Re: performing rights societies

From: Derric G. Oliver <derric[_at_]mill.net>
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 16:42:13 -0800

On Mon, Mar 06, 2000, Joseph P. Bauer <joseph.p.bauer.1[_at_]nd.edu> wrote:
>
> A few questions re: performing societies:
>
> 1. Are there any reasons today for a composer to choose between ASCAP
> and BMI?
>
> 2. What are the reasons that BMI sprung up? What were ASCAP's
> exclusionary rules?
>
> 3. Can a composer join both ASCAP and BMI? Would there be any
> advantages in belonging to both?
>
> Thanks for your help. I'd appreciate also being pointed to any
> secondary literature, which discusses how they work and provides
> some details about the consent decrees in the SDNY in the 1940's.

a writer cannot be a member of more than one performing rights society. a fundamental difference between ascap and bmi is the way in which they monitor performances, and how royalties from such performances are collected and paid.

viewed from an administrative viewpoint, bmi is much more organized; but i hear that ascap's policies may be more favorable for songwriters.

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Derric G. Oliver
The Sound Mill
Music Licensing & Copyright Administration 1285 Hidden Oaks Trail, Suite 200
Vista, CA 92084
760/734-4028 (tel)
760/734-4029 (fax)
derric[_at_]mill.net

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Received on Tue Mar 14 2000 - 00:42:56 GMT