BMI’s primary goal is to ensure that our writers, composers and publishers are properly compensated for the public use of their music. This objective requires a multifaceted approach that involves educating about public policy and partnerships.
Today, the Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act was signed into law by President Trump, marking a historic moment for the music industry. Notably, this legislation recognizes the essential contributions of the songwriters and composers at its core, who will see significant and deserved benefit, while streamlining the use of their music across businesses. This extraordinary outcome is the result of tremendous collaboration and unprecedented support among diverse stakeholders who…
Read BMI’s statement regarding a key development for the Music Modernization Act: “We’re excited to now have 60 Senate co-sponsors for the Music Modernization Act. It’s an incredible milestone, but we’d love to see a unanimous vote, just as we saw in the House. For the first time in decades there is a real possibility to enact meaningful music licensing reform that not only benefits the songwriters and composers…
Yesterday marked the deadline for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court regarding BMI’s favorable consent decree ruling. With no such action taken, the final decision of the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit stands that BMI is free to continue to engage in the historic practice of fractional licensing. This development definitively ends litigation between BMI and the DOJ in this…
Today, a bipartisan group of nine senators including Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), introduced the Music Modernization Act in the U.S. Senate. The proposed legislation would set up a new simplified licensing entity to make it easier for digital music companies to obtain a license and play songs,…
Today, Congressmen Doug Collins (R-GA) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) introduced the Music Modernization Act of 2017. This bill represents months of collaboration between BMI, and other organizations representing songwriters, composers, and publishers such as NMPA, ASCAP, NSAI, and SONA, and the music user community. The bill is designed to benefit American songwriters, composers and publishers by modernizing two key portions of the U.S. Copyright Law: On the mechanical licensing side, the…
Today the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and affirmed BMI’s consent decree victory. The Second Circuit agreed with Judge Louis L. Stanton’s September 16, 2016 decision that the BMI consent decree allows for the practice of fractional licensing. Mike O’Neill, President and CEO of BMI, stated: “This is a massive victory for songwriters, composers, music publishers and the entire industry. We…
Updated August 2017 1. WHAT EXACTLY DID THE DOJ DETERMINE? After BMI spent over two years advocating specific reforms to modernize its outdated consent decree, the Department of Justice (DOJ) refused to agree to BMI’s proposed changes. Instead, it interpreted the current BMI decree as requiring “100% Licensing,” an issue BMI never raised and a licensing approach that has never been the industry practice. 2. WHAT IS ‘100% LICENSING’?
Comprehensive Resource To Increase Ownership Transparency In Performing Rights Licensing
BMI is the bridge that brings music to business and compensates the creators of that music.
Download PDFChanges are needed to protect the art of songwriting across america and bring music licensing into the 21st century.
Download PDFBMI proposed the following changes to the consent decree:
BMI’s public comments to U.S. Department of Justice request in review of consent decrees.
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BMI President and CEO Addresses Congress on the Need for Change
“When BMI sent me my first royalty check it was for $4.69 … it meant everything. It meant I was a professional songwriter.” “In today’s music industry environment … the one thing keeping songwriters afloat is that performance royalty check.” “Aspects of the BMI consent decree have devalued the musical composition to the point where songwriters are being crushed.” “A legal framework that allows songs to be streamed for free will destroy the livelihood of the American songwriter if allowed to continue.” “My wife of 23 years says … ‘The only days I circle on my calendar every year are the four days your BMI check is coming.’”
Lee Thomas Miller
BMI Songwriter and President of the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International
BMI Office of Government Affairs & Public Policy
7 World Trade Center
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007-0030
