What Is the Harry Fox Agency (HFA)?

Let’s start with what it’s not: a PRO

The Harry Fox Agency (HFA) is often confused with Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC despite the fact that they deal with completely different rights types.

PROs are responsible for collecting performance royalties on behalf of registered songwriters and publishers whenever a song is performed or broadcast in such public arenas as a television or radio station, club, or restaurant.

HFA is a mechanical licensing organization. Much like The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) and Music Reports (MRI), it is responsible for licensing and collecting mechanical royalties on behalf of music publishers in the U.S. These royalties include the recording and reproduction of music streams, CDs, ringtones, lyrics, and digital downloads.

For more on how mechanical royalties differ from performance royalties, check out our mini-crash course, our blog post breakdown or complete list of mechanical royalty sources.

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