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I was talking with an owner of a Boutique Library and he suggested that I set up my own publishing company for times when the placement is going direct from me to the TV Music Supervisor. He said, otherwise, they wouldn't know who to pay the publisher's share to.

I'm with BMI, and I thought I was automatically set up as a publisher through them. He said there was some additional paperwork to do with the PRO to get my company registered. (He's not with BMI, so he might not know how they work).

Any of you guys with BMI? Please let me know if there is an extra step to set up myself as a Publishing Co.

Thanks so much...

Hi Larry....I'm with BMI as well , I joined about 30 years ago and I honestly can't remember specifics but I do run a pub co thru them and the payment stream works.....I would call the LA or Nashville BMI and get the current skinny straight from them....
Bill Hullett

Hey Larry,

Being a publisher is a completely different thing, and a separate registration to your writer account. I am with ASCAP but I know this aspect is the same. It also costs some $ to register as a publisher. Just go to the BMI site and it's all going to be there. But anyway, you are definitely NOT automatically registered as a publisher when you set up your writer account. You can be a writer with only one PRO at a time, but can be a publisher with more than one.

EDIT: OK..I went to BMI's website and there is indeed a separate form, fee, and registration for setting up as a publisher, but on one of their FAQs, they say that if a piece of music doesn't have a publisher, the pub fees will be paid to the writer. But another FAQ says that every track has to have a publisher! So...like Bill says, I'd call them.

Heya, Larry.

I'm with BMI as well.

If you have something that is not going through a publisher, you register it as a separate work and make sure that you register yourself as the writer with 200% shares. This will give the publishing money as "excess writer clearance" to you. You will get your publishing money that way without having to create a separate "Publisher" entity.

Russell Landwehr

Russell Landwehr wrote:Heya, Larry.

I'm with BMI as well.

If you have something that is not going through a publisher, you register it as a separate work and make sure that you register yourself as the writer with 200% shares. This will give the publishing money as "excess writer clearance" to you. You will get your publishing money that way without having to create a separate "Publisher" entity.

Russell Landwehr

Score one for BMI. I don't think you can do that at ASCAP

With BMI also and ditto on the 200% writer's share. I just called and asked them this recently.

jonnybutter wrote: Score one for BMI. I don't think you can do that at ASCAP

Yeah, that's the main reason I went with BMI... but since I haven't placed anything directly yet, I'm kinda kicking myself... ASCAP does a better job a letting you see cue sheets and letting you know BEFORE your royalty payment just where your stuff is getting used.

I agree. What BMI offers is pretty limited.

But BMI often pays more $$$ for the same placements so there is that too.

andygabrys wrote:But BMI often pays more $$$ for the same placements so there is that too.

dangit!