Licensing Center FAQs

For the first time in nearly 30 years, BMI has consolidated terms across all General Licensing markets and updated rates for most business types. These updates better reflect the growth and value of BMI’s catalog, which has expanded from 3 million works in 1998 to over 25 million in 2026, an increase of 8x or over 730%. In addition, it is now easier for licensees to understand their rights and obligations when using music in their business, while giving BMI the flexibility to continue evolving as our industry modernizes and our customers' music use changes. The licensing process is also easier to navigate, providing a clearer, more transparent way to confirm music use and ensuring fees reflect actual use.

BMI’s updated terms and conditions closely match what customers have previously agreed to, with only a few minor changes noted below.

• Consolidated License Terms- most business types are now included in one document.
• Terms that apply to restaurants, bars, clubs, breweries and wineries can be found in sections 1-17 and 28.
• Pricing has now been removed from the licensing terms & conditions and will be accessible on BMI.com.
• For the live music category, “cover charge” and “dancing” have been removed as factors in determining the license fee.
• BMI has changed its “seasonality” offering. Please contact a BMI representative to learn more.
• Business owners can update their BMI license up to two (2) times per year if music usage changes.
• You can suspend your license for up to six (6) consecutive months, up to two (2) times per licensing term, if you stop using music in your business.
• BMI may adjust the total license fee at any time with 30 days' notice, if it is determined that music use has changed. This ensures that your license remains accurate and complies with federal copyright law. (i.e.: If your business is licensed only for live bands, but you decide to add a DJ or karaoke, you’ll need to let us know about these new types of entertainment so your license can be updated)

The previous Eating and Drinking Establishments License was a shorter form, market-specific agreement that included the fee schedule. Now, the updated terms cover most markets and license types under BMI’s “General License Terms,” with market-specific terms included where applicable. For example, sections 1-17 and 28 are the only ones that apply to bars, restaurants, wineries, breweries and other eating and drinking establishments. In addition, the fee calculations are no longer included in the license terms and are now available on BMI.com for your specific business type.

The updated license terms have been consolidated so that all markets are now included in one document. License terms that apply to restaurants, bars, clubs, breweries and wineries can be found in sections 1-17 and 28.

If you do not accept BMI’s updated terms and conditions, you will lose legal authorization to perform music from BMI’s catalog of more than 25 million works.

In addition to the Licensing Center, the terms and rates can be found on BMI.com.

BMI will send you an email and/or a letter at least 30 days before any changes take effect. You can also log into the Licensing Center at any time to access and review information related to your account.

Over the past several years, we’ve consistently heard from businesses and industry partners requesting a simpler, more transparent music licensing experience. The launch of Licensing Center reflects BMI’s commitment to our customers to provide a better user experience and to continuously introduce new enhancements and features, all designed to make managing your account simpler and more convenient.

• Passwordless login and mobile-friendly account management.
• Multiple billing options are available, including monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual.
• Manage multiple accounts under one login, view them all in one location and see status, payments due, upcoming renewal dates, etc. for all.
• You can submit support inquiries and see inquiry statuses.
• In the future, BMI will be moving more license types to the Licensing Center and adding self-service functionality and reporting capabilities.

In addition to signing in from your computer, BMI’s Licensing Center was designed for a seamless mobile experience. Go to licensing.bmi.com, and enter your email address to receive a one-time code to log in.

No - we have taken care of that for you. To log in, just enter the email address on record with BMI. If you do not know what email address is associated with your account, please contact us at (800) 925-8451 to speak with a representative.

BMI has implemented a passwordless login, allowing for authentication through a one-time verification code sent to your email. BMI does not store payment information, including full credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and CVV. BMI follows industry standard guidelines to protect your information and is PCI DSS & NACHA compliant.

If you have changed your music use, please submit a support ticket or contact us at (800) 925-8451.