For songwriters, composers, and music publishers, understanding Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) is essential for getting paid when their music is performed publicly. One of the leading PROs in the United States is BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.). Let's dive into what BMI is all about.

What is BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc)?

BMI is a Performance Rights Organization (PRO) that collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and then distributes those fees as royalties to its members when their songs are publicly performed. Public performance includes radio airplay, television broadcasts, streaming services, live concerts, and more.

Who Owns and Controls BMI?

Unlike ASCAP (another major PRO which was founded by songwriters), BMI was originally founded in 1939 by broadcasters who felt that ASCAP's fees were too high and its focus too narrow (primarily on Tin Pan Alley and Broadway music). Today, BMI operates as a non-profit-making organization. It is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of leaders from the broadcast and music industries.

While not owned by individual songwriters or publishers in a traditional shareholder sense, BMI's structure ensures that the interests of its affiliates (songwriters, composers, and publishers) are represented. The organization's goal is to efficiently license music and maximize royalty distributions to its members.

Who, Where, and When Did BMI Start?

• Who: Founded by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).
• Where: Incorporated in New York, New York.
• When: Founded in 1939 and began operations in 1940.

BMI was established to provide a competitive alternative to ASCAP and to represent a wider range of musical genres, including blues, jazz, country, and rhythm and blues, which were often overlooked by the dominant PRO at the time.

What's the Link to BMI?

The official website for BMI is: https://www.bmi.com/

How to Use BMI (For Music Creators):

If you are a songwriter, composer, or music publisher, you can "use" BMI by becoming an affiliate.

1. Visit the BMI Website: Go to https://www.bmi.com/.
2. Navigate to "Join BMI": Look for a section on becoming a songwriter/composer or publisher affiliate.
3. Create an Account and Complete the Application: You will need to provide personal and contact information, details about your songwriting/publishing activity, and agree to their terms.
4. Submit Your Application: Once you've filled out all the necessary information, you will submit your application for review.
5. Register Your Songs: Once your affiliation is approved, you will need to register each of your original songs with BMI. This involves providing details like the song title, co-writers, and publisher information (if applicable).

How Much Does It Cost to Join BMI?

For songwriters and composers, there is no fee to join BMI. It is free to become a BMI songwriter/composer affiliate.

For music publishers, there is typically a one-time administrative fee to join BMI. The exact amount can vary, so it's best to check the current fee schedule on the BMI website during the application process.

How Does BMI Work?

BMI operates by licensing the public performance rights of the copyrighted musical works of its affiliates. They issue blanket licenses to various music users, such as:

• Radio and television stations
• Streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.)
• Live venues and concert halls
• Restaurants, bars, and nightclubs
• Websites and digital platforms

These licenses grant the music users the right to publicly perform any song in BMI's vast catalog in exchange for a fee. BMI then uses various methods, including digital tracking, broadcast monitoring, and sampling, to track when and where its affiliated songs are performed. Based on this data, BMI distributes royalties to the respective songwriters, composers, and publishers.

Key aspects of how BMI works:

• Licensing: Issues blanket licenses to music users.
• Tracking Performances: Monitors how and where music is used.
• Royalty Distribution: Collects license fees and distributes royalties to affiliates based on performance data.
• Advocacy: Represents the interests of its affiliates in legislative and industry matters.

Alternatives and Competition to BMI:

BMI is one of three major PROs in the United States. Its primary competitors are:

• ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers): https://www.ascap.com/ - Like BMI, ASCAP licenses and distributes performance royalties. It was founded by songwriters and operates as a non-profit.
• SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers): https://www.sesac.com/ - Unlike BMI and ASCAP, SESAC is a for-profit PRO and is privately held.

In addition to these major PROs, there are also smaller organizations and international PROs that operate in specific niches or territories.

Choosing a PRO:

As a music creator, you will typically affiliate with only one PRO for your songwriting activities. When choosing which PRO to join, consider factors such as:

• The PRO your co-writers are affiliated with: It's often simpler if all co-writers are with the same PRO for a particular song.
• The PRO your publisher (if you have one) is affiliated with.
• The specific services and resources offered by each PRO.
• The royalty distribution rates and methods of each PRO (though these can fluctuate and are not always transparent).

Ultimately, BMI plays a vital role in ensuring that music creators are compensated for the public performance of their work. By understanding how BMI operates and the steps involved in becoming an affiliate, songwriters, composers, and publishers can effectively manage their performance rights and navigate the complexities of the music industry.