September 2009
Dear Songwriter, Composer and Publisher:
I am pleased to report that BMI’s revenues for fiscal year 2009 totaled more than $905 million while royalty distributions totaled more than $788 million, both higher than our historic results of the previous year. Our success was made possible by your creative efforts in building a catalog whose depth, breadth and popularity are unsurpassed, along with our long-term efforts to capture new sources of revenue. It is particularly gratifying to note that these results were achieved in an economic environment that has been perhaps the most challenging in BMI’s history.
Despite the adverse economic conditions, BMI recorded its best-ever year in international revenues, as the strength of our repertoire was evident around the globe. We were also able to grow revenues in the new media sector by 11 percent, and now have a portfolio of more than 6,700 digital media properties under license. In addition, we have completed the integration of Landmark Digital Services’ radio performance data into our radio survey through Landmark’s BlueArrow® technology, giving BMI affiliates the industry’s most comprehensive, and granular data on radio airplay.
Our role as an internationally acknowledged leader in performing right technology has been reinforced by the redesign of our award-winning website, BMI.com, which features enhanced business tools that speed data entry and access to royalty statements and catalog information. A streamlined online membership module resulted in the signing of more than 30,000 new songwriters and composers through the website, bringing our affiliate total to more than 400,000. I invite you to view the website, use its cutting-edge tools and enjoy the advantages they offer. We love hearing from you and welcome any ideas or suggestions you might have about how we can better serve you through this state-of-the art website.
As BMI marks its 70th anniversary in the year ahead, we know we will be looking at an extremely challenging economic environment. We understand the significant market pressures faced by the businesses that we license, and we anticipate tough discussions in the year ahead as we negotiate new agreements for the use of our repertoire. At the same time, we are encouraged by the steady growth in our market share, and in the expanded use of music by both traditional and digital media, both dynamics that drive our licensing income. We have an intense focus on efficiency and cost containment. These factors give us confidence in our ability to meet the challenges of this volatile economic landscape, and to provide a point of stability to our songwriters, composers and publishers as the economy works its way to recovery.
From time to time I may ask you to help us, and yourselves, with calls to action in the preservation of copyright and other issues that affect each and every one of us. BMI is deeply involved in the fight to protect the rights of songwriters, composers and music publishers on Capitol Hill. In the coming months, we’ll be facing serious issues that may affect the compensation you receive for your creative efforts. I urge you to monitor developments in this area at BMI.com/legislation and to contact your congressional representatives to let them know how important copyright protection is to you and your livelihood.
Please note that in addition to your regular quarterly royalty payments, this distribution includes annual pay-per-view royalties for Echostar, InDemand, OnCommand, Lodgenet, TVN & NFL Sunday Ticket.
Our congratulations go to George Clinton, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, Polow Da Don, Kanye West, Erik Griggs and all those honored at the BMI Urban Awards, held earlier this month in New York.
I hope you enjoyed a relaxing summer and enter the fall season with renewed energy and creativity.
Sincerely,
Del Bryant
President
Chief Executive Officer