New York - Performing rights organization ASCAP, which represents 350,000 U.S. songwriter and music publishers, has begun to seek royalty payments from websites that embed YouTube (NASD:  GOOG) videos containing its members’ music, Valleywag reported.

ASCAP sent a collection letter to Jason Calcanis, the Internet entrepreneur currently heading up reference site Mahalo.com, seeking royalty payments for the music videos embedded on the site.

"ASCAP does not offer licenses to — or require licenses from — those who simply make their personal blogs available on purely noncommercial Web sites," the organization told Valleywag.

"Mahalo.com is a larger venture than simply a personal blog, and therefore ASCAP is engaged in discussions with Mr. Calacanis concerning the use of ASCAP members’ music on the site."

Valleywag noted that ASCAP sent similar collection letters to other websites earlier in the year; at the time, YouTube told the sites to refer ASCAP or any collection society demanding payments to contact YouTube directly.

Related Links:

http://snipurl.com/mge5t

(Valleywag)

http://snipurl.com/mggv9 (YouTube statement)

http://www.ascap.org

http://www.mahalo.com