Jagular 
Active Member
Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 236
Location: Nashville, Tennesse
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 Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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I'm a member of ASCAP. I joined about 6 months ago. Some of the reasons I chose ASCAP over BMI are below (I cut & pasted this from another place where I answered a similar question within another context)...
| Quote: | I see you live in Atlanta, so my answer to you will differ from what it might be generally. I see that both ASCAP and BMI have offices in Atlanta. If they didn't, I'd be asking you if you needed to join one of them now because you were having songs performed where they would need to collect for you. That is mainly what they do. If this wasn't on the near horizon I would have said not to worry about rushing into it unless you were at a point with your writing where you were making at least a couple trips a year to a major music center and you had already been getting some positive feedback from publishers on your songs.
However, since there is an office for both in Atlanta, I would say check it out. I am currently in the process of trying to meet with an ASCAP writer's rep here in Nashville. I just went through their "Straigh Talk" session last Wednesday (Info, Q&A session fo writers new to ASCAP). I have a couple of songs in play right now where I may need to join a PRO. However, even if these fall through, there is a great value for me developing a relationship with a writer's rep since I live here. You may have a similar advantage because there is an office in Atlanta. A writer's rep can help you get your foot in the door by working to get you co-writing appointments and publisher appointments IF he believes that you have the right stuff. They can usually also give you suggestions on what you need to improve on and who you can talk to about it locally if they think you are talented, but not quite there yet. They can be great allies in you songwriting career.
Now, the big question...ASCAP vs. BMI...
I am most likely going to choose ASCAP (in fact, I have the paperwork filled out and ready to mail). Here is what I based my decision on.
1. ASCAP is a not-for-profit entitiy and as a member you are part owner and have a vote on what goes on in the organization including how money is paid out. BMI is an non-profit corporation. You have no say on what goes on in the organization or how they pay things out.
2. ASCAP was organized by writers and publishers and is run by an elected board of 12 writers and 12 publishers (I think I got the numbers right). BMI came along later and was organized by radio broadcasting companies to try to keep more control over the money that left their companies. The ruling body of BMI are broadcast company executives that are appointed by the broadcast conglomerates (the same one's that play the same 20 songs over and over again all day  ). To my mind, it seems to me that ASCAP is a bit more worried about writers and publishers getting their share than BMI would be.
3. ASCAP is the leader in fighting for legal rights of writers and publishers. They spend millions each year in legal fees fighting for our rights and trying to get the most they can get for writers and publishers. BMI has a conflict of interest here IMO. An executive from Clear Channel is most likely worried about Clear Channel's bottom line a lot more than he is about writers & publishers getting a bigger cut. BMI spends only a fraction of what ASCAP does on these legal matters from my understanding.
4. My understanding is that ASCAP's books are open for members to see. BMI does not allow members to see financial information.
5. It is also my understanding that BMI has a clause in their contract that doesn't allow members to sue them for any reason.
6. ASCAP's pay out structure cannot be changed unless voted on by the members. I also think there is some legal restrictions regarding changes as well for ASCAP. BMI can and has changed pay out structures whenever they choose.
7. The coolest thing I got out of the ASCAP meeting. Currently, both ASCAP & BMI purchase data from Billboard which they base their radio performance royalty calculations from. This costs about $1 million a year I was told. For Country radio (which is the genre I am interested in writing) there are 3400 stations playing Country music. The Billboard data only samples 240 of these stations, most of which are owned by the conglomerates (Clear Channel, Cumulus...). Therefore, songs played on the vast majority of these stations are decided by a small handful of people. That means, for the most part, the top 40 songs of the genre are getting almost all of the $$.
ASCAP recently spent $4 million on a new system (forgot the name of it) where they can monitor in nearly real time (2 minute delay) what song was played when on what station. They currently have it set up to monitor over 800 stations and that number is to grow I was told including plans for establishing the system globally. This is a benefit IMO because the smaller non conglomerate stations will be monitored as well. Sure most of them are playing a lot of the top 40 as well, but they may also be playing a bigger variety. This will, IMO, at least spread some of the money to more writers. It may not be a fortune, but it is something. I think this is a cool innovation and ultimately a more fair way to monitor radio airplay.
Well, that's my reasoning. I'm sure there are some things I've forgotten. Good luck on your endevor.
I'm not sure how close you live to a major music center or PRO office. That would impact your decision a great deal I think. See paragraph 1 quoted above. I ended up choosing ASCAP.
What it comes down to, if you are visiting a major music center is make an appointment with both and go with the one the feels right to you.
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Another reason I chose ASCAP which I didn't say above is I know writers who belong to ASCAP that can get those meetings with writers' reps and perhaps as I advance it will be easier for me to get those meetings as well recommended by people I know..
I would visit the local offices there or make appointments when you are in Nashville to visit here and talk to them both. I have heard people that liked BMI's customer service better (I think they were mainly west coast folks) and others who have liked ASCAP's customer service better (mainly from Nashville). It seems ASCAP in Nashville has a pretty writer friendly reputation.
Good luck!!!
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John
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