Performing rights are the permissions granted to individuals or businesses to publicly use copyrighted music. This could involve playing music in various settings such as concert venues, restaurants, bars, on the radio, on television, or through online streaming platforms. In order to legally use copyrighted music in these ways, a license must be obtained from a performing rights organization (PRO) like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC in the United States. These organizations act on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers to collect royalties for the public performance of their works. The royalties collected from venues, broadcasters, and streaming services are then distributed to the appropriate rights holders. To ensure accurate distribution of royalties, PROs often employ monitoring systems to track where and when music is being publicly performed. This system helps guarantee that creators are compensated for the use of their music in public settings.