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Buyer’s Guide to Performing Rights Organizations and P.R.O. Music

Updated

We allow Performing Rights Organization (P.R.O.) registered music to be sold on AudioJungle, it ensures we can offer the best quality music from the world’s most talented composers.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about P.R.O. music on AudioJungle and what it means for you.

  • What is P.R.O. music?

    P.R.O. music is music created and registered by composers who are members of a Performing Rights Organization (P.R.O.). Most mainstream artists and composers are members of a P.R.O., including some AudioJungle authors.

    For these composers, the P.R.O. administers a special part of their music copyright known as Performing Rights. This includes the right to publicly broadcast the music on TV or radio, play it in a public place, and in some cases, stream it online.

    Just about every country has its own official P.R.O., and composers typically register with the P.R.O. of the country in which they live. In the United States, the main P.R.O.s are ASCAP and BMI.

    For someone to publicly perform P.R.O. music, they must have a special license from their country’s P.R.O. Most broadcasters and venues already have blanket P.R.O. licenses that cover all the music they perform.

  • What does this mean for AudioJungle?

    Allowing P.R.O. music on AudioJungle provides several key benefits to authors and customers:

    Quality

    Many professional composers are P.R.O. members, so by including P.R.O. music, we can ensure you have access to the highest quality talent and most diverse range of music to meet your creative project needs.

    Clarity

    An open and upfront P.R.O. policy provides customers with the clarity and confidence they deserve, ensuring you have all the information and usage rights you need for your project.

    Sustainability

    Allowing authors to register their music with a P.R.O. gives them the opportunity to collect their fair share of the earnings already being paid by broadcasters and venues. This ensures a sustainable and equitable ecosystem for our artists.

    For most customers, you'll enjoy these benefits without needing to worry about additional P.R.O. details or licenses.

  • When do I need performing rights from a P.R.O.?

    If you purchase Non-P.R.O. music, the performing rights are already included with your AudioJungle license.

    If you purchase P.R.O. music, the performing rights are not included with your license. However, you generally won’t have to worry about additional P.R.O. licenses because:

    • Most broadcasters (TV, radio, etc.) have already obtained a blanket P.R.O. license.
    • Most established venues (trade shows, concerts) have already obtained a blanket P.R.O. license.
    • YouTube has already obtained a blanket P.R.O. license for all content played from its website.
    • If your project does not involve publicly performing or broadcasting the music (e.g., a DVD, a video game, or an app), you should be okay.

    However, in the rare case that you plan to publicly perform or broadcast the music yourself, you may need to obtain additional performing rights from a P.R.O. if you are using P.R.O. music.

    Please be aware that different countries and P.R.O.s may have different rules. If you are unsure, contact your local P.R.O. or a music rights specialist for more information.

  • How do I get the performing rights for P.R.O. music?

    For P.R.O. music, the public performance rights are administered directly by the P.R.O.s themselves. If you need the public performance rights, you will need to license them directly from the P.R.O.

    P.R.O. licenses are almost always provided as a blanket license, meaning they cover the performance rights for any and all P.R.O. music that you may perform.

    Some P.R.O.s (such as ASCAP and BMI in the United States) allow their composers to personally provide direct licenses for the performing rights of their music as well.

  • Isn’t AudioJungle music royalty free?

    Yes, generally the music you get on AudioJungle is royalty free:

    • All Non-P.R.O. music on AudioJungle is royalty and performance royalty free.
    • P.R.O. music is still royalty free on AudioJungle, meaning your license allows you to use the music in your end product without any additional fees or royalties.
    • For P.R.O. music that is not publicly performed, it's effectively royalty free.

    For the most part, allowing P.R.O. music on AudioJungle results in no additional costs to you, and simply ensures that authors can receive their fair share of the P.R.O. earnings that are already being collected.

  • How do I find Non-P.R.O. music?

    If you’re specifically looking for Non-P.R.O. music, there are several easy ways you can find it:

    1. By default, all music is included when browsing. You can simply deselect the “Include P.R.O. Music” checkbox in the facet sidebar to filter your results.

    2. Check the P.R.O. affiliation information in the user info panel and item attribute panel on the item page sidebar. If this information is not present, it means the music is Non-P.R.O.



      Example P.R.O. information displayed on item page sidebar

  • Cue Sheets

    Cue sheets are one of the primary tools P.R.O.s use to track and attribute music usage and ensure that earnings are distributed to the correct composer and publisher.

    A cue sheet is a simple document containing information about the music tracks used in a broadcast or film production. You can find all the information you need on the AudioJungle item page. It doesn’t cost anything to file a cue sheet, and it helps ensure authors get paid their fair share.

    An example cue sheet can be downloaded here.

  • Tips for working with P.R.O. music

    When using P.R.O. music in your project, here are a few important things to keep in mind.

    Getting more details

    If you need more information about the specific P.R.O., composer, or publisher, check the item description/attributes and the author’s profile page. You can also contact the author directly.

    Confirm with the broadcaster / venue

    While most broadcasters and venues already have blanket P.R.O. licenses that should cover your public performance needs, it’s always best to check and confirm this with them in advance.

    Double-check if your use is considered public performance

    Different countries and P.R.O.s may have different rules and criteria. If your project will be publicly performed or broadcast, it’s a good idea to confirm if an additional license or fee is required.

    Direct licenses

    Some P.R.O.-affiliated authors may be able to provide direct licenses for the performing rights of their music. Be sure to check the item description as well as any information provided with the music download.

    Cue Sheets

    Don’t forget to file any applicable cue sheets. Helping authors collect their share from the P.R.O. earnings pool ensures they can continue producing the best possible music for your projects.

  • P.R.O.s around the world

    Here’s a list of most major P.R.O.s by country, along with links to their websites where you can find more details.

    While Non-P.R.O. music is not affiliated with a P.R.O., in some countries you may still be obligated to pay additional performing rights fees. It is your responsibility to be aware of these laws and pay any fees that may apply in your country.

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