CISAC is composed of Members, Provisional members and Associate members.

Further to the membership criteria reform adopted at the June 2018 General Assembly, being a Collective Management Organisation (CMO) is the first requirement to qualify as a CISAC Member or Provisional. A CMO definition was introduced, based on the core values of collective management, such as non-discrimination between right holders, open membership based on objective criteria, ownership or control by members and/or operation on a not-for-profit basis.

CISAC membership categories:

According to the CISAC Statutes, a society may qualify as a Member if it :

  • is a Collective Management Organisation;
  • has as its aim the advancement of Creators’ moral interests and the defence of the material interests of Creators (and, where relevant, other categories of rightholders);
  • has at its disposal effective machinery for the collection and distribution of Royalties to Creators (and, where relevant, other categories of rightholders) and assumes full responsibility for the administration of the rights entrusted to it;
  • carries out its activities for the common good of Creators (and, where relevant, other categories of rightholders)  as a whole and not for any specific segment or group of Creators (and, where relevant, other categories of rightholders);
  • assumes full responsibility for the administration of the rights entrusted to it;
  • is able to demonstrate that its interests are consistent with the interests of CISAC;
  • does not administer the rights of performing artists, producers, broadcasters or any entity which exploits the rights of authors, composers, (and, where relevant, other categories of rightholders), except as a secondary activity;
  • does not have the power to sell or trade in the rights administered by the organisation, or the right to sell or trade in any interest in the Royalties collected or distributed by the organisation;
  • effectively collects and distributes Royalties to Creators (and, where relevant, other categories of rightholders);
  • carries out its activities in accordance with the Professional Rules;
  • has undergone a probation period as a Provisional (“Probation Period”); and
  • complies with all relevant and applicable laws and regulations in countries where it operates.

Before a company can be admitted as a Member of CISAC, it must fulfil all the conditions listed above and undergo a probationary period of at least two years as a Provisional Member. During this probationary period (which may be renewed by CISAC), a society must demonstrate that it is in compliance with CISAC's Professional Rules and Binding Resolutions.

An organisation shall qualify to be an Associate if it:

  • is not a Collective Management Organisation;
  • has as one of its aims the advancement of Creators’ moral interests and the defence of the material interests of Creators (and, where relevant, other categories of rightholders);
  • is able to demonstrate that its interests are consistent with the interests of CISAC;
  • does not exploit the rights of authors, composers, (and, where relevant, other categories of rightholders); and
  • does not have the right or power to sell or trade in any interest in the Royalties collected or distributed by the organisation or in the rights owned and/or controlled by the organisation.