ASCAP

ASCAP is a performing rights organization that stands for the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. It was formed in 1914 and has over 700,000 songwriters and publishers. 

A Performing Rights Organization is like a bank and collection agency rolled into one. It collects money from radio, TV airplay and live performances, and distributes that money to songwriters and publishers who split that money 50/50. Hit songwriters and publishers love performance rights organizations because that’s where they get money. It’s possible for a worldwide hit to earn over $1 million. The publisher gets half and the songwriter gets half unless there’s more than one songwriter—and there are usually two or three these days. Songwriting can get powerful lonely so songwriters often write songs in packs of twos or threes.

If you turn around you’ll see a gigantic hotel. It’s the Virgin Hotel and built by Richard Branson, who owns Virgin Airlines and, before that, Virgin Records. Before that hotel was there, there was an old brick home that belonged to James Hamilton. The reason the buildings on Music Square East and West are numbered so crazy—going across roads in a zig zag pattern—is because Mr. Hamilton was a member of the Metro Council, which named roads, and he wanted his house to be the only “Number One” on Music Square. He got his wish. He’s also the reason the streets are named Music Square East and West instead of Music Row. Thank you, Mr. Hamilton. 

The next stop is next door to ASCAP so shuffle on down the sidewalk a few steps and when you reach Sony Music click “Arrived” and begin the narration.