SAMPLEDHow Much Does It Cost to Join ASCAP, BMI or SESAC in 2026?
Membership fees, step-by-step ASCAP sign-up for songwriters, and what businesses pay ASCAP, BMI and SESAC for music licenses in 2026.
Songwriters can join ASCAP or BMI as writers without paying a joining fee. The costs show up in two other places: setting up a publisher account, and the license fees businesses pay to play music. Here is what each one costs and how to sign up.
What are ASCAP vs. BMI vs. SESAC membership fees?
| ASCAP | BMI | SESAC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writer membership | No fee to join | No fee to join | By invitation, no public application |
| Publisher membership | No fee to join | One-time processing fee, paid by U.S. credit card | By invitation |
| Annual dues | None | None | None published |
| Who can apply | Anyone with at least one publicly available work | Anyone with an email address (under-18s need a custodial trust account at a U.S. bank) | Selected by SESAC |
Sources: ASCAP Help Center (opens in a new tab), BMI Join page (opens in a new tab). BMI shows the exact publisher fee during the application and charges it once; check the current amount there before applying. Fees can change, so confirm on the official site.
Do you need a publisher membership?
ASCAP splits performance royalties 50% to writers and 50% to publishers, ASCAP explains (opens in a new tab). If you self-publish and do not join as a publisher at ASCAP, you can miss the publisher's share.
BMI works differently: a BMI writer who self-publishes is paid both shares directly on self-published works, according to BMI's member FAQ as summarized by LegalClarity (opens in a new tab). A BMI publisher entity makes sense mainly if you will sign or administer other writers.
How do you join ASCAP as a songwriter in 2026?
- Check eligibility. You need at least one song you wrote or co-wrote that is public: streamed, on YouTube, sold on CD or performed live.
- Go to ascap.com/join (opens in a new tab) and pick writer membership (add publisher membership if you self-publish).
- Enter your legal name, contact details and tax information (SSN or tax ID for U.S. members).
- Choose a publisher name if you join as a publisher. Have a few backups in case your first choice is taken.
- Sign the membership agreement electronically.
- Set up direct deposit in Member Access so royalties can be paid.
- Register your songs under Works Registration with correct co-writer splits. Royalties depend on this step.
- Report live performances through ASCAP OnStage if you play your own songs at shows.
You can belong to only one U.S. PRO as a writer at a time. Not sure which? Read ASCAP vs. BMI vs. SESAC: Which PRO Should You Join?
Photo: Ezra Jeffrey via Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
How much do ASCAP, BMI and SESAC licenses cost businesses?
Bars, restaurants, gyms, stores and venues that play music publicly need licenses from each PRO whose songs they use. Prices are set by rate schedules based on size and how music is used.
Example: ASCAP's 2026 rates for restaurants, bars and nightclubs (ASCAP rate schedule PDF (opens in a new tab)), charged per occupant (legal capacity):
| Music use | Rate per occupant |
|---|---|
| Live music, 4–7 nights a week | $8.05 |
| Live music, 3 nights or fewer | $6.70 |
| Recorded music only (no live) | $4.69 |
| Recorded music, when live is also used | $3.10 |
| Enhancements to recorded music (e.g. DJ, dancing) | $2.72 |
| Admission or cover charge | $2.72 |
| TV and/or radio only | $1.77 |
So a 100-capacity bar playing only recorded music would start around $469 a year from ASCAP before any minimums or adjustments in the schedule. BMI and SESAC each have their own schedules, so a business playing music from all three pays all three. Get exact quotes from ASCAP licensing (opens in a new tab), BMI licensing (opens in a new tab) and SESAC.
Which costs matter to a songwriter?
None of these license fees come from you. They are where your performance royalties come from. The more venues, broadcasters and streaming services are licensed, the more there is to distribute. To understand the full royalty picture, read How Do Songwriters Get Paid From Streaming? and What Is a Performing Rights Organization?
FAQ
Is ASCAP free to join? Writers and publishers pay no joining fee, per ASCAP's application.
Is BMI free? Writer membership is free; publisher affiliation has a one-time processing fee.
Can I apply to SESAC? SESAC affiliation is by invitation.
Can I be in ASCAP and BMI at once? Not as a writer for the same period; you pick one.
Does a coffee shop with Spotify need a PRO license? Personal streaming accounts are generally for personal use only; business use usually needs licensing or a commercial music service.