The First Step to Getting Paid as an Artist

If you’re releasing music — or planning to — there’s one thing you should set up before anything else.

A PRO (Performing Rights Organization) is how artists get paid when their music is played publicly — on streaming platforms, radio, TV, live shows, and more.

The problem?
Most artists don’t learn about PROs until after they’ve already missed money.

This email is part of our Weekly Career Steps series — short, beginner-friendly actions you can take each week to build your music career the right way, without guessing.

Today, we’re breaking down what a PRO is, why it matters, and how to set yours up correctly — even if you don’t have music out yet.Check out my website

This Week’s Action:

Join a PRO (Performing Rights Organization)

If you want to get paid as an artist, this step isn’t optional.

A PRO (Performing Rights Organization) collects money on your behalf when your music is played publicly — including streaming platforms, radio, live performances, TV, and film.

If you’re not signed up, no one is collecting that money for you.

Let’s fix that this week.

1. Choose a PRO: ASCAP or BMI (you only need one)

2. Create Your Account: 

   • Sign up as a songwriter

   • Use your legal name (you can add a stage name later)

3. Save Your Login Info: You’ll need this when registering songs

4. Confirm Your Membership: Screenshot or save your confirmation email

   That’s it.
   You do not need music released yet.

Avoid These Common PRO Mistakes

Signing up for a PRO is simple, but doing it wrong can cause delays, confusion, or missed payments later.

Here are two mistakes beginner artists make all the time and how to avoid them.

Don’t Guess Your Way Through Your Music Career

If this email helped clarify something you’ve been confused about — that’s not an accident.

Most independent artists don’t fail because they aren’t talented.
They struggle because they don’t know what to do next or what order to do things in.

That’s exactly why we built Career GPS.

Career GPS is a step-by-step guidance system for independent artists designed to tell you what to focus on each week so you can build your career the right way, without guessing or backtracking.

Inside Career GPS, you’ll get:

• Clear daily steps (like today’s PRO setup)

• Beginner-friendly explanations — no industry jargon

• A proven order of operations so you don’t miss the basics

• Confidence that you’re moving forward, not just staying busy

If you want early access when Career GPS launches, you can join the waitlist below.

This is for artists who want direction — not hype.

You’re already doing the work. Career GPS helps you do it in the right order.

P.S. Every week, we’ll continue breaking down one foundational step you need as an independent artist. Career GPS brings all of those steps together — in one clear path.

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