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Hi Folks,
I'm a BMI member and I notice that my CAE # is 11 digits. It seems most others have 9 digit #'s. Am I missing something? Am I looking at the wrong #? I got this # from my works registration which has a CAE/IPI #. Thoughts?

Thanks!

eo

Mine is 9 digits but on the statement it appears with two leading zeroes for a total of 11...

Thanks Matto!

Ditto for us!

By the way, when entering the CAE number on spreadsheets or contracts, you usually format it like this: CAE# 000.00.00.00
We just found this out recently, so you might need to know this at some point.

Also, don't forget to register your publishing company with your PRO. It's as simple as using your name. You can fill out the application and list three alternate versions like: Sally Song Publishing, Sweet Sally Songs, Songs By Sally, Sally Tunes, etc. It costs about $150, but if you're starting to get placements, it's important to consider doing, especially if you are an indie artist, a composer with songs in non-exclusive libraries, a singer-songwriter submitting to a music supervisor, etc.

You will always have your Writer's share when you get a placement, but if there's a chance you'll earn Publisher's share, then you need to register with your PRO as a publishing company. We were told by our PRO rep that this also makes you look "legitimate" in the eyes of the music industry, so it's worth it.

Good luck!

~ Tracey & Vance

Hey thanks for the info T&V!
I've not thought about this, just working with libraries at this point and I've always assumed that they would take the publishing. So you're saying that there are some non-exclusive deals that allow the composer to keep some of the publishing? I can see how if you're pitching directly to music sups or ad agencies then you'd keep all the publishing, right?

Thanks again!

eo

There are...but I would say you can wait on spending the $150 to open your own publisher account until such an offer is presented to you, or you are actively pursuing such opportunities.
I've been doing this film/tv placement thing for over ten years and just recently started my own publisher due to an opportunity that presented itself to me.
I did well enough during the preceeding years that I can assume my lack of having a publishing company didn't make me look too terribly unprofessional...

Valuable perspective indeed, thanks again Matto!

eo

Hi EO,

We know many music supervisors, but they usually need songs with lyrics, and we only write instrumentals at this time.

We're in several music libraries that let us keep our publishing (exclusive and non-exclusive). We just got our first BMI statement in September. We each received $100, but we were absolutely shocked to see that our publishing company made over $200! This was mostly from ONE placement we got in a PBS show, so it more than paid for the BMI application fee. (By the way, we got into this music library from a TAXI forward four years ago -- and this company now makes us about $1,000 per quarter!)

Last April, we got a placement in a Disney movie starring Miley Cyrus. The company did NOT take any publishing, and either did Disney. We found out later this is HIGHLY unusual! But since our publishing company is already set up, we should earn additional publishing income when the film starts airing on TV.

Matto is right -- you don't have to have a publishing company set up right now. But it's worth it to set it up IF you're in some music libraries that let you keep your publishing (and you're starting to get placements with them) and If you are dealing with music supervisors directly.

Keep writing!

~ Tracey & Vance

T&V Marino wrote:But it's worth it to set it up IF you're in some music libraries that let you keep your publishing (and you're starting to get placements with them) and If you are dealing with music supervisors directly.

Absolutely and 100%. Under those circumstances, I would go so far as to say you'd be a fool not to do it...

Check and make sure you are not looking art your member number. I know with ASCAP you get a membership card with a number on it that is nothing even close to your CAE#. I have actually had co writers give me their membership number for contracts thinking it was the same thing. Be careful. Not sure if BMI uses tow different numbers though.