Did you know that you can collect performance royalties for playing your own original music live? Well, you can and I have a feeling there are still a lot of musicians not aware of this relatively new revenue stream.  In the US, whether you are with ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you can collect royalties every time you perform your own music in a live venue. Socan in Canada also has a similar program.  If you're outside of the US and Canada, check with your local PRO to see if they offer this service where you reside.

The amount you receive will depend on the size of the venue and the amount collected by your PRO from that venue.  Generally, the larger the venue the more you'll receive for performing there.

If you are performing live music, don't miss out on this extra revenue stream.  Here are links to more information for how to earn royalties from your performances for ASCAP, BMI and SESAC:

ASCAP:  http://www.ascap.com/onstage/

BMI: http://www.bmi.com/creators/royalty/live_concert_royalties

SESAC: http://www.sesac.com/WritersPublishers/HowWePay/liveperformances.aspx

It's a good idea to visit your PRO's website from time to time to learn about what services they offer.  I actually didn't learn about this until last year and I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about the music business.  I have a feeling that there are still a lot of musicians out there in the dark about this particular revenue stream.

I'm working on setting up an interview with someone from ASCAP to teach you more about making money through your live performances.  In the meantime, check out the links above, and as always, Happy Songwriting!

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http://www.howtolicenseyourmusic.com/blog/collecting-royalties-for-live-performances

Aaron Davison