When you copyright a song is that the same as ASCAP?

Copyright and ASCAP are two different things with some overlap. A song copyright protects the original musical work, granting exclusive rights to the lyricist and composer, including reproduction, distribution, and public performance. ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) is a performance rights organization that represents creators and collects royalties on their behalf for the public use and performance of their copyrighted musical works, both in the United States and internationally through reciprocal agreements.