FAQ: About BMI

BMI is what is known as a music performing right organization. A performing right organization represents songwriters, composers and music publishers. Often called PROs, these companies collect license fees from businesses that use music, including television and radio stations; broadcast and cable networks; new media, including the Internet and mobile technologies; satellite audio services like XM and Sirius; nightclubs, hotels, bars, restaurants and other venues; digital jukeboxes; and live concerts. These license fees are then distributed as royalties to the songwriters, composers & music publishers the PROs represent. BMI has been in operation for more than 70 years, is recognized in U.S. copyright law as a licensor of music, and currently represents more than 500,000 copyright owners and their more than 7.5 million musical works.

BMI is committed to protecting copyright to ensure that its songwriters, composers and music publishers are fairly compensated for the use of their work. BMI also values its relationships with those businesses that use music, offering access to the world’s most popular music for hundreds of thousands of licensees throughout the United States.

Additionally, BMI is dedicated to fostering new talent. The organization’s layered approach to songwriter development comprises educational, creative and promotional opportunities:

Showcases
BMI stages showcases all over the country. Weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually, these series highlight both bold new voices and established hit-makers: 8 off 8th, Acoustic Lounge, Pick of the Month, Noche Mexicana, DRINKSHOP Live!, Unsigned Urban Showcase, East Side Sounds, BMI/Hit Sheet Showcase, BMI Buzz at the Basement and Verano Alternativo are just a few of the showcases organized by BMI’s regional offices.

To learn more, contact your regional BMI Writer/Publisher Relations office and stay up-to-date by viewing the BMI.com events calendar.

Festivals and Conferences
BMI books stages and performance slots at premier festivals and conferences throughout the year, including SXSW, MOBfest, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, CMJ, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Key West Songwriters Festival, Monitor Latino, ATHfest, Florida Music Festival, Music Matters Asia, Martha’s Vineyard Songwriters Festival, Sandestin Songwriters Festival, Americana Music Festival & Conference, Tin Pan South, International Bluegrass Music Association Festival & Conference, numerous Billboard-led conferences, and more.

Panels
From BMI-coined events like the How I Wrote That Song, Coffee Talk and Music 101 series, to in-depth conversations at top tier festivals including Sundance and SXSW, BMI panels offer insight from insiders throughout the year.

Workshops
Held in New York City, the Tony award-winning BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop is an elite creative hub that nurtures the brightest new talent within the musical theatre community. The BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, now in its second decade, was formed to foster composition for the jazz big band. The BMI Songwriters Workshop with Jason Blume offers a building-block style curriculum designed to supply songwriters with invaluable creative tips and business counsel. Staged monthly in Nashville, is open to all songwriters who are serious about and committed to successful commercial songwriting. BMI 101 is an hour-long introductory workshop for writers and publishers, which discusses the history of performing right, the origins of BMI and the current role BMI plays in the complex, ever-evolving music industry. The BMI Conductor’s Workshop is a four-week course taught by conductor Lucas Richman for BMI composers who are looking to refine their conducting skills.

The BMI Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1985, is dedicated to encouraging the creation, performance and study of music through awards, scholarships, internships, grants, and commissions.

Learn more at bmifoundation.com.

Contact information for BMI's regional Writer/Publisher Relations departments is available for additional questions.

Yes, we have a rich, full-featured mobile version of our award-winning website optimized for iPhone, Android, Palm, Symbian and Blackberry 6.0 phones. Mobile users will see the new mobile site automatically when viewing bmi.com.

In fact, BMI was the first performing right company in the world to offer a mobile-optimized web presence.