BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)

BMI: Broadcaster-Founded Collective

Founded in 1939 by terrestrial radio broadcasters to create competition in the performing rights market, BMI is the largest Performing Rights Organization (PRO) in the United States, representing over 1.4 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers.

Key Metrics & Operational Policy - Membership Structure: Founded as a non-profit but restructured in 2023 into a for-profit commercial enterprise controlled by a private equity group. - Fees: Free signup for songwriters. Publisher registration costs a one-time fee of $150 (for individuals) or $250 (for companies). - Contract Terms: Standard membership terms are 2 years for songwriters, and 5 years for publishers. - Distribution Timeline: Performance royalties are distributed with a ~5.5-month post-collection velocity. BMI distributes both the writer and publisher shares simultaneously. - Royalty Collection Loophole: Unlike ASCAP, BMI does not require self-published writers to register a separate publisher entity to claim the publisher's share. If no publisher is registered, BMI will automatically pass 100% of the royalties directly to the writer.