Free tool: runs in your browser
AI-assisted song royalty registration checklistbefore you register a song that used AI tools with a performing rights organisation
TimeBinder adds a layer of protection against AI and human fraud and disputes. Check how much of the music and lyrics came from a tool, whether you can describe your own contribution, and whether you have read your society’s current AI policy.
Nothing you tick is sent anywhere. This page is not legal advice and cannot tell you whether a society will accept a song or whether a song is protected by copyright. Each society’s own page is the authority on its rules.
Check how the song was made, what the society asks and the files you keep
Tick what is true about the song. You get a shareable result and clear next steps. Nothing you tick is sent to TimeBinder.
Your choices stay on this page. Nothing you tick is sent anywhere or tied to your name.
Tick everything that is true about a song you want to register
This looks at how much of the music and the lyrics came from an AI tool, whether you can describe your own contribution, whether you have read your society’s current policy, and whether you keep dated session files. It is not legal advice and cannot tell you what a society will accept.
What to do now
Can I register a song made with AI to collect royalties? The short answer
It depends on the society and on how much of the song is yours. ASCAP, BMI and SOCAN say on their published pages that they accept works that are partly AI-generated or AI-assisted, with enough human authorship, and do not accept fully AI-generated works. PRS for Music says members may register AI-assisted works, may not register works with AI-generated lyrics or composition, and that where one component is AI-generated it must be declared as “AI” in the registration. Read your own society’s current page, write down what you wrote, arranged or performed yourself, and answer any AI question on a form only with what your files support.
This checklist cannot tell you whether a society will accept a song. A TimeBind of a file you already hold, such as a session file, a lyric draft or a stem, can show that exact file existed no later than a recorded time and still matches. It does not show who wrote a song or that a society will accept it.
Why this came up in November 2026
Registration policies are published by each society and are the first thing to read. ASCAP says you may register partially AI-generated works and may not register fully AI-generated works at this time. BMI says its registration terms require sufficient human-authored expressive elements, and that it does not accept fully AI-generated works. SOCAN says only AI-assisted works can be registered, and that AI-generated outputs cannot. PRS for Music says AI-generated lyrics and compositions with insufficient human contribution cannot be registered, and that an AI-generated component must be declared as “AI”. A joint announcement from ASCAP, BMI and SOCAN dated 28 October 2025 describes their aligned policies. In November 2026 policy debate about AI and music copyright continues in Australia and the EU, but this page treats only the societies’ own published pages as its sources for registration. Policies can change.
Measured demand is visible. Checked on 13 November 2026, about 6:25 AM Australia/Brisbane. Google autocomplete for “ai generated music” returned “ai generated music royalties”, “can ai generated music collect royalties” and “can ai generated music be copyrighted”. Autocomplete shows what people type. It is not search volume.
For credits and metadata on a release, see the song credits metadata record checklist.
Sources: ASCAP, BMI, SOCAN, PRS for Music and ASCAP, BMI and SOCAN joint announcement, 28 October 2025.
What this checklist does and does not do
The honest job of this page is to put the checks in a sensible order, not to decide whether a song is registrable. See also the Spotify AI credits release checklist and the glossary entries for existed no later than and fingerprint.
| Part | What it does | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
| How the song was made | Reminds you to note which tool produced which part, and what you wrote, arranged or performed yourself. | Decide how much human contribution is enough. |
| The society | Reminds you to read your society’s current AI policy and any declaration it asks for. | Tell you what a society will accept. |
| Your records | Reminds you to keep dated session files, lyric drafts, stems and prompts. | Prove who wrote a song. |
| A TimeBind of a file you already hold | Records that an exact file existed no later than a recorded time and still matches, using a SHA-256 fingerprint made in your browser. The file stays on your device. | Show who wrote a song, that it is protected by copyright or that a society will accept it. |
If your session files and drafts are something you may need to show later
Before you register:
- Keep dated copies of session files, lyric drafts, stems and any prompts for each song.
- Make a TimeBind of each exact file you already hold. The fingerprint is made in your browser and the file stays on your device. You can later download a Proof of Time Certificate.
- Store the files, your notes on your own contribution and the certificate together, with the date of each export.
A TimeBind shows the exact file existed no later than the recorded time and still matches. It cannot show who wrote a song.
First Pooled TimeBind free, no card, then from US$5. An ASAP TimeBind is US$15.
What a TimeBind shows, and what it does not. It shows that an exact file existed no later than a recorded time and that a copy shown later still matches its fingerprint. It does not show who made the file, who owns it, that its contents are true, or whether AI was used to make or edit it. This is general information, not legal advice.
AI-assisted song royalty registration checklist: FAQ
Can AI-generated music collect royalties?
Not through ASCAP, BMI, SOCAN or PRS if it is fully AI-generated, according to their published pages. Partly AI-generated or AI-assisted works with enough human authorship can be registered with them, under each society’s rules.
Do I have to tell my society I used AI?
It depends on the society. PRS says AI-assisted works are registered as normal but an AI-generated component must be declared as “AI”. SOCAN says there is no requirement to credit generative AI portions at this time. Read your own society’s current page.
How much human contribution is enough?
The societies’ pages describe it in general terms, such as sufficient human authorship, creativity or skill and judgement. This page cannot say what is enough for your song. Ask your society or a qualified adviser.
Does a dated record make a society accept my song?
No. A TimeBind of a file you already hold, such as a session file, can show that exact file existed no later than a recorded time and still matches. It does not show who wrote a song or that a society will accept it.
Is this legal advice?
No. It runs in your browser and only helps you plan the order of the checks.
Is anything I tick sent to TimeBinder?
No. The checklist runs in your browser. Your ticks stay on the page.
Related guides and tools
- Song credits metadata record checklistCredits on a release
- Spotify AI credits release checklistAI credits on Spotify
- AI music service upload checklistUploading AI music
- Split sheetWho owns what share
- GlossaryPlain definitions of fingerprint, SHA-256 and existed no later than
- All free toolsPrivate, in-browser tools
Date the exact files you already hold
Add a layer of protection against AI and human fraud and disputes: a dated, checkable record of your session files and drafts, kept before you register.
- Open the app and sign in with email or Google.
- Add your files. They stay on your computer.
- Seal them and download your Proof of Time certificates.
First Pooled TimeBind free, no card, then from US$5. See pricing.