Writer Membership

Download, print, complete and sign Application Form 48 k

You will need Acrobat Reader®

To be eligible for COTT membership you must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• your music is published by a person or company that carries on business as a music publisher;

OR

• your music has been released as a commercial recording;

OR

• your music has been publicly performed or broadcasted within the last year and that performance is licensed by COTT (i.e. on radio, television, in concert, clubs, etc.);

OR

• your music has been commercially recorded.

When returning your COTT application, please be sure to include the following documents:

1. a completed and signed application form;
2. copy of one form of ID
3. Notification of Work Form (s) for at least one song that you have written;
4. proof of performance of your work(s) (ticket stub, flyer, newspaper listing or advertisement, etc.);
5. copy of commercial release, if applicable;
6. copy of songwriter/publisher agreement, if applicable; and
7. payment of application fee.

Upon approval of your application, COTT will issue a membership contract to be signed and returned.

Please note that incomplete applications will not be processed.

Please note also that COTT is not able to pay out royalties for every individual performance or broadcast of your compositions.

In areas where it is not cost effective to collect and process full details of music usage, COTT uses samples of information or information from other sources to represent the compositions played. In addition COTT is not under any obligation to make distributions of royalties to you in respect of any public performance, broadcast or cable transmission of your compositions which take place prior to the date from which your admission to membership is deemed to b e effective. This is normally the 1st January or 1st July immediately preceding the date when admission is formally granted.

Please see Awareness/FAQ's or contact a Member Service representative at your local COTT office. We will be happy to answer your questions and provide you with a copy of A Guide to COTT which will explain our function in more detail.