November 2025
Dear Songwriter, Composer and Publisher,
With Thanksgiving approaching, I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all of you for being part of the BMI family. It’s our privilege to represent you, and while the year is winding down, we’re working as hard as ever on your behalf. I’m especially pleased to report that we’ve set another record this quarter in delivering the highest royalty distributions in BMI’s history, thanks to the incredible popularity of your music. Overall, it’s been a very busy time on our end, and I’m excited to share some key updates.
Furthering our efforts to increase transparency for the industry, in September we announced the expansion of Songview, started by BMI and ASCAP in 2020, to include musical works information from GMR and SESAC. This expansion will provide the data for 38 million musical works licensed by the four major U.S. PROs in a single comprehensive source of copyright information. Notably, this collaboration highlights how our industry can successfully come together and deliver solutions that benefit the entire music community.
BMI also took an important step forward in ensuring creators’ rights are safeguarded in the age of AI. We recently announced our alignment with ASCAP and SOCAN in adopting policies to accept registrations of partially AI-generated musical works, as long as the work meets the threshold for human creativity as outlined by the U.S. Copyright Office. This step protects human creativity, which is paramount, while also supporting the songwriters and composers who choose to use AI as a tool to enhance their creative process. You can learn more about our position and this latest development on our updated BMI & AI page.
In October, our partner Music Nation formally started operations administering public performance and mechanical rights across the UAE. Our shared mission is to ensure that songwriters, composers and publishers are properly compensated for their music wherever it’s played. Music Nation’s launch represents a major step forward in expanding that mission globally and empowering creators across the region, and we’re excited for all the potential ahead.
I’m happy to share that our Spark program continues to grow, and this quarter we added several new partners designed to help you elevate your career. Moreover, to streamline your login experience for our Online Services platform, we introduced simpler passwords and enhanced security for your account. We’re always looking to improve our service based on your feedback, and these updates are part of our ongoing effort to enhance your BMI experience.
In addition to your regular quarterly royalties, those eligible will see retroactive payments from 2018 to 2024 from the streaming service Pluto TV. Moreover, if applicable, this distribution includes payments for Netflix performances in the Gulf States for all of 2024.
On the Creative front, BMI extended our longstanding festival partnership with C3 through 2028, solidifying our status as the only PRO with stages at Lollapalooza and the Austin City Limits Music Festival. I was also excited to attend the opening celebration of BMI’s new office in Atlanta, which will be our home from which to serve the city’s incredible music creators.
Last but not least, congratulations to the songwriters and publishers recognized at our R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, Troubadour Awards, London Awards and Country Awards. Across the industry, kudos to our affiliates who received accolades at the Latin GRAMMYs, CMAs, Premios Juventud, Dove Awards and Creative Arts Emmys. Further, congratulations to our recipients of the MacArthur Fellowships and the Jerry Goldsmith Film Scoring Scholarship. Finally, best of luck to our nominees for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and all of our exceptional music creators who received nominations for the 2026 GRAMMY Awards.
On behalf of everyone here at BMI, I hope you have a wonderful holiday season with your friends and family, and we wish you a happy and healthy new year!
Sincerely,
Mike O'Neill
President and Chief Executive Officer
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