How do I collect for over 600,000 plays?

[morble]

I belong to BMI and haven't seen a dime for al the internet radio plays I've gotten. Should I leave BMI and Join Sound Exchange to get paid? SX says I can't belong to a PRO and be a member of SX, any advice or help in deciding what to do? 600,000 streaming internet radio plays is nothing to laugh at if I can get paid. But I don't quite understand the ins and outs. Someone help please.
Dennis Logan

[solidwalnut]

I hope there are others with more experience that will chime in. It will look funny since this is my second post!

Yes, you CAN belong to a PRO and SX. Yes, ASCAP/BMI/SESAC pick one. And then you SHOULD register with SX. ASCAP, BMI and SESAC pay songwriters and publishers. SoundExchange compensates performers and copyright owners for the sound recording itself. If you’re both the performer and the songwriter, you get paid twice. SX collects royalties for digital exploitations.

Steve

[eeoo]

I'm with both BMI and Sound Exchange, wasn't a problem.

eo

[mikeymike2000]

I don't know much about Sound Exchange other than it exists but I do remember calling them up and they told me they were the "Internet PRO". So to my understanding they will be the only ones who will give you money for Internet play.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Congrats with getting 600,000 plays!! That is awesome!

I wonder if SX may give you retro pay? - No idea, just a thought...

Good luck.

[DesireInspires]

Stay with BMI and work something out.

You are not going to make a lot of money from Internet radio plays. Millions of plays only equals thousands of dollars. Don't waste time chasing baby money.

[CHuckmott]

ASCAP doesn't track or collect for internet plays (That seems odd)? Is this for internet based advertising also (your track played as background music on an internet commercial, i.e.). There is no clash I assume registering with both (looks like Sound Exchange is free registration)?

[solidwalnut]

Hey morble--

Don't quit BMI...it's not an either/or membership between SX and BMI. SX has set themselves in place to collect 'digital'-type performance royalties whereas BMI collects 'terrestrial'-type performance royalties. So, yep, they're the ones that are collecting for internet plays. There's not a ton of money in digital right now, but I'd get my foot in the door. Those laws are all fairly new and things eventually change. But it's going to better for you to be in front of the wave.

You might read the first few paragraphs of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SoundExchange. It's not that wiki gets everything right, but the first couple of paragraphs will tell you what's going on with digital royalties.

Steve

[andygabrys]

like EO said, I am also member of BMI and SoundExchange. should be no problem being a member of a regular PRO and SX at the same time.

and congrats on the 600k plays - should be enough for a good dinner out!

[VTrails]

It can depend on what service or website you are getting these plays on. You can check here to see if the site that is playing you is paying royalties to Soundexchange:

http://www.soundexchange.com/wp-content ... -28-13.pdf

To sign up with some services you have to opt out of royalties, so it's worth a quick look at the fine print to make sure that isn't the case.

You can also search here to see if Soundexchange is holding unclaimed royalties for you:

http://www.soundexchange.com/artist-cop ... or-artist/

[mikeymike2000]

You are not going to make a lot of money from Internet radio plays. Millions of plays only equals thousands of dollars. Don't waste time chasing baby money.

Hi Desire,

As you know I think you are a great guy and I appreciate your comments. But, I have to disagree with you on this one.

My first assumption was that an internet play would get the standard $0.09 mechanical license (but I have absolutely no idea). Based on your comment I am assuming I am wrong about that cause with over 600,000 plays at $0.09 the original poster is looking at +/- $54,000. (again, this may not be anywhere accurate of what reality is).

Let's say it is only $0.01 per internet play... that is still $6,000.

I may be loose in some areas of my finances (particularly music production) but considering I drive 2 miles out of my way to save $1/gallon on gas each fill up, I would most definitely chase down a few thousand dollars! In this case I would fight tooth and nail to get whatever is coming and roll that back into the studio. - I have never known any money to be bad. Especially passive residuals.