Helpful Links
ASCAP - is a membership association of more than 260,000 U.S. composers, song writers, lyricists, and music publishers of every kind of music. Through agreements with affiliated international societies, ASCAP also represents hundreds of thousands of music creators worldwide. ASCAP is the only U.S. performing rights organization created and controlled by composers, songwriters and music publishers, with a Board of Directors elected by and from the membership.
ASCAP protects the rights of its members by licensing and distributing royalties for the non-dramatic public performances of their copyrighted works. ASCAP's licensees encompass all who want to perform copyrighted music publicly. ASCAP makes giving and obtaining permission to perform music simple for both creators and users of music.
http://www.ascap.com/index.html
BMI - BMI is a performing right organization: It collects license fees on behalf of its songwriters, composers and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed.
Harry Fox Agency - HFA is the foremost mechanical licensing, collection, and distribution agency for U.S. music publishers. Our processes, culture, and technology are client-driven and results-oriented. We continually strive to add value and strength to the music rights industry.
Easy Song Licensing - With an easy to use interface, Easy Song Licensing is a fast and easy way to acquire mechanical licensing.
SESAC - Performing rights organizations, such as SESAC, are businesses designed to represent song writers and publishers and their right to be compensated for having their music performed in public. By securing a license from SESAC, for example, music users (i.e., television and radio stations, auditoriums, restaurants, hotels, theme parks, malls, etc.) can legally play any song in the SESAC repertory. Without a license from a performing rights organization, music users are in danger of copyright infringement.
US Copyright Office - "To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries" (U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8)