If BMI Licenses only the Public Performance Right, what other music copyrights are there, and how do they affect my business?

This section provides an overview of the basic copyrights, distinguishing the public performance right, licensed by BMI, from the mechanical right, explaining when you may need a synchronization or master use license, etc. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us.

The Copyright Path...

It’s 3 p.m. at the Hour Glass Cafe and Trevor is just coming off the lunch shift and rushing to change out of his apron for a meeting with his music publisher, Rhyme Music.

Trevor has been writing songs since high school, and came to New York three years after graduation to fulfill his dream of becoming a successful singer/songwriter. But what initially appeared to be a lucrative occupation to Trevor has not worked out to be that way. So he pays the bills with the day job and keeps his aspirations alive by continuing to perform his weekly gig at Narnia’s.

The hard work has finally paid off for Trevor. The Creative Director at Rhyme Music, John Ryan, has been pitching Trevor’s work around, and a song he had previously written has been selected for the new motion picture, Interaction. At the meeting, John explains how the producers of Interaction intend to use the song, “Fictional Lives,” and what rights Trevor should be aware of.

Trevor learns from John that certain uses of his song require certain types of licenses to insure that he will be compensated for the rights he receives under the U.S. Copyright Law. Many uses are covered by the following: