increase the chances of being paid fairly when they perform them live, Artists should send the setlist to their PRO.
How To Report Setlists To PROs
We asked the big three US PROs – ASCAP, BMI and SESAC – how artists should report setlists to a PRO. Each has their own system.
First and foremost, only report the setlist to the PRO or PROs of the songwriters in the band. After that the steps vary depending on the PRO.
From ASCAP
“ASCAP makes it easy for members at any stage of their career to submit setlists from live performances through our ASCAP OnStage program, which is accessible through their Member Access account.
A link to Member Access, instructions on how to file a claim, quarterly deadlines and an OnStage FAQ can be found at https://www.ascap.com/music-creators/ascap-onstage.
An OnStage submission through one Member Access account will credit all the entitled songwriters and publishers on the music performed. More details on the steps to submit an OnStage claim are available here.”
From BMI
“BMI Live is open to all BMI songwriters performing in any-sized venue across America, including local bars, restaurants, clubs and more.
Songwriters can input their tour information/setlists at their convenience from the previous six months by logging into their BMI Online Services account from a computer, mobile device, or through the BMI Mobile app for Android and iOS. Royalty payments on those performances are received quarterly.
For additional questions and more information, please visit the BMI Live FAQs.”
From SESAC
“SESAC songwriters can register setlists by following these steps:
- Log in to the SESAC portal
- Click the Performance Info tab
- Click “Add Performance”
- Complete the 3-step process of:
- Performance Details
- Song Selection
- Review & Submit
SAWS or their representatives can also provide bulk setlists which we can ingest for large multi-city & venue tours.”
Reporting your setlists does not guaruntee larger payments. But it provides each PRO with the information that they need to more accurately reflect the live music landscape.
Bruce Houghton is Founder & Editor of Hypebot, Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, a Berklee College Of Music professor and founder of Skyline Artists
