Author Topic: ASCAP or BMI? (Read 233 times)

gtrguy · « **on:** December 01, 2014, 12:35:06 PM »

Trying to figure which one would be better, anyone have any opinions?

Dave

terryc · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2014, 01:45:19 AM »

I don't even what these are ?? although BMI - Body Mass Index??

wfmandmusic · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2014, 04:50:17 AM »

I went with BMI based on a recommendation from a long time manager in the business. Although I don't remember why. I have received some funds, but I am unable to compare the two. I have no complaints.

keith_h · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2014, 06:09:23 AM »

Terry,
BMI and ASCAP are licensing and royalty collection and distribution companies. They sell licenses for the commercial use music to venues, radio stations, etc and distribute to musicians. There are arguments about the formulas they use to distribute royalties and some of the tactics used against small businesses to enforce copyrights but over all the system seems to work.

Keith

sonicus · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2014, 06:51:27 AM »

As good these entities are for the protection of original music artists rights they also are two sides to their existence, NOT that long ago a music venue that I had been gigging in was approached by ASACP to make a payment to license them for the right to have musicians perform copy righted material under their jurisdiction. The owner of the venue freaked out about that . THAT was the end of my gigs there . I can see both sides of the issue and certainly want my original material protected BUT in the case of such little gigs for 'Bread and Butter musicians who are not getting rich from their gigs it is closing the door even more so for live performance arts .

terryc · « **Reply #5 on:** December 02, 2014, 07:02:27 AM »

Oh a bit like the Musicians Union here in the UK

stout71 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 02, 2014, 08:18:15 AM »

It's generally only worth it to register if there is potential for significant airplay or the chance of your music being played publicly a lot. Most small time songwriters on a local level will never see a penny.

In addition to Wolf's comment regarding live music venues, most bar owners, etc. aren't even aware that they are supposed to pay BMI or ASCAP in order to have musicians perform there that play cover material. It's probably a good thing that they don't enforce it as much as they could. We'd all be out of gigs.

keith_h · « **Reply #7 on:** December 02, 2014, 10:54:21 AM »

Can't say about the musicians union. The one here in the States doesn't really have anything to do with royalties and is more geared to musicians and their performances meeting certain minimum wage criteria along with contract enforcement.

One of the reasons ASCAP/BMI were formed was to protect writers and publishers. It also gave a standardized way to collect royalties without every band having to keep a log of every copyrighted song they ever played and moving payment responsibility to the venue as a flat license fee. They are very similar but have slightly different orientations and you can only be represented by one or the other at any given time.

It is the tactics that ASCAP and BMI use with small business owners that you hear the most about. They are pretty active here in the Triangle and actively go after businesses large or small. What I frequently see are coffee shops that have an acoustic folk guitarist playing for tips and free coffee on Saturday night. One day ASCAP comes in demanding performance fees in excess of his/her profits or else they will go to court. What usually happens here is the business moves to original music only or nothing at all. I've also seen them go after charity events that do not purchase an event license. In the end their tactics hurt the musician, the business owner and the copyright owner as they they still end up with nothing paid for performance. If they did a better job of supporting affordable fees for the small businesses I think they would have better results and would be a win for all involved.

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #8 on:** December 02, 2014, 11:44:54 AM »

Roughly the same experience here in Southwest Vrginia... ASCAP went after several coffeehouse jams and smaller venues with local music. The local musicians lost piddly gigs, the businesses lost a minor draw - nobody won, everybody lost, but not much.

On the other hand, once upon a time, I had a piece of my music used in a made-for-tv documentary, (literally 28 seconds worth) and was quite thankful for BMI. Got a couple hundred bucks in the mailbox a couple times that year.

I tend to agree with stout71 above though - It's generally only worth it to register if there is potential for significant airplay or the chance of your music being played publicly a lot.