ASCAP posts record royalty distributions

ASCAP also works closely with affiliate African societies such as the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) and the Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS).

Since implementing a growth plan in 2015, ASCAP says it has seen positive results with total revenues growing by 6% annually and total distributions to members by 7% annually despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, ASCAP experienced growth in all major licensing categories, with domestic revenue increasing by 16.5% to reach $1.178 billion.

General licensing revenue increased by 40%, radio by 32%, audio streaming by 16%, and audio-visual by 7%, the second year in a row that ASCAP’s domestic revenues from US-licensed performances exceeded $1 billion. Additionally, ASCAP has maintained its status as one of the most efficient PROs in the world, delivering 90 cents of every dollar back to its members as royalties.

Royalty distributions to ASCAP members have exceeded $1 billion for the sixth consecutive year, with $1.388 billion available for distribution to ASCAP’s music creator and publisher members in 2022. The company’s success in identifying, matching, and processing trillions of musical performances has resulted in a higher royalty rate for members in each quarter.

In 2022, the total funds available for domestic distributions of ASCAP US-licensed and administered performances exceeded $1 billion for the first time, totalling $1.048 billion, up by $136 million from 2021. ASCAP’s growth plan has focused on revenue growth, technological innovation and operational efficiency.

“It is our technical innovation coupled with an unparalleled work ethic that grew our domestic revenue 16.5% in 2022 and yielded a 6% compound annual growth rate since the inception of our strategic plan eight years ago,” ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews said. “ASCAP creator and publisher members are the sole beneficiaries of this growth because we invested years ago in cloud computing, enabling us to address the challenges of digital streaming efficiently and because we only pay songwriters and publishers, not private investors.”

ASCAP board chair and president Paul Williams added: “Our financial success for over 100 years, and a singular commitment to nurture careers and maximise the value of music, prove that our not-for-profit model of collective licensing works.”