ascap or bmi?

[grn]

which should I join? why? any information is appreciated.

[Aaron Cheney]

I'd recommend ASCAP. They are a more artist-centric in my experience. I asked the same questin a while back on another forum and received some great advice. CHeck it out.

A

[Farview]

When I worked at a radio station (it wasn't a big one) BMI would check our play list all the time, ascap never did (in the 5 years I was there) If your music is getting played on little stations, ascap won't even notice you. BMI will.

[GoldFalcon]

While what farview says is true, ASCAP has a feature that BMI does not that can handle that contingency. ASCAP allows artists to submit everyplace that they have been played at the end of the year --even if it was only one time on the local student station-- and get paid for it. BMI does not have this.

In the interest of full disclosure I'm an ASCAP member.

[Farview]

Originally Posted by GoldFalcon

BMI does not have this.

BMI doesn't need it, they actually do the work.

[philboyd studge]

I was with ASCAP till the mid 70's then went to BMI.

Though it's mostly apples and oranges, I'd say ASCAP pays the little guy a little more.

[grn]

You guys aren't really helping me. I'm *leaning* towards ASCAP... partly because like you said it's more for "the little guy" and also because Paul McCartney is on ASCAP... I have heard BMI does pay better and monitors more though... so it's a tough decision. ASCAP was created by the people that put the stuff out and BMI is basically a corporation. Agh... what should I do?!

[grn]

I feel like if I want to collect the most amount of money I should go with BMI, but if I want like... artist support go with ASCAP. Why did you switch to BMI?

[jpw23]

Bmi here.......mostly because my publisher said that was the best way to go......BTW....my publisher is a dumbass and so am I for listening!

[grn]

so... wtf, is BMI good?

[timboZ]

Just join AA

[grn]

alcoholics anonymous?

[philboyd studge]

Originally Posted by jpw23

Bmi here.......mostly because my publisher said that was the best way to go......BTW....my publisher is a dumbass and so am I for listening!

I'm my own publisher so there's not much I can do about that.

As to why I switched, I can't remember. Anyway, BMI pays directly for performance royalties and is better at foreign monitoring agreements and is working harder to keep up with technological changes, whereas ASCAP generalizes more and pays some flat rate scales on the low end even though airplay may not warrent it. And you get a discount with Musican's Friend apparently.

[grn]

I guess I'll join BMI then.

[mikeh]

I'm with BMI, in large part because of what I believe is better support in the global marketplace.

It seems whenever the ASCAP vs BMI issue comes up there is a relatively even split on opinions.

At this point I'm not pulling in enough to worry about either or.

[junplugged]

since I'll probably never be played on payola radio, I wonder how they compare on their other services.