Overview
What is BMI Live?
BMI Live is a new program designed for Performing Rights Organizations to log-in to their online account through BMI.com and submit their setlists for their members’ performances in all venues across the United States. Online Services can be accessed by clicking the “login” button in at the top of any page on our website.
Do all of my live concert claims have to go through BMI Live?
Yes. All live concert claims must be submitted through the BMI Live online application. We will not be accepting claims outside of BMI Live with the exception of Live Classical music performances. For more information on ineligible performances, please refer to the below section entitled “What types of performances are not eligible through BMI Live?”
What types of performances are not eligible through BMI Live?
To be eligible for royalty payments under the BMI Live program, a performance must be considered a “public performance” that is covered by existing BMI licenses.
Non-eligible performances which will not be considered for royalty payment include, but are not limited to:
- Live Classical music performances.
- You may notify BMI of Live Classical music performances by submitting fiche internationale(s) along with the performance information to InternationalAdmin@bmi.com provided your members’ share is represented by BMI in the United States. Please specify which member(s) should be represented by BMI for our territory and indicate “Live Classical Performance” in the subject line when sending your fiche internationale(s) to BMI.
- Wedding receptions, Birthday parties, Anniversary parties, etc.
- Internet performances
- Performances during Religious services.
Note: Performances at church events that are outside of “normal church service times” are eligible for royalty payments. - Face-to-face teaching activities at educational institutions
- State or County fairs
- Private house concerts
- Street performances
- Performances of public domain music (including the National Anthem at events.)
- Live radio or TV performances
Note: Live radio or TV performances are included in a separate TV / Radio royalty distribution. - Amusement Park performances
Note: Amusement Parks performances are included in a separate royalty distribution.
How do I retrieve my BMI Live password?
Please visit https://applications.bmi.com/Security/ and click on “Forgot your Username / Password.” Select the “BMI Member / Representative / Employee of BMI Member” option and then enter your email address on the following screen.
How do I change my BMI Live password?
Please visit https://applications.bmi.com/Security/ and click on “Forgot your Username / Password.” Select the “BMI Member / Representative / Employee of BMI Member” option and then enter your email address on the following screen.
How do I remove a user from my BMI Live account?
BMI asks societies to promptly inform us when a user is no longer with your company by sending an email to BMILiveGlobal@bmi.com. Please indicate the name and email address of the user so that we can remove their access to the BMI Live system.
What do I do if I have more questions about BMI Live?
You may email BMILiveGlobal@bmi.com with questions or comments.
Royalties
How often are royalties distributed for live performances submitted through BMI Live?
BMI started to pay royalties to both writers and publishers in its July 2012 distribution for performances occurring from July 1 through December 31, 2011. Subsequent payments follow a similar quarterly schedule.
See the payment distribution schedule below.
| Performances Between | Entered By | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023 | March 31, 2024 | June 2024 |
| October 1, 2023 - March 31, 2024 | June 30, 2024 | September 2024 |
| January 1, 2024 - June 30, 2024 | September 30, 2024 | December 2024 |
| April 1, 2024 - September 30, 2024 | December 21, 2024 | March 2025 |
| July 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024 | March 31, 2025 | June 2025 |
What is required for our members to be paid through BMI Live?
Your writer and publisher members will only be eligible for royalties if one of their works is added to a setlist and they are represented by BMI for our territory.
If your members’ share is represented by another US society for our territory, your member is not eligible for payment unless they are released by the other US society.
Your society may submit any work performed in the live concert that is available in the BMI Live database even if it is not authored/composed by your member.
Can I submit a royalty claim for past performance periods which have already been distributed through BMI Live?
Due to the limited royalties available for distribution BMI will not be providing adjustments for missed BMI Live performances. This applies to BMI affiliates and sister societies alike.
How is the BMI Live royalty rate determined?
Rates per performance each quarter are determined by a combination of the number of performances reported during the payment period and the general licensing fees available for distribution for BMI Live performances. Since the number of BMI-licensed works, as well as the amount of the license fees collected by BMI, changes from quarter to quarter, the royalty rate for BMI Live works likewise will vary from quarter to quarter. For more information on BMI and royalties you may visit our Royalty Policy Manual
How will BMI Live appear on my BMI royalty statement?
BMI Live payments will appear on your expanded royalty statement in the .txt format under the “Perf Det” column as “BMI Live.” At this time this information is not available in the E and F formats provided by BMI.
Performance Information
Where do I enter my BMI Live performance information and setlists?
Setlists can be entered as soon as you log into your BMI Online Services account and click the BMI Live link. Online Services can be accessed by visiting http://www.bmi.com and clicking on “login” at the top of the page.
When I enter setlists for our members’ BMI Live performances what do you need to know?
In BMI Live, you will be asked to supply comprehensive information pertaining to the venue where your member performed, including the venue’s address and phone number. You will also be asked to supply the performance day and time. You will then be able to build setlists by choosing from a database of BMI licensed works.
What if I am building a setlist in BMI Live and cannot locate my members’ work(s)?
You can determine if your members’ works are registered with BMI within the BMI Live application or by referring to the international section of the BMI node in CIS-Net. If you are unable to locate your members’ work(s) you may submit fiche internationale(s) to InternationalAdmin@bmi.com provided your members’ share is represented by BMI in the United States. Please specify which member(s) should be represented by BMI for our territory, copy ASCAP and SESAC and indicate “BMI Live” in the subject line when sending your fiche internationale(s) to BMI. If eligible for registration, BMI will let you know when your members’ works have been added to our database. You may then login to BMI Live and edit your setlist to include any missing works.
What if I need to make a correction to one of my members’ work(s) that I added to a setlist in BMI Live?
You can determine if your members’ works are properly registered with BMI within the BMI Live application or by referring to the international section of the BMI node in CIS-Net. If you would like to request a correction to your members’ work(s) you may submit fiche internationale(s) to InternationalAdmin@bmi.com provided your members’ share is represented by BMI in the United States. Please detail the nature of the discrepancy, specify which member(s) should be represented by BMI for our territory and indicate “BMI Live” in the subject line when sending your corrective fiche internationale(s) to BMI.
How often do I enter my BMI Live performance information?
You can enter your performance information as often as you’d like. You will be able to enter dates for up to 2 quarters prior to the current quarter. You will be able to see the available entry dates as soon as you log in to BMI Live.
Will I be able to edit my BMI Live performance information once I enter it?
Yes, you can edit all your performance information up until the “Live Concert Data Entry Deadline” when it will then be submitted for processing.