ASCAP Posts Record Year as Royalties and Global Collections Continue to Climb
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) has reported its strongest financial year to date, setting new records in both revenue and royalty distributions for 2025. The organization’s latest results reflect continued growth across streaming, radio, live performances and international markets.
Total revenue increased year over year, reaching the highest annual collections in ASCAP’s history. A significant portion of that revenue was made available for royalty distributions to its songwriter, composer and publisher members, continuing a steady upward trend that has developed over the past decade.
Growth Driven by Streaming and Licensing Activity
Domestic revenue from U.S. licensed performances saw solid gains in 2025, fueled by expansion in streaming audio, radio airplay and general licensing agreements. As digital consumption continues to shape the industry, streaming remains a central driver of performance income for rights holders.
International collections also rose, reflecting growing global activity tied to ASCAP’s repertory. Increased performance activity abroad contributed to higher international distributions compared to the previous year.
The majority of the organization’s collected revenue was allocated for royalty payments, maintaining its long standing distribution model of returning 90 cents of every dollar collected to its members. ASCAP also reported that it continues to operate without debt and maintains a 10% overhead rate, the lowest among U.S. performing rights organizations.
Continued Expansion of Membership
ASCAP’s membership surpassed 1.1 million in 2025, following the addition of more than 80,000 new songwriters, composers and publishers during the year. Its catalog spans a broad range of genres and generations, covering music performed across streaming platforms, radio, television and live venues worldwide.
Over the past decade, ASCAP’s financial results have reflected consistent compound annual growth in both total revenue and royalty distributions. The organization attributes its expansion to long term strategic planning and continued focus on performance licensing across emerging and established platforms.
What This Means for Musicians
For songwriters and publishers, rising collections signal continued demand for licensed music across digital and traditional media. Growth in streaming and international performance income can translate into stronger royalty pools, particularly as global audiences expand.
For emerging creators, increased membership and global reach suggest that performance royalties remain a meaningful revenue stream when works are properly registered and tracked. For established artists and publishers, steady collection growth may offer more predictable returns in an industry that continues to shift rapidly due to technology and new distribution models.
As performance landscapes evolve, the upward trend in collections highlights the ongoing role of performing rights organizations in monitoring usage, licensing music and distributing royalties to creators both large and small.
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