Make Sure Your Song Is Structured Correctly Before Sending It to Radio
If you are the songwriter, recording artist, and publisher of your music, you must structure everything correctly before sending your song to radio stations. Proper registration ensures you are eligible to collect royalties if your song receives airplay.
This guide explains exactly how to register your song, structure your publishing, and prepare your metadata so you are positioned to get paid.
Step 1 – Register With a Performing Rights Organization (PRO)
You must be registered with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) to collect public performance royalties for your songwriting.
In the United States, the three primary PROs are:
• ASCAP
• BMI
• SESAC
You only register with one PRO as a writer.
Your PRO collects performance royalties when your song is played on:
• Terrestrial radio
• Satellite radio
• Television
• Streaming platforms
• Digital radio
• Live venues
This article focuses specifically on traditional radio airplay royalties.
Step 2 – Register Your Song Under Both Writer and Publisher Accounts
If you are independent (not signed to a label or third-party publisher), you must:
• Register as a writer with your PRO
• Register a publishing entity with your PRO
• Register each song under both your writer account and your publisher account
Performance royalties are divided into two equal halves:
• 50% Writer Share
• 50% Publisher Share
The writer receives 50% directly.
The publisher receives the other 50%.
If you create and register your own publishing company, you control and collect both halves.
All writer and publisher information must match exactly in your PRO system. Incorrect splits or mismatched information can delay or misdirect payments.
Step 3 – Register Your Copyright
Register your composition with the United States Copyright Office. This protects your legal ownership of the song and strengthens your ability to enforce your rights if necessary.
Copyright registration protects:
• Your composition
• Your ownership documentation
• Your legal standing in case of infringement
Step 4 – Understand How Radio Reporting Works
Many artists assume radio stations automatically match spins directly to their PRO account in real time. That is not how it works.
Royalty payments depend on:
• Station licensing agreements
• Playlist reporting
• Monitoring services
• Proper PRO registration
Your song must already be properly registered for royalties to be matched and distributed.
Embedding metadata helps with identification, but metadata alone does not generate royalty payments.
Step 5 – Properly Tag Your MP3 File
Correct metadata does not trigger royalty payments, but it helps music directors and digital systems identify your song accurately and professionally.
MP3 Metadata (ID3 Tags) Template
Use the following structure when tagging your file:
Title:
Song Title
Artist:
Artist Name
Album:
Album Name or “Single”
Genre:
Country (adjust as needed)
Year:
Release Year
Track Number:
1 (if a single)
Composer:
Writer Name (ASCAP IPI ####)
Co-Writer Name (ASCAP IPI ####)
Publisher:
Publishing Company Name (ASCAP IPI ####)
Copyright (Composition):
© Release Year Writer Names
Copyright (Sound Recording):
℗ Release Year Publishing Company or Label
ISRC:
Your official ISRC code
PRO:
ASCAP (or BMI / SESAC)
Comments:
PRO Registered | Publishing: Publisher Name | Contact Email
Explicit:
Clean or Explicit
Step 6 – Create a Professional Radio One-Sheet
Always send a professional one-sheet PDF along with your MP3 file. Name the file using this format: ArtistName_SongTitle_RadioOneSheet.pdf or
Radio One-Sheet Template
ARTIST NAME
SONG TITLE
Format: Country
Length: 3:42
Release Date: Month Year
ISRC: US-XXX-XX-XXXXX
PRO: ASCAP
Writers:
Writer Name (ASCAP)
Co-Writer Name (ASCAP)
Publisher:
Publisher Name (ASCAP)
Radio Edit: Clean
About the Song:
2–4 sentence professional description of the style, hook, and audience appeal.
About the Artist:
Short professional bio highlighting credibility and positioning.
Contact:
Name
Phone
Email
Website
Step 7 – Register for Master Recording Royalties
PROs such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC pay:
• Songwriter performance royalties
• Publisher performance royalties
If you own your master recording, you should also register with SoundExchange.
SoundExchange collects digital performance royalties for the master recording, which is separate from songwriter royalties.
If you own both the composition and the master recording, you should be collecting from both systems.
Final Checklist Before Sending Your Song to Radio
Before submitting your song: name the song: artistname_songname_RadioEdit.mp3
• Registered with a PRO (writer + publisher)
• Song registered under both accounts
• Copyright filed
• ISRC assigned
• SoundExchange registered (if you own the master)
• Metadata properly tagged
• Radio one-sheet created
When structured correctly, your song is positioned to collect royalties if airplay occurs.
H2: Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Paid for Radio Airplay
1. Do I have to register with a PRO to get paid for radio airplay?
Yes. You must be registered with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) such as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC in order to collect public performance royalties for your songwriting. If your song receives radio airplay and you are not registered with a PRO, you will not receive your writer share or publisher share payments.
2. If I wrote and recorded the song myself, do I still need a publisher account?
Yes, if you want to collect 100% of the performance royalties. PRO royalties are split 50% to the writer and 50% to the publisher. If you do not register a publishing entity, you will only receive the writer’s 50%. Creating and registering your own publishing company allows you to collect the full publisher share as well.
3. Does embedding metadata in my MP3 guarantee I will get paid?
No. Metadata helps identify your song, but it does not generate royalty payments by itself. Radio royalties are paid based on station licensing, playlist reporting, monitoring systems, and proper PRO registration. Your song must already be registered correctly with your PRO for royalties to be matched and distributed.
4. What is the difference between PRO royalties and SoundExchange royalties?
PROs such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC pay performance royalties for the composition (songwriting). SoundExchange collects digital performance royalties for the master recording. If you own both the composition and the master recording, you should be registered with both systems to ensure you are collecting all eligible royalties.
5. What information should I include when submitting my song to radio?
When submitting your song to a radio station, you should include properly tagged MP3 metadata and a professional radio one-sheet. Important details include the song title, artist name, writer names, publisher name, PRO affiliation, ISRC code, release date, contact information, and whether the track is clean or explicit. This ensures stations can identify and report your song correctly.
EEAT Statement
Mike Parr is a songwriter, singer, publisher, musician, and co-producer with hands-on experience supporting independent artists and small local bands as a live sound engineer. His practical knowledge of songwriting, publishing registration, and music administration comes from direct involvement in creating, recording, releasing, and promoting original music.
This article was written and approved by Mike Parr and fact-checked for accuracy using industry-standard references and AI-assisted verification tools.