A performing rights organisation licenses the public performance of compositions on behalf of writers and publishers, collects the resulting money, and distributes it to its members.
The mechanism
Venues, broadcasters and services take blanket licences rather than clearing each song. The organisation tracks usage, matches it to registered works, and pays the registered owners.
A worked example
A song played on radio generates performance income that reaches the writer only if that writer is a member and the work is registered with correct shares.
What it is confused with
- Publisher A publisher administers and exploits compositions commercially. A PRO only licenses and collects for public performance.
- Mechanical royalty PROs handle performance. Mechanicals are administered separately.
Why it matters
Unregistered works earn performance income that cannot be paid to anyone, and membership is the precondition for collecting it.
Sources: US Copyright Office
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