What do foreign (non US) composers do for PRO?

[SteveR]

What do our “overseas” composers do in regards PRO in order not to miss out on any eligible income?

I looked at ASCAP and BMI’s registration requirements and they need a Social Security Number. That made me stop and think of potential legalities, thinking US bank account requirements, tax and whatever other complexities that might arise. In my specific case I am a New Zealander living in Dubai. I visit the US every month or two. I will most likely move back to NZ in the next 5-7 years.

Any guidance appreciated. TIA

[Casey H]

I believe in most cases, you join the PRO for your country (APRA for New Zealand). Each non-US PRO has an agreement with ASCAP or BMI to collect your US royalties.

Alternatively, depending on where you live, you may be able to join ASCAP or BMI directly, even as a non-resident. Good info here:
https://youtu.be/z1P4AlGJckE

AFAIK, if you can join directly, you will get paid much faster (2-3 quarters from broadcast) as opposed to 1.5 years or more for US broadcasts.

I welcome additions and/or corrections.

Casey

[superkons]

It is totally possible to join an American PRO as a non-American citizen/resident. In fact, I assisted my mate Fabio with the switch from SIAE (Italy's PRO) to BMI, and the only required extra document to provide was the usual WBEN-8 form.

On a side note, it seems as though BMI have gone "silent" in terms of getting back to queries directed at them. Fabio is still waiting for them to confirm that he has been affiliated, we did the switch at the beginning of January this year

[SteveR]

I believe in most cases, you join the PRO for your country (APRA for New Zealand). Each non-US PRO has an agreement with ASCAP or BMI to collect your US royalties.

Alternatively, depending on where you live, you may be able to join ASCAP or BMI directly, even as a non-resident. Good info here:
https://youtu.be/z1P4AlGJckE

AFAIK, if you can join directly, you will get paid much faster (2-3 quarters from broadcast) as opposed to 1.5 years or more for US broadcasts.

I welcome additions and/or corrections.

Casey

Thank you Casey! Jesse’s Sync My Music channel is great. The link you gave, and a video that was referred to within was of huge assistance. Link here for any future searches on the topic: https://youtu.be/4kBMzo_T9kM

[SteveR]

It is totally possible to join an American PRO as a non-American citizen/resident. In fact, I assisted my mate Fabio with the switch from SIAE (Italy's PRO) to BMI, and the only required extra document to provide was the usual WBEN-8 form.

On a side note, it seems as though BMI have gone "silent" in terms of getting back to queries directed at them. Fabio is still waiting for them to confirm that he has been affiliated, we did the switch at the beginning of January this year

Thanks for the info. All the best to you and your buddy from Italy. A great aspect of living where I am is meeting, and working with, people from all over the world.

[OwenGrech]

I live in Malta (Europe) and am registered with BMI so it is definitely possible. I haven't seen any money yet though (my first placements happened in Germany so it will take a while) therefore I can't comment on the whole experience yet. I think it all depends on where the majority of your music end up getting placed which is of course hard to predict.

[PeteCrane]

I'm in Australia and am with APRA-AMCOS (same PRO as New Zealand). No need to join a US-based one or any other organisation. APRA is excellent at capturing and receiving funds from all other countries. I've received many royalties from Europe and the States from radio play, live performance returns, etc, straight into my bank account along with detailed statements from APRA. The system works!

[SteveR]

Thanks for the added info Pete and Owen. Sorry I didn’t reply sooner. I ended up joining BMI. Reason being is that I will probably continue to live in Dubai for at least 5 more years and there is no PRO here. Also the local currency is pinned to USD and we are tax free. I figured that would be the best option in my current situation. Hopefully I made the right decision!

[CTWF]

BMI don't (at least not yet) make international bank transfers, so they recommend international members set up an online account with BMI's preferred bank in the US, and then use that account to transfer money to their own account. Instead, I opt for a good old fashioned paper cheque (check). Of course, the payment is in $US and there's fewer UK financial establishments who will cash non-UK issued cheques, and I also lose on the exchange rate conversion.

Graham, I am with BMI, too. Do you know if you can tell them to transfer your funds to someone else's U.S. account?

Who told the story that the fee for cashing the cheque almost ate up the entire payment of $40?

[CTWF]

Yes, but why would I want to do that? I'd prefer to keep the money myself .

In my case, I am German and with BMI and have no U.S. account, but my American wife has. I guess I could send her the $20 bucks they credited me with last quarter.

To reiterate, in many ways it makes very little difference which one you join, but it is worth thinking about how the royalty funds will flow, and whether there's a significant advantage in joining your home PRO.

My options were: German GEMA, which charges EUR 100 for signing up, and from then EUR 50 annually, or BMI - for free. No-brainer.