Music Licensing for Television
BMI Makes It Simple to License Music for Local and Low Power Television (LPTV)
Music is a key component to any successful series or film. Whether it’s the opening theme to your favorite TV show, the local nightly news that draws you in, or the background music that keeps your emotions peaked, BMI composers deliver the best music in TV and film. A BMI music license gives you copyright permission to play over 22.4 million in BMI’s award-winning repertoire. Here’s how you can get started:
ONLINE FORM
Fill out our Online Form and a BMI Representative will get back to you with more information.
NOTICE TO TVMLC STATIONS
BMI and the TVMLC have reached an agreement regarding final fees and terms for industry-wide licenses for local broadcast television stations to publicly perform musical works in the BMI repertoire. The agreement covers the period January 1, 2018 through June 30, 2024 and includes the same scope of license coverage as in the prior licenses. For the period January 1, 2022 through the end of the license term, the industry-wide blanket license fee is $62.5 million and the Per Program Multiplier is 175%. For the earlier portion of the license term (January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2021), the industry-wide blanket license fee remains at approximately $76 million, and the Per Program Multiplier remains at 150%. For this earlier period, there will be no adjustment of stations’ license fees outside of the regular course Per Program license adjustments.
Feel free to reach out to us via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or via phone at 800-925-8451.
Local Television FAQs
If you have additional questions, please review our full list of Licensing FAQs or contact a BMI representative.
BMI and the Television Music Licensing Committee (TVMLC) negotiated a license that covers Local Television stations. Each station’s fees are determined in accordance with allocations set forth by the TVMLC. Please reference our television licenses on this page below.
Per Program is used by those stations that directly license music in local or syndicated programming. All other stations customarily select the Blanket License.
If you are streaming your local content on the station website, those performances would be covered under the Blanket or Per Program Licenses.
Yes, digital broadcast channels are included in the current Local TV license.
BMI has an umbrella agreement with PBS affiliated stations. As a result, these stations do not need a separate license with BMI. Please check with your BMI representative if you believe you are covered under the PBS license.
Low Power Television FAQs
If you have additional questions, please review our full list of Licensing FAQs or contact a BMI representative.
Fees are based on a station’s net revenues unless the station broadcasts shopping related programming or operates as a 501(c).
A station is required to submit an Annual Financial Report to BMI on or before April 1st of each year. This report will ask for financial information for the previous year. You can find a copy of this report form on this page below.
BMI has an umbrella agreement with PBS affiliated stations. As a result, these stations do not need a separate license with BMI. Please check with your BMI representative if you believe you are covered under the NPR license.