By Darcie-Nicole Wicknick
Special to MusicBizAdvice.com
ASCAP www.ascap.com
What you should know about ASCAP from a members’ standpoint:
ASCAP pays dividends quarterly and semi-annually depending on the circumstances.
You should call member services any time you know that your song is on the radio, in stores for sale, on TV, performed in venues, etc. to ensure more accurate tracking.
ASCAP’s books are open and you can gain information about your account.
ASCAP has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Puerto Rico, and London.
ASCAP was founded by writers and publishers.
Requirements to Join ASCAP As a Writer:
At least one of your Works must meet at least one of the following requirements: Commercially recorded (CD, record, tape, etc.) or
Performed publicly in any venue licensable by ASCAP (club, live concert, symphonic concert or recital venue, college or university, etc.) or
Performed in any audio visual or electronic medium (film, television, radio, Internet, cable, pay-per-view, etc.) or
Published and available for sale or rental.
Requirements to Join ASCAP As a Publisher:
To find out if joining as a Publisher is right for you, and for additional information about becoming a Publishing entity, contact ASCAP Member Services.
Application forms for both are available for download from the ASCAP website.
ASCAP Member Benefits:
Access to Collaborator Corner to connect with other members who may need your talent for their project.
Access to financial planning and estate planning.
Access to group health, life, accident, long term care, and instrument insurance.
Discounted courses and memberships to Berkleemusic.com
Discounts on musical equipment, car rentals, hotel stays at Choice Hotels group, and at a myriad of additional retail and travel companies.
Easy Title Registration online.
Eligibility to apply for an ASCAP credit card (for personal or business).
Eligibility to apply for grants and competition opportunities.
Eligibility to apply to perform in showcases in your area.
Email account by request.
Free subscription to Playback Magazine.
Letterhead logo by request.
News on the main site in many genres including Urban, Pop, Jazz, and Country.
Notification of workshops, seminars, career development opportunities.
Membership card and Welcome kit.
More information is available on the ASCAP Webster.
BMI www.bmi.com
Requirements to Join BMI:
If you have written musical compositions, alone or in collaboration with other writers, which, at the time of affiliating with BMI, are being performed or likely to be performed by broadcasting stations or in other public performances, and, in the opinion of BMI, you meet these basic qualifications, you are eligible to join BMI and a BMI contract will be offered.
Requirements To Join BMI as a Publisher:
BMI must ascertain your viability and states the following:
"Over the years, experience has indicated that becoming a BMI publisher will be of practical benefit only to those who have the ability and resources to undertake exploitation of their works. At the time of affiliating with BMI, applicants should have some musical compositions being performed or likely to be performed by broadcasting stations or in other public performances. If, in the opinion of BMI, you meet these basic qualifications, a (BMI) contract will be offered. Under this contract, you, as the publisher, assign to BMI the public performing rights of the works in your catalog. These works are then included in the overall repertoire available to BMI licensees.
Although many performing rights organizations impose an annual charge or collect annual dues, BMI does not follow that practice; instead, there is an initial charge of $150 for solely-owned publishing companies and $250 for partnerships, corporations (including sole stockholder corporations) and limited liability companies, which partially defray administrative costs. This charge is made only at the time of affiliation and is neither refundable nor deductible from earnings. Once affiliation is completed, payment of a $75 administration fee is required if you wish to change the name of your publishing company or if there has been a change in ownership."
For more in-depth information about Publisher membership and what happens after your contract is approved, please visit The ABOUT BMI section of the BMI website and click on For Publishers.
BMI Member Benefits:
Discounts on insurance, subscriptions, and computer hardware and software and more.
Easy Title Registration online.
Eligibility to apply to perform in showcases in your area.
Listening Room.
For further information, check out the BMI website.
WHAT ABOUT SESAC (fka SOCIETY OF EUROPEAN STAGE AUTHORS AND COMPOSERS), AND WHY ISN’T SESAC AS POPULAR AS ASCAP AND BMI? www.sesac.com
SESAC was once limited to European and Gospel composers and only recently opened up to other styles. Therefore, very few popular songwriters use it. Also, SESAC’s application process is more selective. Some writers like this because they feel it brings a cache to their work, while others find the process exclusionary or even intimidating. SESAC’s lack of popularity made it difficult get enough information from songwriters to provide a clear picture of the pros and cons of SESAC affiliation. For more information, see SESAC.com.
How can I become a SESAC affiliate?
According to the SESAC website, "Unlike the other performing rights organizations, SESAC has a selective process by which to affiliate songwriters and publishers, resulting in affiliates who have personal relationships with the SESAC staff. SESAC's creative staff works with songwriters to develop and perfect their talents." For information, check out SESAC.com .
Non-U.S. Residents
If you live in a country other than the United States, I recommend you call your federal copyright protection office (the one comparable to the Library of Congress in the U.S.) for information about organizations in your country that provide performance rights services. You may also obtain this information at a municipal office, or in the section on music business law in your local library. You may also ask a music attorney, copyright attorney, or intellectual property attorney in your country.
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THE CHOICE IS YOURS
XANDRE
