No. Registering a song with a performing rights organisation (PRO) such as ASCAP or BMI tells the PRO who to pay when the song is performed. It is not copyright registration, and both organisations say so. A PRO registration records what you and your co-writers told the PRO, and when. It doesn’t check who actually wrote the song or when it was written. To show when your song existed, keep your demos, session files, lyric drafts and split sheet, and give the key files an independent dated record. In the US, register with the Copyright Office if you may need to sue.
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What ASCAP and BMI say
ASCAP’s Music Business 101 page is direct: “ASCAP does not register works with the Copyright Office and submitting your work to ASCAP for registration with ASCAP is not an alternative to Copyright Office Registration.” It adds that members are “solely responsible for all issues relating to copyright”.
BMI’s creators FAQ says the same thing in different words: “Registering a song with BMI will only allow you to receive performance royalties if that song gets performed; it does not give you protection under copyright law.” It also says “BMI does not copyright works for you.”
PROs in other countries, such as PRS for Music in the UK or GEMA in Germany, also exist to license and collect performance royalties. Check your own PRO’s terms, but don’t treat a PRO registration as proof of authorship.
What a PRO registration does record
A PRO registration usually lists the song title, the writers and publishers, and each person’s share. That can still be useful:
- it shows what the writers agreed and told the PRO by a certain date;
- it can reveal a dispute early, if someone registers a different split;
- it is part of the paper trail around a release.
What it can’t do is show that the song existed before someone else’s song, or that the people listed actually wrote it. The registration is a statement, not an independent check.
Copyright exists without registration
In the US, a song is protected by copyright once it is written down or recorded. The Copyright Office says protection starts “the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form”, and BMI’s FAQ notes that “your composition is copyrighted automatically”. Registering with the Copyright Office is optional, but you have to register a US work before you can sue for infringement, and registered works may be eligible for statutory damages and attorney’s fees.
What actually shows when your song existed
If a dispute is about who wrote a song first, these records usually matter more than a PRO entry:
- Voice memos and rough demos, in their original files.
- DAW session files and stems, such as Ableton, Logic or Pro Tools projects. See how to prove WAV stems existed before a date.
- Lyric drafts, notes apps and notebooks.
- A split sheet signed when the song was written, not months later. Our free split sheet generator makes one in minutes.
- Messages and emails where you sent the song to others.
- An independent dated record of the key files, made before you share them.
How to show when you wrote a song walks through a real dispute and the evidence that tends to matter.
Where a timestamp fits
TimeBinder® records a fingerprint of your file on the Bitcoin blockchain. The fingerprint is made in your browser and the song stays on your device. A TimeBind shows that the exact demo, stem or lyric file existed no later than the recorded time, and that it still matches its fingerprint. It doesn’t show who wrote the song or who owns it, so keep it with your drafts, sessions and split sheet. See timestamping for music files and how to protect your music before sending it to a producer or label.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is registering with BMI the same as copyrighting a song?
No. BMI says registering a song with it only lets you receive performance royalties and does not give you protection under copyright law. Copyright registration in the US is done with the Copyright Office.
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Does ASCAP register my songs with the Copyright Office?
No. ASCAP says it does not register works with the Copyright Office and that registering with ASCAP is not an alternative to Copyright Office registration.
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Can a PRO registration be used as evidence?
It can show what was registered and when, and who was listed. It doesn’t independently show who wrote the song or when it was written, so it is weak evidence on those questions.
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Should I register with a PRO before or after timestamping?
Timestamp your demo and lyric files first, as soon as the song takes shape. Register with your PRO when the song is ready for release or performance.
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What if my co-writer registered a different split?
Contact the PRO about the conflict and gather your signed split sheet and dated messages. For a serious disagreement, get advice from a music lawyer. This is general information, not legal advice.
Date your demos and lyrics
Your first Pooled TimeBind is free, with no credit card required. After that, TimeBinds start from US$5, and an ASAP TimeBind is US$15. See plans and pricing
