What is BMI, ACAP and SESAC?

What is BMI?

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed. In FY 2013, BMI collected more than $944 million in licensing fees and distributed $814 million in royalties.

BMI songwriters create all forms of music in all genres, from mainstream pop and country, to death metal. BMI represents artists such as Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Rihanna and Shakira; bands as diverse as Maroon 5, Evanescence, Nickelback, Linkin Park and Death; legends such as Sam Cooke, Willie Nelson, Fats Domino and Dolly Parton; as well as composers such as Kevin Keller, Harry Gregson-Williams, John Williams and Danny Elfman and musical songwriters Richard & Robert Sherman.

What is ASCAP?

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), is a membership association of more than 500,000 US composers, songwriters, lyricists and music publishers of every kind of music. ASCAP is the only US performing rights organization created and controlled by composers, songwriters and music publishers, with a Board of Directors elected by and from memberships.

ASCAP protects the rights of it's members by licensing and distributing royalities for the non-dramatic public performances of their copyrighted works. ASCAP is committed to nuturing it's music makers throughout their careers.  Members are creative people who write the music and lyrics that enrich lives all over the world.  Great names in American music are members- from Duke Ellington to Katy Perry, Marc Anthony, Jay-Z, Beyonce', Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin and thousands more.

Both ASCAP and BMI operate on a not-for-profit basis. ASCAP and BMI distribute all income from performance royalities to their composer and publisher affiliates (less an adminstrative fee).

What is SESAC?

Originally the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC) is the smallest of the performance rights organizations in the US.  It's the second oldest in the performing rights organization (PRO) in the US. It is based in Nashville, Tennessee and is the fastest-growing PRO in the US. It also has offices in New York City, Los Angeles, London, Altlanta and Miami. SESAC deals with all aspects of the business, from creation to licensing and administration. SESAC retains some income as profit. It retains an undisclosed amount of performance royality income. SESAC does not offer open membership, you must be approved to join, this is a unique feature among the U.S. performing rights organizations.

If you're an artist with BMI or ASCAP and would like your music to air on AUMA GLOBAL'S Top 5 on  on AUMA RADIO please submit up to 2 MP3 formatted tracks, a bio and 2 photos for review to aumastaff@gmail.com.

If you would like to get ASCAP or BMI please respond to this email and you will be directed accordingly.

AUMA GLOBAL also works with stations that do not require that you receive royalities for your music. However, realistically, why would you not want to receive royalities. Either way, I will acccept tracks so please specify when submitting them.

Thanks in advance.

Let's get it Indie world!!