June 2011
Dear Songwriter, Composer and Publisher:
I am extremely pleased to report that this distribution includes initial royalty payments from our exciting new BMI Live program, which enables performing songwriters to register their concerts and set lists online for royalty payments. Response to this program has been extremely positive, as thousands of songwriters have signed up since its launch in January, uploading set lists to qualify for royalty payments. We are pleased that BMI Live has enabled many of these writers to receive their first-ever performing right royalties. BMI Live is designed to ensure that performing songwriters in all stages of their careers, along with their publishers, receive payment for concerts of all sizes, from coffee shops to football stadiums.
As part of our efforts to maximize your royalties wherever your music is played around the world, we worked closely with CISAC to arrange for the appearance of White House Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator Victoria Espinel at the recent World Copyright Summit in Brussels, Belgium, where she noted that we are at a time that may require us to accelerate the pace at which we address the protection of intellectual property globally. Digital was also a major topic for key European policymakers speaking at the event. BMI’s Richard Conlon participated in a panel discussion on “The Dos & Don’ts of Licensing,” which included a discussion on the impact of cloud services on the industry.
In addition to your regular quarterly royalties, this distribution includes retroactive payments from several sources, including Comcast’s E! Entertainment, Style Network, G4 and PBS Kids Sprout; Fox’s Fox Cable Network, Fox Reality channel, FX Network, FX Movies and National Geographic channel; CNBC; and Viacom’s Comedy Central. Also included are mobile entertainment royalties for 2006 ringtone sales, along with DART royalties from 2002 through 2004, as provided for by the Audio Home Recording Act of 1992. As we’ve previously noted, these retroactive payments most often result from the resolution of negotiations with licensees or the receipt of previously unavailable data. Please refer to your royalty statement for the periods covered by each of these distributions.
Our congratulations go to David Foster, Lady Gaga, Jason Derülo, J.R. Rotem, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, David Arnold and all those honored at the BMI Pop and Film/TV Awards, held last month in Los Angeles. Congratulations also go to composers Robert Lopez and Larry Hochman, who were honored with Tony Awards for their work on the Broadway hit The Book of Mormon, and to Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Allen Toussaint, honorees Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, who received the organization’s highest honor, the Johnny Mercer Award, and Drake, who received the Hal David Starlight Award.
I’d like to offer my best wishes for a relaxing and rewarding summer season.
Sincerely,
Del Bryant
President
Chief Executive Officer
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