i've been meaning to pose this question before, but i've always forgotten to do so. i don't see any point in joining either ascap or bmi, although it's mostly from a desire to remain independent from outside help. if there are any good reasons to join either, it's mostly just to get paid...

so, any and all opinions and explanations are requested, i've really never met anyone who had any opinions about either organisation. to me, it seems like everyone joins because everyone else joins, and that, to me, is usually a red flag.

regards,
jet.

I've been meaning to start the same topic.

Aside from BMI and ASCAP there's also SESAC, which (from what I understand) you have to apply for and is geared more toward indie music / college radio.

http://www.sesac.com

-C

i joined the ascap as an songwriter, but i also "started a publishing company," too. now, with that being said, i'm not sure at what capacity my publishing company will do anything. if i'm putting out the cd myself, it seems like it's jsut kinda there.

but anyhoo, with ascap i got this this huge old pamphlet that shows you all kinds of benefits that you get for being with them that they don't tell you about on the web site (at least that i found). for example, 5% of purchases at musicians' friend (if you get stuff there), $5 subscriptions to rolling stone or spin, other music discounts, and then there's weird stuff like 10% off hertz car rentals.

big thing for me is that their website is pretty easy to navigate. so those are the pros for me of ascap. haven't seen any cons yet, nor have i had any dealings with bmi. but here's a start to your feedback!!!

josh

I'm BMI mainly to get paid. It's not much, but at least it goes to me and not someone else. There's no annual dues, and it's another way to register your works. If you ever want your music in films or TV or anything, you should be registered with one of the companies, but I have a feeling you don't want that because you wouldn't be "independent" (whatever that means).

jet-

our band is registered with ascap as both writers and publishers. they do offer insurance (both health and for your crap getting stolen from your van on tour, as well as your studio stuff) - which was a large positive in our books. bmi may have the same stuff, i dunno. also, there is an ascap office in chicago, so you can walk in and talk to a human being if need be.

although, liam pulled out his card accidentally at costco the other day and the cashier said, "that isn't gonna do you much good here, honey". so, be warned: it ain;t no costco card.

-nick

Dylan wrote:I'm BMI mainly to get paid. It's not much, but at least it goes to me and not someone else. There's no annual dues, and it's another way to register your works. If you ever want your music in films or TV or anything, you should be registered with one of the companies

Amen to that. There's a vast and boring area of discussion surrounding music publishing and copyright, but IMHO Dylan's paragraph sums up why a band might care.

-r

(BMI)

I'm bumping this because I'm curious about other opinions on this topic. My band is about to press its first album, and I'm wondering if we should start a publishing company or join ASCAP or BMI. Would it be unwise to self-release an album without publishing the songs properly? Is this a stupid question? I am very curious and wish to be enlightened because I don't know anything!

There aren't any direct cons to joining either of The Big Two, from what I understand... however, you do end up being related to companies that may have conflicting ideals the major publishers and the major label industry pursue.. Your CDs may be required to have certain "anti-downloading" symbols on it, even though you may completely disagree with it, for example. Or they may file a lawsuit in a case you feel they shouldn't. Then again, I'm not sure if the anti-theft label is a record label issue, a publishing issue, or both.

My question is this: How exactly does the RIAA relate to ASCAP or BMI? Are the latter two just the two biggest members of the association, and have the most clout? Is it simpler? Is it more complex than that?

At least in the case of ASCAP, it's free to join as a writer, and a $50 one-time fee buys you your own publishing company. Having registered several pieces with ASCAP, I've never been asked/forced/cajoled to put any anti-anything on the packaging.

BMI is also free to join (as a songwriter) and you are able to join it online -- i like things that are free and online and thus i am now a member. as a songwriter.

i think i'm aware of the pros of having my own publishing company - are there any cons? note that i'm actively attempting to license my music out to tv/film etc...

also --- i'm currently only planning on registering those songs that do not contain (obvious) samples. this eliminates over half of my first album... i'm also only trying to license out songs that are safe from a copyright perspective... should i go further than this and not even include any songs from the unsafe first album?


side question: anyone have any experience with radio promotion -- ever worked with these guys or similar companies? feel free to PM as needed.

many thanks.