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BMI registration question

I recently signed up with BMI and as I was submitting songs, there is a section for each song that asks are their recording artists on this song?

My question is this, am I supposed to fill this info in only if the people that recorded on the song are published or anyone other than myself that is on the song?

And what exactly is the goal here for filling this out? Will this affect the publishing rights or royalties?

Thanks for any help in this.

Tags: bmi, publishing, recording artists

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Permalink Reply by John Snyder on March 13, 2009 at 12:29pm: Tim, BMI is a service organization to its members and would-be members. They want your business. You will be licensing your exclusive right to control the public performance of your music to them and they will keep a percentage of what they collect. They LIKE you. If you can't get a member rep on the phone I'll give you the cell number of the President. Just kidding. I don't have the cell number of the President.

Make sure you read the license agreement you're signing. There's not much you can do about it if you don't like it other than not sign it, but at least know what it is you're getting yourself into.

I can't tell from your question what they need to know. I thought it was writer, publisher. Are you registering as a writer? As a publisher?

Go through their site, then check ASCAP's as well, and then call the customer reps. Then report on how they treat you and we'll make it a headline of the site. Inform the community! Just remember, you're in the driver's seat. It's YOUR rights that they are acquiring and they know that. Unless you are unlucky you should end up with a very helpful response from them.

And if you don't, we'll submit them to the Jon Stewart treatment. Did you see what he did to that finance dude last night? Wow. You gotta check it out on their website (comedycentral.com). It was brutal. Anyway, you might tell the reps that you're working on a case study for Artists House, or you could just be an anonymous songwriter who needs help. If they ask you to email your questions, then do that. If you're younger than 18, you'll have to get your parents to sign for you.

Good luck! John Snyder

PS Their sites are loaded with good stuff about how to make money with music, especially the ASCAP site, thanks mostly to the great Todd Brabec. He's not there anymore because of some dubious upper management decisions, but the stuff he and his brother Jeff wrote about music in film and tv and other things is really good.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tim Kelley on March 13, 2009 at 12:42pm: I am signed up as a songwriter and as I submit my songs it asks for the length, the name, the project but it also has a section to list the recording artists on the song.

My question is am I supposed to fill this in for everyone that played on the tune or only those artists that are published that recorded on my song? This would be the case for each song I submit. I have a couple of musicians/friends that played on some of the songs but not sure if I am supposed to enter their names here or just leave it blank since they are not published musicians. I am not quite sure what the point is of BMI asking me for other artists on my songs. I wrote them and own them...

And I cannot find a phone number on the BMI website. Their contact info only gives a mailing address and email and I emailed them this question twice already and have not heard back in 2 weeks.

I have already signed up with them and agreed to the license thing but have not fully submitted any of my songs or paid them any money yet.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John Snyder on March 14, 2009 at 12:01pm: Email Mark Mason, Senior Director of Writer-Publisher Relations, at mmason@bmi.com. He should be able to point you in the right direction. Mention that I sent you. JS; ▶ Reply to This

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