« Back to FAQs What does “classical” mean at BMI?

At BMI we register as classical those works that generally conform to traditional classical practice in their creation and performance, such as:

• An original composition created for a live classical concert
• A fully notated, through-composed score that is the primary documentation of the work
• Composed by one person; performed by others
• Scored primarily for acoustic instruments with a minimum of processing or amplification (with the exception of fixed electroacoustic media or live electronics in an otherwise classical setting)

If the work falls outside of classical practice as outlined above, or if it is more closely described by one of the following, we would not register it classical:

• Arrangement of a classical work in the public domain
• Scores or cues created for film or television
• Jazz chart or pop song, or an arrangement thereof
• Work that was created for an album, but won’t imminently be performed on a concert