ABOUT CREATORS MUSIC USERS NEWS CAREERS ADVOCACY LOGIN Advocacy BMI Government Affairs & Public Policy BMI’s primary goal is to ensure that our writers, composers and publishers are properly compensated for the public use of their music. This objective requires a multifaceted approach that involves educating about public policy and partnerships. Downloads Testimony News More Info Shira Perlmutter Appointed as Register of the U.S. Copyright Office Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden has appointed Shira Perlmutter as the 14th United States Register of Copyrights. BMI issued the following statement today: “BMI would like to congratulate Shira Perlmutter on her appointment as Register of the U.S. Copyright Office. Register Perlmutter’s experience and extensive background in copyright law and policy will help shepherd the office during these times of continuous change, including the ongoing threats to our creators… Read More BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill Champions Consent Decree Reform BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill participated today in an industry workshop organized by Makan Delrahim, Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, US Department of Justice, to discuss consent decree reform. O’Neill highlighted the four key protections that BMI and ASCAP put forth to facilitate an orderly transition to a free market, including a path to ultimate termination of the decrees. He also highlighted the need to avoid Congressional regulation of… Read More BMI Responds to DOJ’s Review of BMI and ASCAP Consent Decrees Today, the DOJ announced its long-anticipated review of the BMI and ASCAP consent decrees. Below is BMI’s comment in response. “The DOJ’s long-anticipated review of the BMI and ASCAP consent decrees and call for public comment represent an opportunity to do what BMI has been advocating for years – modernize music licensing. BMI and ASCAP have already issued an open letter in which we share a proposed solution for… Read More BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews Issue Open Letter to the Industry on Consent Decree Reform With the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) evaluating the future of the BMI and ASCAP consent decrees, there has been much discussion and concern throughout the industry about the potential long-term impact. This is not surprising, since modifying or sunsetting the decrees would have far-reaching implications for the entire music business. Given that BMI and ASCAP are at the core of this issue, we feel it is important to share our… Read More BMI Explains What the Music Modernization Act Means for Songwriters and Composers Music history was made on October 11, 2018, when the Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act (MMA) was signed into law. This important legislation updates U.S. copyright law for the digital age and aims to help songwriters and composers receive improved royalty payments for their work when it is streamed. Representing the most meaningful music licensing reform in decades, in addition to benefitting creators, the MMA will streamline the licensing… Read More Michael Collins Joins BMI as Vice President, Government Relations BMI announced today that longtime political strategist Michael Collins is joining the company as Vice President, Government Relations, effective November 5. Collins will be based in Washington, DC and report to BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill. Collins will be responsible for leading BMI’s efforts to protect the rights of its songwriters, composers and music publishers at all levels of government. This includes oversight of the company’s PAC as well as… Read More Music Modernization Act Signed Into Law Today, the Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act was signed into law by President Trump, marking a historic moment for the music industry. Notably, this legislation recognizes the essential contributions of the songwriters and composers at its core, who will see significant and deserved benefit, while streamlining the use of their music across businesses. This extraordinary outcome is the result of tremendous collaboration and unprecedented support among diverse stakeholders who… Read More DOJ Consent Decree Appeal Deadline Expires – Final Ruling Permitting Fractional Licensing Stands Yesterday marked the deadline for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court regarding BMI’s favorable consent decree ruling. With no such action taken, the final decision of the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit stands that BMI is free to continue to engage in the historic practice of fractional licensing. This development definitively ends litigation between BMI and the DOJ in this… Read More BMI Wins Consent Decree Battle Over U.S. Department of Justice Today the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and affirmed BMI’s consent decree victory. The Second Circuit agreed with Judge Louis L. Stanton’s September 16, 2016 decision that the BMI consent decree allows for the practice of fractional licensing. Mike O’Neill, President and CEO of BMI, stated: “This is a massive victory for songwriters, composers, music publishers and the entire industry. We… Read More Q&A on The Department of Justice’s Interpretation of BMI’s Consent Decree Updated August 2017 1. WHAT EXACTLY DID THE DOJ DETERMINE? After BMI spent over two years advocating specific reforms to modernize its outdated consent decree, the Department of Justice (DOJ) refused to agree to BMI’s proposed changes. Instead, it interpreted the current BMI decree as requiring “100% Licensing,” an issue BMI never raised and a licensing approach that has never been the industry practice. 2. WHAT IS ‘100% LICENSING’? Read More BMI & ASCAP Announce Creation of New Musical Works Database Comprehensive Resource To Increase Ownership Transparency In Performing Rights Licensing Read More What Is BMI? BMI is the bridge that brings music to business and compensates the creators of that music. Download PDF BMI’s Original Submission to DOJ BMI’s public comments to U.S. Department of Justice request in review of consent decrees. Download PDF Congressional Testimony on Music Licensing BMI President and CEO Addresses Congress on the Need for Change Watch the Video Read the Testimony “When BMI sent me my first royalty check it was for $4.69 … it meant everything. It meant I was a professional songwriter.” Lee Thomas Miller BMI Songwriter and Legislative Co-Chair of the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International BMI’s Advocacy Activities Songs for Change: BMI Songwriters Call For Action A Resource Guide to Help Take Action, Create Change, and Support Emotional and Mental Health A guide to take action and create change President Biden Signs $1.9 Trillion Pandemic Relief Package: What it Means for Music Creators An Open Letter from ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews and BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill in Response to the DOJ Closing Statement on the ASCAP and BMI Consent Decrees Congress Approves New COVID Relief Package: What it Means for Music Creators ASCAP & BMI Launch Songview, a Comprehensive Data Resource for Music Users Shira Perlmutter Appointed as Register of the U.S. Copyright Office BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill Champions Consent Decree Reform BMI Announces Its Support of Multiple Organizations Dedicated to The Fight For Racial Justice Read More Education Foremost, BMI strives to educate the public about the need for copyright protection so that the creative ecosystem between art and commerce can continue. In doing this, BMI takes an active role in the public policy conversation on the development of intellectual property rights in the digital age, and partners with leading academic institutions by sending BMI experts as speakers on leading industry panels and seminars. As a company serving music users ranging from the corner bar or restaurant to the largest of broadcast and digital media entities, BMI’s business activities touch on a number of issues of great interest to federal and state legislators. BMI works closely with members of Congress as they oversee copyright law and draft future legislation that will affect our affiliates. BMI also actively participates in international forums that seek to redefine global rights management mechanisms for the digital age. Partnerships BMI is a member of CISAC, the leading worldwide network of authors’ societies, to promote the interests of creators and provide the highest business standards that will protect their rights globally. BMI is also a proud member of the Copyright Alliance and joined the call to increase support for the protection of intellectual property. In collaboration with ASCAP and SOCAN, BMI has created MusicMark. With MusicMark publishers are able to submit a single registration file simultaneously to all three performing rights organizations (PROs), even if the work was co-written by members of different societies. Public Policy BMI carefully monitors legislative activity to serve as a voice for our songwriters, composers, and music publishers, wherever their interests may be implicated, to preserve the value of music. Take Action Learn about the BMI PAC, a political action committee (PAC) that is a separate entity from Broadcast Music, Inc., which aims to support the modernization of U.S. copyright laws to reflect the many ways music can be experienced in the marketplace and ensure its creators’ compensation is protected for years to come. CREATORS Login Join How We Pay FAQ Calendar Awards SERVICES BMI Live BMI Mobile BMI Online Services Music Licensing MUSIC USERS Need a License? Types of Copyright Digital Licensing ABOUT BMI Contact Press Room Sitemap Jobs at BMI International Advocacy BROADCAST MUSIC, INC. BMI represents more than 1.2 million songwriters, composers, and publishers with over 18.7 million musical works. FOLLOW US Copyright 1994-2021 ©, Broadcast Music, Inc.® unless otherwise specified. BMI®, BMI.com® and Broadcast Music, Inc.® are registered trademarks of Broadcast Music, Inc. • Terms of Use • Privacy Policy