Did You Know - ascap

Q&AWhere do the license fees go?To the women and men who write and publish themusic. Over 88 cents of each dollar we collect goesright back to our members and to the members ofaffiliated foreign societies whose works are representedby ASCAP in the U.S. The information you furnishon the works performed in your concerts is usedto distribute royalties to the writers and publisherswhose works are performed. ASCAP’s operating ratioof less than 12% is among the lowest in the world.Why must you, rather thanthe musicians who performat your concerts, be responsiblefor obtaining permissionto use the music?As a matter of law, everyone who participates in anunlicensed performance is responsible, includingmusicians and promoters. In practice, concert promotersand/or presenters obtain licenses as a businessexpense.