Recent Advocacy News

From News, posted 8.14.19. BMI President and CEO, Mike O’Neill, along with other industry experts, participated in a symposium entitled “Music Licensing in the 21st Century” held by the Hatch Center, the policy arm of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, yesterday in Park City, Utah. Other speakers included Makan Delrahim, Assistant Attorney General for the… Read more...

From News, posted 6.05.19. Today, the DOJ announced its long-anticipated review of the BMI and ASCAP consent decrees. Below is BMI’s comment in response. “The DOJ’s long-anticipated review of the BMI and ASCAP consent decrees and call for public comment represent an opportunity to do what BMI has been advocating for years – modernize… Read more...

From News, posted 4.30.19. BMI is proud to partner with the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), ASCAP, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and SoundExchange in a new interactive web experience called 50 States of Music. Designed to illustrate the profound economic and cultural impact the music industry has on the United… Read more...

From News, posted 2.28.19. With the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) evaluating the future of the BMI and ASCAP consent decrees, there has been much discussion and concern throughout the industry about the potential long-term impact. This is not surprising, since modifying or sunsetting the decrees would have far-reaching implications for the entire music business.… Read more...

From News, posted 2.05.19. The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), the Songwriters of North America (SONA) and the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), yesterday unveiled broad endorsements for their industry-consensus Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) submission to the U.S. Copyright Office (USCO). The submission, which will be filed by March 21, creates the collective required by… Read more...

From News, posted 12.04.18. The Songwriter MLC Selection Committee opened nominations in November 2018 for songwriter-members of the Board of Directors, Unclaimed Funds Committee and Dispute Resolution Committee of the Music Licensing Collective (MLC) to be submitted to the US Copyright Office for approval as established by the recently passed Music Modernization Act. With the… Read more...

From News, posted 11.05.18. Nominations are now open for songwriter-members of the Board of Directors, Unclaimed Funds Committee and Dispute Resolution Committee of the Music Licensing Collective (MLC) to be submitted to the U.S. Copyright Office for approval as established by the recently passed Music Modernization Act. Prospective nominees can be submitted at www.mlcsongwriters.com… Read more...

From News, posted 11.01.18. Music history was made on October 11, 2018, when the Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act (MMA) was signed into law. This important legislation updates U.S. copyright law for the digital age and aims to help songwriters and composers receive improved royalty payments for their work when it is streamed.… Read more...

From News, posted 11.01.18. BMI announced today that longtime political strategist Michael Collins is joining the company as Vice President, Government Relations, effective November 5. Collins will be based in Washington, DC and report to BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill. Collins will be responsible for leading BMI’s efforts to protect the rights of its… Read more...

From News, posted 10.11.18. Today, the Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act was signed into law by President Trump, marking a historic moment for the music industry. Notably, this legislation recognizes the essential contributions of the songwriters and composers at its core, who will see significant and deserved benefit, while streamlining the use of… Read more...