Reporting your performances to ASCAP is SO helpful!

One important source of income for composers is performance royalties. As a member of the nonprofit performing rights organization ASCAP, my royalties are managed by that organization. But if ASCAP doesn’t know about my performances, I don’t get paid. (Sad face here.) It’s up to performers to provide that information using this super quick ’n easy form: Report your Performance to ASCAP.

There’s a good chance you won’t be charged a fee for your performance at all. Concert halls and universities purchase annual blanket licenses (aka “site licenses”) which cover all performances which occur there, so the fee is already taken care of. And music performed as part of worship or K‑12 education is exempt from paying licensing fees altogether. If your concert is a small, low-budget affair your licensing fee will reflect that. And if your concert is really ginormous, then congratulations and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Either way you’ll know you did right by us living, breathing, bill‑paying composers.

If you have a moment, do let ME know about your performance too! It helps me market my music more effectively, it’s useful when applying for grants, and it makes me happy.