ASCAP vs. BMI for Independent Artists: Distrokid Is Not Enough!

Signing up for ASCAP or BMI is essential to collecting your music royalties, but which Performing Rights Organization is the right choice for you?

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[IndieMusicAcademy]

Here is an extra bonus regarding how to get royalties for beats leases, custom beat production, and beat-involved collaborations:


If you are a producer, you usually don't need to register your beats with ASCAP or BMI.


There is one exception: If the beat, as-is, without any alterations or vocals, is going to be played on the radio, streamed on Spotify, or synced to television, etc. In that case, the beat is considered the FINAL VERSION of the musical work. Only when the audio is finalized, you should register your beat. Otherwise, you don't need to register the beat because the beat on its own (without vocals) is not the final song and won't generate any royalties. ASCAP or BMI doesn't protect or copyright your beats in any way, and since they are not a publisher (Performing Rights Organizations are not Publishers), they can't detect when your beats are used by artists in a mixtape or on an album.




If you produce a beat that eventually turns into a song that is publicly released and distributed on Spotify, iTunes, Radio, etc, and you DID NOT use a work for hire agreement, there is a good chance that you can get writing credit INSTEAD of conducting a work for hire. In this case, you still will not register your beat on ASCAP or BMI, but you DO want to be listed as a songwriter when the FINAL SONG is registered. When registering, it is very important that you register using the new song title and the performer information on the new work (not the original beat) to collect on your portion of the writer's share of the newly created song using your beat.






Hope this helps!

[AquariZx]

Thank you, I just signed up for BMI. I write my own lyrics, rap and record them over non exclusive licensed beats. This side of the business is new to me, so your video was very helpful. Hope I am doing this all correctly.

[raularaujostrw]

4.21k subscribers? WHAT? I thought this channel would have tens of thousands of subscribers at least because the content is perfect. I’m subscribed. 💪

[AnthonyPardiMusic]

How does a vid with 34 K have such far superior content to other channels on the topic with millions? insanity

[GualaYoTM]

This video was so helpful, I signed up for BMI and enter 200% as the songwriter and 0% to the publisher. Keep the knowledge coming.

[suburbanflower]

one of the most informative videos i've seen on the subject of what a pro controls and how royalties are managed. thank u

[RoyalMilyonaire-ezld]

Wow! I didn’t know I needed all this important info. Thank you so much! Signing up for BMI now!

[fumarfuego]

Thanks for the clarification... that old school music business keeps rearing it's head

[KiddKainMusic]

This is My Next Step...Thanks finally a video that makes sense....Im always looking to take my music to the next these tips are Key in success, I feel i should be signed already, all suggestions im taking notes and learning as i go...Lets Link Up!! Goodluck to all artists!

[carthur]

Thanks this was really helpful after I learned that you cannot belong to both - ASCAP took my money and said sorry you cannot be a member of both and told me I had to cancel BMI to get my money back - I am new to all this so your videos have been very helpful! Thanks for sharing!

[KatrinaBello]

thank you for these videos! they've been amazing resources for a newbie like me trying to release music online independently! grateful for you sharing this knowledge and the others on your channel bc it can seem overwhelming at times.

[HotelPools]

I got screwed by ASCAP years ago on sync royalties. My 50/50 writing partner would make 2.5k for a sync on Tv with BMI and I’d get $350 on ASACP. Even split..

I moved my entire catalogue to BMI.

[aspersings]

Can't believe how great of a channel you have! Thank you so much for helping all of us :)

[craigdaubbeats-rapinstrume]

Thanks you answered the exact question I had. I'm a no name producer who's just uploading my beats everywhere now so I'm just worried about collecting on my own streams right now. I didn't know whether I had to sign up as a publisher or not. Thanks for clarifying that for me!!✌️

[Nastyace]

Should an independent artist living in a different country sign up for BMI or ASCAP? Or even other PROs? Do they collect royalties from music being played in other countries as well or just the USA?

[selahmoonie]

Thanks for this!

BMI now charges $75 to sign up as a writer. It was not announced publicly. 😕

[willmcmillan]

These videos are super helpful. Thank you for all the time you have devoted to making them.

[pauliestorm]

I've been watching your videos all morning and wondered if you had a video showing the steps to take after you have written and recorded a song ... in order. Also publishing confuses the hell out of me lol .

[keespop]

Best video on this subject by far. Thanks for this.

[RAME]

This is so informative and accurate! Thank you!