Any Advice Before I switch to ASCAP from BMI?

[Fullertime]

I am currently in the process of switching my pro from BMI to ASCAP. Seems to me that ASCAP has more transparency in where you Cues are getting used. BMI pretty much doesn’t tell me anything until I get a royalty check.

I love the fact that ASCAP actually shows you the cue sheets.. BMI does not.

Any of you folks ever switched before?

If so, please let me know any tips or things to watch out for before I do?

Thanks so much!!!
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[annayarbrough]

I think ASCAP changed the way they pay for background vocal... they don't pay as much anymore/treat it as a background instrumental? I'm really fuzzy on the details of that (sorry!) so hopefully someone else knows what I'm talking about!

Not sure if that applies to what you're creating!

[Fullertime]

I heard they did reduced the rates they pay on vocal performances which is like 3% of my stuff:) I do mostly instrumentals.

I’m Wondering mostly how it effects stuff that is already registered or does that even matter?

Also, is there anyway to make the process really smooth.

Thanks!
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[guscave]

I had thought about moving to ASCAP for the same reason a few years ago, but I have over 300 songs registered with BMI. The process of moving all those songs is grueling and simply not worth the trouble, especially now that ASCAP pays less for BG vocals.

I think it might be better to get a Tunsat account and monitor your placements that way. BTW, ASCAP doesn't accept Tunsat detections, but a 2 years ago I was able to collect on some misplaced cue sheets by showing my BMI rep the Tunsat detections.

[Fullertime]

Thanks for the input!!!

I was actually planning on keeping my current tracks with bmi, as they would continue to pay out and collect royalties on those Cues.

ASCAP would simply be home to all of my new stuff

you bring up a very good solution about using tunesat . Actually I have been using tunestat For the last six months and that’s the only way I’ve been able to realize what songs are getting used up to this point.. unfortunately it’s very expensive if you have more than 50 songs and you want to track in other countries:)


According to the representative at BMI that I talked to this morning, she said if you want to keep the current tracks at BMI you can and they will continue to pay out as if you were BMI member. And since all my tracks are signed with publishing companies she said it would really be up to them if they wanted to transfer them or not

So for me I guess it’s more of a question of what I want my future tracks to be.

My contract expires June 2018 which actually works out good for me because I have to notify them six months in advance which would be January. Otherwise you have to wait two whole years !!!

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[andygabrys]

AFAIK its a total black box to see how royalties are actually paid on both sides, but besides the BG vocal rate being slashed by ASCAP there are a number of "anecdotal accounts" of tunes co-written by TAXI composers - one on BMI side and one on ASCAP.

Guess who ended up getting more in royalties? BMI.

I don't know if there is enough evidence to show either side as being the better option - but like you say, at least ASCAP puts cue sheets in your account.

[markhimley]

I do like the way ASCAP lays out the cue sheets for sure - I wish BMI would adapt that organizational strategy.

HOWEVER I was talking to a mutual publisher of ours at the Rally, and they made it sound like BMI does indeed pay more in royalties.

HTH

[Danny]

I think it might be better to get a Tunsat account and monitor your placements that way. BTW, ASCAP doesn't accept Tunsat detections, but a 2 years ago I was able to collect on some misplaced cue sheets by showing my BMI rep the Tunsat detections.

I recently had a problem with a payment on an NBC placement and BMI told me they do not acknowledge Tunesat detections due to a possible false positive.

[andygabrys]

Interesting about Tunesat.

Using the free account:

Recently I have had multiple clearly audible uses not picked up by tunesat. I know as I sat through the show to see what really played.

Then I had two clearly audible false positives as well.

IMO Tunesat is definitely not worth the money at this point.

[Fullertime]

Yes Andy,

And to tag along on what you said, I have two songs in one particular episode of the Kardashians that airs constantly, and sometimes, they both hit and sometimes only one will hit... sometimes neither!!! Very inconsistent.

I've also had several completely incorrect hits... on songs that weren't even mine:) lol

The cool thing is that they attach the audio which makes it easy to verify. They still need to work out some kinks for sure! But I do think its the future of digital ID technology.

Fuller