How to Register a Song with a PRO (Step-by-Step)

Why Does Registering with a PRO Matter?

Every time your song is streamed, performed live, played on the radio, or broadcast on TV, it generates royalties. But unless your work is registered with a society, those royalties cannot be matched to you as a rights holder. Instead, they sit in unallocated pools or expire. Registration ensures your rights are recognized and your royalties are collected.

What Do You Need Before Registering?

Before starting the process, prepare the following information for each work: Song title and alternate titles. Writers and splits (must total 100%). Publisher information (if applicable). ISWC (composition identifier, assigned after registration). ISRC (recording identifier, if registering linked recordings). Release date and distributor (if applicable).

For a full pre-registration checklist, see Metadata Checklist for Artists: Avoid Missing Royalties.

How to Register a Work on ASCAP (Step-by-Step)

1. Log in to your Member Access account.
2. Click Works and then Register a Work.
3. Enter the song title and alternate titles.
4. Add all writers and assign percentage splits.
5. Add publisher details, if applicable.
6. Enter ISRCs for linked recordings.
7. Confirm and submit. ASCAP assigns an ISWC within days.

Direct portal link: ASCAP Member Access

US PROs and The MLC

In the US, major PROs include ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. Writers choose one PRO to join, while publishers may join multiple. Mechanical royalties are administered separately by The MLC.

Registration portals: BMI Online Services | SESAC Member Portal | The MLC

How to Register a Work with PRS for Music (UK)

1. Log in to the PRS for Music member portal.
2. Navigate to Works and select Register a New Work.
3. Enter the title of the work and any alternate titles.
4. Add all contributors (writers and publishers), including their CAE/IPI numbers. Splits must equal 100%.
5. If the work has already been released, enter ISRCs for the associated recordings.
6. Provide the release date, distributor, and label if applicable.
7. Review the details and confirm submission. PRS assigns an ISWC and updates its database.

Tip: PRS often cross-references metadata with ICE and international partners, so accuracy is critical. Even minor discrepancies in names or splits can delay royalty collection.

Registration portals: PRS for Music | MCPS | ICE Services | SACEM (France)

Asia-Pacific Registration

In Australia and New Zealand, APRA AMCOS manages both performance and mechanical rights. In Japan, JASRAC is the dominant society for performance and mechanical rights, with strict reporting requirements. Other countries in the region, such as Korea (KOMCA), have their own societies with different rules.

Registration portals: APRA AMCOS | JASRAC | KOMCA

Canada

In Canada, SOCAN manages performance royalties, while CMRRA handles mechanicals. Both societies collaborate on certain functions but require separate registrations in many cases.

Registration portals: SOCAN | CMRRA

Latin America

Latin America is home to a patchwork of PROs and CMOs, each managing national rights. SADAIC manages rights in Argentina, while UBC handles rights in Brazil. International catalog owners often partner with local sub-publishers to ensure works are registered and royalties collected.

Registration portals: SADAIC (Argentina) | UBC (Brazil)

For a global view of how royalties flow once your works are registered, read Understanding Global Royalty Flows.

Do It with Lumoza

Registering one song manually is fine. Registering a hundred is a job. Lumoza automates work registration to ASCAP, BMI, SOCAN, and other societies through trusted industry partners, which means you submit once and the system handles the rest.

Quick Checklist

□ Song titles and alternates confirmed.
□ Writer splits agreed and documented.
□ Publisher details ready.
□ ISRCs prepared for linked recordings.
□ Registered with local PRO/CMO.
□ Verified international registrations (if needed).
□ Metadata formatted according to society requirements.

Bottom Line

If your works are not registered, you do not get paid for them. Every society has its own system, but the basics are the same: accurate metadata, confirmed splits, registration done early. With Lumoza, the registration runs through industry partners across societies.

Related reading

• Managing Splits and Agreements with Songwriters (how to handle splits with collaborators)

• Metadata Checklist for Artists: Avoid Missing Royalties (metadata checklist)