BMI or ASCAP??????

[jtwill5]

who do you have and why?

[jmecale72]

BMI here...don't really know why though...

 

[ChromaLord]

ASCAP is by far the most powerful collection agency in the world. They own judges, get their own legislation pushed thru, but sadly have a "country club" mentality as 80% of their members earn no royalties.

BMI is better for you if you are a recording star- thats pretty much their forte.

ASCAP is that and everything else.

I made $300,000 in jingle royalties while my partner who was BMI didnt make a dime, on a specific campaign.

SESAC, although a distant third, is still a large agency with more personal care. They have undertaken the jingle and move cue world , and they have real strength in gospel and country.

[BlueStrat]

ASCAP. I actually got checks for airplay in Norway and you also get a whopping 5% discount on gear at MF and GC.

[roblavender]

ASCAP... because the writers have more say. Unless you live in Nashville where BMI can actually be helpful and BMI does do a lot for aspiring writers (ask Brad Paisley).

 

Otherwise, I'd say go with ASCAP...

[AndyZ]

ASCAP... they've always paid better for TV/Film, which is the bulk of my royalties.

[Watch_me_move]

Hey Guys, I joined Ascap recently. I released an EP a couple months ago. Should I contact them and let them know. If not, what information do they need?

[BlueStrat]

Go to their website and register your songs.

[JEM33GEM]

Here's my situation.

 

On a particular project, a singer and I co-wrote all the songs on the album and are listed respectively at BMI and ASCAP as 50/50 writers and 50/50 publishers. The songs have received a lot of licensing placements and such. Over the course of a 4-year period, we did an experiment by taking a look at the royalty statements and checks. Guess what? On average, and over time (even though some statements occasionaly proved otherwise) BMI paid out more (i.e., larger checks). By looking at the statements, it seemed as though on certain things (international vs. internet vs. radio vs. tv vs. film, etc and so on) BMI collected more 'aggresively' than ASCAP. Cue sheet reporting/recording couldn't have accounted for the difference, because that would have affected both of us. The differences could also be attributed to the types of reciprocal agreements the two PRO's have with their international counterparts (we do get quite a lot of international placements).

 

So, I wouldn't say it was a rip-off or anything; just that it depends what kind of coverage your songs are getting (or will be getting) and which one of the two PRO's surveys/collects more aggresively/accurately (so to speak) in those areas.