The Noises Inside

ASCAP

Member

One of the three major U.S. performing rights organizations (PROs). Collects and pays royalties when your songs are performed publicly — radio, streaming, live, TV.

BMI

The other major U.S. PRO and ASCAP's biggest alternative — same core function, separate membership. You join one PRO per catalog, not both.

SESAC

The third major U.S. PRO. Historically invite-only, now open to submissions — worth a look if ASCAP or BMI don't feel like the right fit.

The MLC

Member

The Mechanical Licensing Collective. Collects mechanical royalties from U.S. streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.) and pays songwriters/publishers directly — created by the Music Modernization Act.

Collects digital performance royalties from satellite radio and webcasters, paid to recording artists and copyright owners — different money than the PROs above, so it's worth registering separately.