BMI launches BMI Live program for songwriters

BMI has launched BMI Live, a program enabling songwriters to register their concerts and set lists online to be considered for payment in live music venues, regardless of size.

To qualify, BMI performing songwriters need to enter their live musical performances on BMI’s website, www.bmi.com. BMI will pay royalties to both writers and publishers via direct deposit in its June distribution for performances occurring from July 1 through December 31, 2010. Concert performances eligible for the June royalty distribution must be entered on www.bmi.com by March 31, 2011. The distribution from BMI Live will be made quarterly after this initial June 2011 launch.

Mike O’Neill, BMI Senior Vice President, Repertoire and Licensing, says the program is designed to ensure that performing songwriters in all stages of their careers receive payment for concerts in settings of all sizes, from coffee shops to football stadiums.

“Small venues and clubs are the lifeblood for songwriters and bands,” explains O’Neill. “These venues support live, local music, as well as touring artists and are the cradle of tomorrow’s stars. We’re committed to helping songwriters get paid for their music in these venues, which provide a vital stage for their music.”

Available only online, BMI Live is an on-going program that allows songwriters to input up to six months of their performance data. Songwriters may input their tour information at their convenience for concerts from the previous six months and receive these royalty payments either quarterly or semi-annually. Both headliners and opening acts may input tour information, and the program is open to all BMI affiliates.

BMI Live is designed to be the most accurate distribution of live musical performance royalties in the United States. As the global leader in rights management, BMI is the only American performing right organization that tracks and pays royalties for the top 300 live concert tours in the nation each quarter. BMI also tracks and pays royalties for music used in many different venues, including sports arenas, stadiums, aircraft and theme parks, as well as radio and television.

“Live performance is vital to every songwriter,” says O’Neill. “We thank the thousands of small-business owners who support live music and pay licensing fees to BMI. Our goal is to make sure that the licensing fees BMI receives go back to the songwriters who play in these venues. This program gives those performing songwriters working even the smallest venues a better opportunity to share in the royalty pie.”

For updates on the BMI Live program, go to bmi.com/live and follow bmi.com/facebook and bmi.com/twitter.

Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI) is an American performing right organization that represents more than 475,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 6.5 million works. BMI has represented the most popular and beloved music from around the world for 70 years. The U.S. corporation collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes as royalties to the musical creators and copyright owners it represents.