Unlikely. First you go to ASCAP, then all of its competitors. For artists that don't use a rights clearance and royalty processing company to handle that stuf

Unlikely. First you go to ASCAP, then all of its competitors. For artists that don't use a rights clearance and royalty processing company to handle that stuff, you might just wait to get a letter from their attorney and offer a reasonable settlement based on the ASCAP rate. Tracking down loose artists on your own initiative just to give them enough money that they won't track you down and sue you seems like an overly honorable use of time and money to coexist with a successful business.