In October 2025, ASCAP, BMI, and SOCAN announced they will accept registrations for compositions "partially generated using AI tools" where human creativity combines with AI-generated elements. Fully AI-generated compositions (100% created by AI with no human authorship) remain ineligible for registration. This policy aligns with the U.S. Copyright Office requirement that copyrightable works must have a "minimum threshold of human creativity."

What Are the New PRO Policies on AI Music?

The three major PROs in North America now have aligned policies on AI-generated music:

PRO	Eligible for Registration	Not Eligible
ASCAP	Partial AI + human creativity	100% AI-generated
BMI	Partial AI + human creativity	100% AI-generated
SOCAN	Partial AI + human creativity	100% AI-generated

Key definition: "Partially AI-generated" means the work combines AI-generated musical content with elements of human authorship.

Note BMI has confirmed that registered hybrid works (AI + human) will not be compensated differently from fully human-created songs. Royalties flow through the PRO system normally.

What This Means in Practice

The line between "partial" and "full" AI involvement determines your registration eligibility:

Likely Eligible for Registration:

You wrote the lyrics, AI generated the instrumental
You composed the melody, AI created the arrangement
AI generated initial ideas that you substantially edited and developed
You added human vocals to AI-generated backing tracks

Not Eligible for Registration:

AI generated both lyrics and music from a text prompt
You only provided a prompt, made no creative modifications
Minimal editing of AI output (adjusting length, minor tweaks)

What Is the Disclosure Question for AI Music PRO Registration?

While not currently mandatory, all three PROs recommend disclosing AI use when registering works:

ASCAP/BMI/SOCAN recommendation: "Transparency helps maintain clarity around authorship and aligns with evolving industry standards."

Disclosing AI involvement when registering protects you from future disputes. If AI use is later discovered on a work registered without disclosure, it could create complications.

What Are the Practical Registration Scenarios?

Scenario 1: Human Lyrics + AI Music

You write original lyrics. You use Suno to generate the instrumental and melody.

Analysis: Your lyrics represent human authorship. The composition has both human and AI elements. Registration as songwriter (lyrics) is defensible. Registration for the full composition is less clear, but falls within the "partial AI" policy.

Recommendation: Register with disclosure of AI involvement in the music.

Scenario 2: AI-Assisted Composition

You use AI to generate melodic ideas. You substantially develop, arrange, and modify the output into a finished composition.

Analysis: Significant human creative input transforms the AI output. You are making creative decisions that shape the final work.

Recommendation: Registrable with disclosure. Document your human contributions.

Scenario 3: Prompt-to-Track with Minimal Editing

You enter a prompt into Suno. The AI generates a complete song. You trim the intro and adjust the ending.

Analysis: The creative authorship is primarily AI. Your contributions (trimming, adjusting) may not meet the "minimum threshold of human creativity" standard.

Recommendation: Not registrable under current policy. Attempting to register may create future liability.

What Are the Royalty Implications?

If you cannot register your AI composition with a PRO, you miss performance royalties that would otherwise be collected when your music is:

Played on radio (terrestrial and digital)
Broadcast on television
Performed at live venues
Used in certain streaming contexts

However, this represents a small portion of most AI music creators' income. Streaming royalties (which flow through distributors, not PROs) remain unaffected.

What PROs Say About AI Training

The joint ASCAP/BMI/SOCAN announcement included a firm position on AI training:

"AI technology companies ingesting and training models on copyrighted musical works without permission from, compensation for or credit to creators is not fair use, but theft."

All three PROs continue to advocate for legislation protecting creators from unauthorized AI training on their work.

What Is the Practical Guidance for AI Creators?

If your work is fully AI-generated:

Do not register with PROs
Focus on streaming royalties (which work normally)
Consider adding human elements to future releases

If your work combines AI and human creativity:

Registration is appropriate under new policies
Disclose AI involvement when registering
Document your human contributions
Keep records of your creative process

If you're unsure:

Consult directly with the PRO
Err on the side of adding more human input
Document everything regardless

The rules continue to evolve. The October 2025 policy represents current guidance but may change as the industry develops more sophisticated approaches to AI-created works. For most AI music creators, streaming royalties through distributors provide clearer, more reliable income than attempting to navigate PRO registration complexities.