HOW TO GET PAID FROM A FREE SHOW

FOR FREE?
Many artists look down on a free show because it means for them that their art isn't being rewarded. So why do a free show? In many cases there are benefits to doing free shows, for example, exposure to a wider audience. The huge halftime Superbowl performances are for free, so are award show performances like the MTV Music Awards and the Grammy's. the hopes though is that you have access to a bigger audience that will then convert into fans. But what many don't know also is that you can actually be paid even when the venue says it's a free gig. The word of the day is Performance Royalties.

Performance Royalties - are generated from any public performance like music playing in bars or restaurants, playing a >live gig, or when your music is broadcasted on radio or tv. These royalties are collected and paid out by a writer’s PRO >(performance rights organization). PROs license the songs in their catalog for use and use performance data to allocate >the money to publishers and writers.

WHO ARE THE PRO'S
The top PRO's are: PROs in the United States are ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. For Canadian artists, there is SOCAN.

OTHER EXAMPLES OF PERFORMANCE ROYALTIES
Here are some ways to get Performance Royalties:
TV (royalties are paid by the TV station for the broadcast of a show, film or commercial with your music on it. This is not to be confused with the actual placement of your songs in TV, film or commercials which is a sync royalty)

Radio
Live venues
Restaurants
Bars
Elevator music services
Supermarkets
Clothing stores
Gyms
Jukebox (Yes, these still exist)

How do you register a performance? Here's just how to do it. For ASCAP here's the site to do just that https://www.ascap.com/music-creators/ascap-onstage
When in doubt ask someone who is already doing it. Keeng Cut (Instagram @keengcut) is one artist that continues to give out free game on ways to get paid in this new digital streaming age. Also reach out to us at [email protected] and we would be more than willing to help. What's even better is if you are getting paid, you can still register this performance and get double paid. Who wouldn't want to get paid twice!