Public Performing Right

The exclusive right of the copyright owner, granted by the U.S. Copyright Law, to authorize the performance or transmission of the work in public.

Public Performance License

BMI issues licenses on behalf of the copyright owner or his agent granting the right to perform the work in, or transmit the work to, the public.

Reproduction Right

The exclusive right of the copyright owner, granted by the Copyright Act, to authorize the reproduction of a musical work as in a record, cassette or CD.

Mechanical License

Harry Fox Agency, Inc. issues licenses on behalf of the copyright owner or his agent, usually to a record company, granting the record company the right to reproduce and distribute a specific composition at an agreed upon fee per unit manufactured and sold. 

Synchronization License

Music Publishers issue licenses as copyright owner or his agent, usually to a producer, granting the right to synchronize the musical composition in timed relation with audio-visual images on film or videotape.

Publisher information is available on bmi.com in the repertoire search.  If you need further assistance in locating complete publisher information, please contact our Research Department.  You can also call the BMI repertoire information hotline at 1-800-800-9313 where you can request information on as many as 20 song titles per call.

Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings

Sound Exchange along with Record Companies license the exclusive rights on behalf of copyright owners in a sound recording (which is separate from the copyright in the underlying musical works that BMI represents) under U.S. Copyright Law to authorize many digital transmissions (e.g., Internet streaming).

BMI has created innovative solutions for managing copyrights in the digital environment. The New Media & Strategic Development team has developed revenue streams for BMI in the digital world across all new media applications, negotiating royalty agreements with leading websites, subscriber music services, podcasters and mobile entertainment providers. 

The group spearheads analysis, planning and strategic development for BMI in digital media marketplace as well as managing the company’s digital interests in the U.S. and around the world.

Richard Conlon
Vice President,
New Media & Strategic Development

Barry Bronstein
Senior Director, Business Affairs,
New Media & Strategic Development

Frederic Ifrah
Senior Director, Financial Analysis,
New Media & Strategic Development

Download the “BMI Music Played Here” e-decal for your website below. Note: Link all e-decals to http://www.bmi.com.

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windows users: right click on e-decal and select “save picture as”
mac users: control-click on e-decal and select “download image to disk”

BMI and Live365 are pleased to provide webcasters with a licensing solution that will make it easier to use the worlds leading music on your web site. For additional information please visit Live365.

Microcasters

Maximum of 25 simultaneous listeners
Maximum of $500.00 in revenue per month
Main offices, majority of employees, in United States

BMI Microcaster Performance Agreement

Minicasters

Maximum of 500 simultaneous listeners
Maximum of $1,200.00 in revenue per month
Main offices, majority of employees, in United States
BMI Minicaster Performance Agreement

What does this mean for your business? BMI saves you money! BMI represents more than 400,000 creators of music, the songwriters, composers and publishers of more than 6.5 million musical works! Licensing makes the process simple, easy and cost-effective to obtain the musical clearance you need. Through a BMI license agreement you gain access to our creators’ musical works, thus saving you the time and expense of clearing the performing rights with each and every copyright owner. Click here to learn about Mechanical and Synchronization Rights.

Copyright owners give BMI permission to license performances of their works, and BMI generates fees on their behalf from businesses which use their music. This permits thousands of music users to work with thousands of music creators from around the world through one organization. From Argentina to Zaire, BMI has reciprocal agreements with more than more than 80 nations to clear international copyrights from composers across the globe. Additionally, BMI can now cover its customers’ Internet transmissions to more than two dozen countries around the world. Click here to visit our International section.

In this section you will find information, on licensing on-line, specific ways to use music to benefit your business, how to contact your licensing representative, and the services which BMI Licensing offers our customers.

We look forward to doing business with you!