Comments on: ASCAP or BMI?

Question: ASCAP or BMI?

General Zubon — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:11:58 -0800

What are the differences between ASCAP and BMI? Does anyone consider one performing right organization superior to the other and, if so, why?

A question previously posted today about ASCAP made me think of a related query of my own. It's actually a question posed towards me often as my job involves managing songwriting musicians. I am personally registered through BMI and have been happy with them. I recommend them to my artists solely based on my experience. But, when asked, "What's the difference?" what should I say? (I realize there is also SESAC but my understanding is that they specialize in Canadian writers ... we are all based in the USA.)

By: twiggy

twiggy — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 18:37:51 -0800

blog about ascap vs. bmi...
thread about difference between ascap and BMI (see june 26th posts onward)
another forum thread on choosing between the two

All as a result of google searching: ascap bmi difference...

By: twiggy

twiggy — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 18:38:39 -0800

Oops, first link broken:

blog about ascap vs. bmi ... that should do it.

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 19:46:44 -0800

SESAC? Surely you mean SOCAN?

By: winston

winston — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 19:59:08 -0800

No, I think they mean SESAC. There are (at least?) three performing rights organizations in the US. SOCAN is for Canadians only.

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 04:50:53 -0800

Winston, I know that SOCAN is for Canadians only. The OP had said that SESAC was for Canadians only.

By: winston

winston — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:12:29 -0800

Aha. Okay, the way I read it now, the OP does mean SESAC, but was confusing it with SOCAN when he said that they specialize in Canadians.