How do Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) Track Media use on Terrestrial Radio?

Census Station VS Sample Surveys

Usually, a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) will apply one of two types of surveys across terrestrial media: Census and/or Sample.

A Census Station will pay a large enough licensing fee to the PRO which makes it economically feasible to distribute royalties for every airing/broadcast/performance.

Sample Surveys however are applied to stations that pay a rather low licensing fee, in comparison, and therefore, it is not economically feasible to try and process every performance which will amount to a rather low payment. Therefore, a small selection (each PRO is different) is taken of performances from that licensee/music user and processed accordingly.

Interested in learning more? Check out or blog post, What You Didn't Know About Radio Royalties.

Ready to learn the truth about how your global royalties are tracked, collected, and paid out to you? Get a deep dive into pay sources, how publishers collect royalties, and why you need a publishing partner.

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