American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a not-for-profit performing rights organization (PRO) based in New York, NY, USA. Founded in 1914, its core business is to license the public performance rights of its members' musical works and distribute royalties. ASCAP's mission is to ensure fair compensation for music creators by licensing and promoting their music, while also advocating for their rights and fostering thoughtful policy-making.

ASCAP's primary service involves issuing blanket licenses to businesses, broadcasters, and digital streaming services, granting them the right to publicly perform any music within its vast catalog. The organization collects licensing fees from a wide array of music users, including radio stations, television networks, streaming platforms, bars, and restaurants. These collected fees are then distributed as royalties to its more than 1.1 million songwriter, composer, and music publisher members, who collectively represent over 20 million musical works.

As the oldest and largest PRO in the United States, ASCAP operates as a member-owned, not-for-profit entity, distinguishing it from competitors that have transitioned to for-profit models. Under the leadership of CEO Elizabeth Matthews and President and Chairman Paul Williams, ASCAP achieved record-breaking financial results in 2025, generating $1.945 billion in revenue and distributing $1.759 billion in royalties to its members. The organization prides itself on returning approximately 90 cents of every dollar collected directly to its members, maintaining one of the lowest operating expense ratios in the industry at 10%. Elizabeth Matthews was recognized as Billboard's Women in Music Executive of the Year in April 2026 for her advocacy for creators, particularly concerning AI, and for leading ASCAP to sustained growth.