ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers)

A leading American Performing Rights Organization (PRO), ASCAP is a non-profit entity founded and governed by its members. It represents hundreds of thousands of songwriters, composers, and music publishers from every genre of music. ASCAP's core mission is to license the public performances of its members' musical works, collect those license fees from music users (like radio stations, TV networks, streaming services, and live venues), and distribute them back as royalties. As one of the oldest and largest PROs in the United States, ASCAP plays a crucial role in protecting the value of music and ensuring its creators are fairly compensated for their work.