TAXI.com

I wanted to share this story in hopes that it might help someone from making the same mistake I made.
A little info for those who may not know. When you sign as a writer at BMI you are given an IPI/CAE number. That's your international identifier.
In a nutshell that's how they know to pay you for your tunes.
OK flash back many years when I signed. I probably signed as Bruce R. Brown. I go by Bruce Brown. My full name is Bruce Ray Brown.
Over time I have signed deals and track to libraries and not been consistent when signing paperwork.
Long story short. I discovered yesterday that Bruce Brown had 98 tracks registered with BMI, I was listed as writer but I had no BMI affiliation and no IPI/CAE #. Bruce Ray Brown had tracks and a #, Bruce R. Brown was also OK. I called them this morning and got things squared away. I now have 3 #'s one for each name and they are all merged.
So. Lesson learned? Be consistent when signing documents. Pick a name and stick with it. It could save you problems down the road and maybe money.
Hope this helps someone.
Bruce

Thanks, Bruce! I just started signing a few documents and I've been using my name that I registered under ASCAP with. I've even asked a library to kindly redraft a contract with my name listed as I wanted it (Steven Wesley Guiles).

I will make sure and continue to do this! Thanks for the reminder.

I thought that most libraries made you list your CAE/IPI number on the contract to avoid confusion.

That's true DI. All the libraries I work with have my correct CAE#. Not sure how these tracks slipped through the cracks.

Good to know.
That's just the kind of thing I do.
Rich, Richard, Richard Gordon...
Thanks for the heads up.

Thanks for the info, food for thought.