Music Royalties & Rights — Register Everywhere
There are separate piles of money with your name on them, held by separate organizations, and none of them will chase you down. Registration is free at almost every one. This is the checklist.
The money collectors — register with each that applies
One PRO (pick one), plus BOTH of the next two. These are the registrations working musicians most often miss.
Performance royalties for songwriters — one-time $50 writer signup, then it collects when your songs play publicly. Pick ASCAP or BMI, not both.
The other big US PRO — free songwriter signup, same job: collecting performance royalties on your songs.
The invitation-only US PRO — you can't just sign up, but you should know it exists and what it does.
Mechanical streaming royalties for songwriters — a completely separate pile from your PRO money, free to join, and the single most-missed registration in music.
Digital-radio royalties (Pandora, SiriusXM, webcasts) for ARTISTS and rights owners — separate from everything above, free, and holding unclaimed money right now.
Registration ($45–$65) isn't required to own your song, but it's required before you can sue — and it's the strongest proof of ownership that exists.
Know your rights — organizations & advocacy
The songwriter's advocacy home — song evaluations, workshops, and the people who fought for songwriter pay in Washington.
Nonprofit research and plain-English education on how musicians actually get paid.
Free and low-cost legal help for artists — most states have a chapter; search 'volunteer lawyers for the arts' plus your state.
The musicians' union — contracts, protections, and pension for working players.
Outside the US
The two most-missed checks in music: The MLC and SoundExchange. Both free, both separate from your PRO, both holding money for people who never signed up. Do it this week.
This page is part of the No-Money Music Resource Library — free, working links for every corner of a music career, checked by hand.