PROS

[ronnie35]

Does it matter which pro you go with A.S.C.A.P. OR B.M.I ?

Ron

[markismusic]

Does it matter which pro you go with A.S.C.A.P. OR B.M.I ?

Ron

Hi Ronnie,
I've heard it depends on what you write...
Not sure if this is 100% fact but I've heard through the grapevine that BMI has a better algorithm for detecting instrumentals vs songs with vocals.
ASCAP is vice versa for songs vs instrumentals. I don't fully understand how these things work but if it's true, i'll be switching to BMI real soon.

[jaywilliams]

Does it matter which pro you go with A.S.C.A.P. OR B.M.I ?

Ron

This has been discussed extensively earlier this year, with the forum consensus (if there is such a thing) being that BMI is the better option.

also-switching-from-ascap-to-bmi-t142162.html

switching-from-ascap-to-bmi-t141992.html

Do your own research and due diligence, of course!

Hope this helps.

Jay

[ronnie35]

Thanks Mark & Jay

My A.S.C.A.P WILL AUTO RENEW ON 4.1.20 I did read the previous articles very helpful. Plan on changing to B.M.I BEFORE April 1st

Ron

[VanderBoegh]

I've heard through the grapevine that BMI has a better algorithm for detecting instrumentals vs songs with vocals.

Hey Mark, neither ASCAP nor BMI actually does any "detecting" of music. They rely on cue sheets, filed by production companies and verified by publishers, to tell them what music was used, where it was used, how long the music ran, etc.....

~~Matt

[markismusic]

I've heard through the grapevine that BMI has a better algorithm for detecting instrumentals vs songs with vocals.

Hey Mark, neither ASCAP nor BMI actually does any "detecting" of music. They rely on cue sheets, filed by production companies and verified by publishers, to tell them what music was used, where it was used, how long the music ran, etc.....

~~Matt

Thanks for clearing that up Matt. Surprising to me they don't have some sort of scanning situation active.
Not sure where i heard that, probably confused with the higher bmi payout - definitely switching!

[cosmicdolphin]

Surprising to me they don't have some sort of scanning situation active.

Why would they when they can accidentally ' miss ' loads of placements and not pay out

[Russell Landwehr]

Surprising to me they don't have some sort of scanning situation active.
Not sure where i heard that, probably confused with the higher bmi payout - definitely switching!

There are a lot of re-titles out there (stuff in multiple non-ex libraries) this would make it impossible for a PRO to determine which library got the placement based on a "listening algorithm"

Russell

[cosmicdolphin]

Surprising to me they don't have some sort of scanning situation active.
Not sure where i heard that, probably confused with the higher bmi payout - definitely switching!

There are a lot of re-titles out there (stuff in multiple non-ex libraries) this would make it impossible for a PRO to determine which library got the placement based on a "listening algorithm"

Russell

They could if each Libraries version was watermarked in some way

[tresero]

Interesting. I've been a BMI member for 20 years and heard the negotiated fees are lower than ASCAP for most TV/Cable. When I joined I was mostly writing songs for records, now I almost exclusively write cues. I'll have to research more.