What Is a Performance Royalty and When Do I Earn It?

When Do You Earn Performance Royalties?

You earn performance royalties when your song (composition) is:

Use Case	Earns Performance Royalties?
Played on FM/AM radio	Yes
Streamed on Spotify/Apple Music	Yes
Used in a TV show or film	Yes (for the composition)
Played live in a concert/venue	Yes
Used in restaurants/stores	Yes
Played in a YouTube video	Yes (if claimed properly)
Played in your car or at home	No

Applies only to the songwriting/composition, not the actual recording.

 Who Pays You These Royalties?

Platform or Performance Source	Pays Royalties To…	Collected By…
Radio, TV, streaming, venues	Songwriters & Publishers	PROs like ASCAP, BMI, SESAC

You must register your songs with a PRO to collect.

 How the Money Is Split

Performance royalties are split into:

• 50% Writer’s Share → Paid directly to you
• 50% Publisher’s Share → Paid to your publisher (or to you if you self-publish)

If you don’t register a publisher name, you miss out on that 50%.

 Special Case: Live Shows

You can earn performance royalties every time you play your original song live—even at small clubs, open mics, or festivals.

 Submit setlists through your PRO’s live performance program:

• ASCAP OnStage
• BMI Live
• SESAC Live Performance

 Pro Tips

• Register every song you release with your PRO immediately
• Include correct writer splits and publisher info
• If you're performing live, report your performances for extra royalties
• Use tools like Songtrust or Sentric to help collect globally
• Monitor statements and follow up on unreported plays

Bottom Line:
Performance royalties are one of the main income streams for songwriters. You earn them every time your song is played publicly—but only if you’re properly registered with a PRO.