JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Industry Message Forum ASCAP or BMI?

Hi Y'all,
I don't know if this is the right forum section to post this in.....but here goes.....and if it isn't, would somebody kindly direct me to the right forum.

I want to join a PRO but not sure which is better for me, ASCAP or BMI. A friend told me that BMI was better for the "little guy" and that would certainly describe me. Any thoughts on this?
yerz, Ellen

Hi Ellen, I wish I could help you. I've been having the same question and posting it some time ago. Although my feeling is that BMI is a better option, when I called them and told them that I'm based in UK, they recommended me to register with PRS. I understand that in spite of PRO being these days an international organisation, it still is better to register with the one who deals with people locally although some people were suggesting otherwise. The reason I'm now registering with PRS is because both, BMI and PRS suggested it. I hope I'm making the right decision but if not, may be someone can put me in the right way and I hope you'll find a good and informative advice.
Nadia

If you're in the UK then I believe PRS is your ONLY option. BMI and ASCAP are only for U.S. based songwriters. That's why BMI referred you to PRS.

I still haven't settled on either myself, though I feel that in the US the whole scheme is somewhat broken and should be re-evaluated. I posted more fully in one of Brian's blog threads where he espoused an idea to make things better:

http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthr...r&topic=0&Search=true#Post629575

You'd have to be a fortune teller to know which one is best for you Ellen. Flip a coin. Don't out-rule SESAC either.

I’m an ASCAP member. Always have been.

I know a person that was ASCAP, and then switched to BMI. He said the only difference he noticed was that the ASCAP statements were more complete.

My ASCAP statement includes the program/film, episode, title, how many plays, the duration of plays, performance type, and of course credits and royalty amount. He was considering switching back to ASCAP because of ASCAP statements. Maybe a BMI member here can describe their statements.

Again, which one would garner more income for you? Flip a coin.

Best, John:)

I know in Canada a sonwriter can be SOCAN/ASCAP affiliated or SOCAN/BMI Affiliated. Because I'm ASCAP, my co-writer from Canada chose SOCAN/ASCAP.

Maybe PRS works the same way with ASCAP & BMI???

Best, John:)

As far as I know they don't.
PRS is not the only option in UK, we can sign up with BMI but they said to me that if my main performances are in UK or going to be in UK and if I'm myself based in UK it will make more sense to register with PRS.
Nadia
http://iacmusic.com/artist.aspx?id=137230
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=936270
http://www.songramp.com/homepage.php?userid=27495
http://www.showcaseyourmusic.com/nlcripps

This is always one of my favorite posts. The true way of choosing a PRO is to get representatives of all three major companies or their respective counterparts in other countries, is to take them up in an airplane to 20,000 feet, drop them out without parachutes and which ever one lives is the one you go with. LOL! JUST KIDDING!

The key to all business dealings in this business is RELATIONSHIP. You should visit the web sites, ask questions, make appointments and see who you fit with. They are all COLLECTION agencies. until you have something earning money, none of them will do you any good. They all have workshops, seminars, shows, parties, events. They are all stocked with well meaning good people who are in the writer's corner. But they all have the same problems in that we are dealing with a general populace of the world who refuse to pay for music at all, so there is NO money transferred. They are all working against that as well.
So do research, find people you like and learn about how the business works. Keep your activity up and your expectations reasonable. You will do fine.

MAB

And then, flip a coin.

Sorry Marc, I couldn't resist. Your advice is right on the money (excuse the pun).

Best, John

It's the same as the Coke or Pepsi question... choose whichever tastes best to you personally... go meet with them and see who you like. Both do a great job and both have occassional problems. I can find people who love and are angry at both at any given time. We have a great friendly contact at BMI and they've been previous sponsors of JPF but so has ASCAP in the past.

You choose! = )

Brian

Hi Y'all,

Thanks for the responses to my question.....I love the humorous touch and camaraderie that y'all have around here!

Think I'll start with BMI.....'specially if, as you say, Brian, that y'all have a "great friendly contact" there.

I sure like all the folks I've met here on JPF! Incidentally, I discovered y'all in the 2009 Songwriter's Market...and if all I get out of that book is my introduction to JPF, it was well worth the money!
yerz, Ellen

Hi All,
You need to know that you can only belong to one PRO at a time.
A Publisher Can and needs to set up seperate Business for each PRO. Pro's have recipial agreements with Foreign Pro's so you only need to join one. Some seem to decide to change from time to time. I see no reason to change from one to another but....

Gotcha Ray! When I went to the BMI site, they stipulate that ya gotta stay with them and only them for 2 years.

'course all the PRO discussion is hypothetical 'till ya get something in the works, right?
yerz, Ellen