BMI Live is an Online Services application that allows performing songwriters to submit their live performance information and receive royalty payments. There is an extensive guide in Online Services under the HELP section once logged in to BMI Live. You can find information about eligible venues, eligible performances, submission guidelines, and more. Please note you must be enrolled in Direct Deposit to participate in the BMI Live program.
To be eligible for royalty payments under the BMI Live program, a performance must be considered a “public performance” that is covered by existing BMI licenses. A complete list is available online if you do want to listen to the entire list on the phone.
Non-eligible performances which will not be considered for royalty payment include, but are not limited to:
Digital Livestreams
Wedding receptions, Birthday parties, Anniversary parties, etc.
Internet performances.
Performances during Religious services. Note: Performances at church events that are outside of “normal church service times” are eligible for royalty payments.
Face-to-face teaching activities at educational institutions.
Most Cruise Ship Performances.
Performances to students in elementary schools.
State or County fairs.
Private house concerts.
Performances not authorized by city permit in parks or public areas. (This includes street performances).
Live Classical music performances. Note: Classical music performances are included in a separate royalty distribution.
Performances of public domain music (including the National Anthem at events.)
Live radio or TV performances. Note: Live radio or TV performances are included in a separate royalty distribution.
Amusement Park performances at Disney Parks, Universal Parks & Dollywood Themepark. Note: These Amusement Parks performances are included in a separate royalty distribution.
Setlists can be entered online via BMI.com or the BMI Mobile app. All you need to do is log into your BMI account and click the BMI Live link. Only the performing songwriter can enter performance details in BMI Live. BMI publishers are eligible for payment under BMI Live but do not have access to the BMI Live application for data entry.
You are required to be enrolled in direct deposit to get paid through BMI Live. If you’re not currently enrolled, you can enroll online. Please note that BMI reserves the right to issue payments based on its ability to verify the submitted event details. Please also note the submission timelines; performances are generally eligible for submission up to 9 months after the date of the performance.
You can enter your performance information as often as you’d like. You will be able to enter dates for up to 2 quarters prior to the current quarter. You will be able to see the available entry dates as soon as you log in to BMI Live.
You must enter the performance day and time, setlist and venue information. BMI will issue payments based on its published distribution schedule once the submission has been verified.
Rates per performance each quarter are determined by a combination of the number of performances reported during the payment period and the general licensing fees available for distribution for BMI Live performances. Since the number of BMI-licensed works, as well as the amount of the license fees collected by BMI, changes from quarter to quarter, the royalty rate for BMI Live works likewise will vary from quarter to quarter. For more information on BMI and royalties see “How We Pay Royalties”.
If you’ve read all the FAQs in this section and still have questions, we have several resources to help. First you may wish to try: our BMI Live information page.
At this time BMI Live can only be used for domestic performances. BMI writers performing outside of the US should download and complete the Foreign Live Performance Notification Form available on the Forms page.
BMI Live can only be used for domestic performances at this time. If you are performing outside of the US, you can download and submit a Foreign Live Performance Notification Form from our the Forms page.
Yes, you should include cover songs. However, only cover songs within the BMI Live database will be eligible for royalty payments under the BMI Live program. When entering a new performance, just click “Add cover song to your setlist” to select a cover song from the BMI Live database of cover songs.
No. BMI Live is intended for non-classical performances. Quarterly royalty payments from BMI Live are completely separate from the annual Live Classical royalty distribution, For more information, please review our guidelines for reporting classical performances.
