Music Licensing for Television
BMI Makes It Simple to License Music for Local and Low Power Television (LPTV)
Music is a key component to any successful series or film. Whether it’s the opening theme to your favorite TV show, the local nightly news that draws you in, or the background music that keeps your emotions peaked, BMI composers deliver the best music in TV and film. A BMI music license gives you copyright permission to play over 22.4 million in BMI’s award-winning repertoire. Here’s how you can get started:
ONLINE FORM
Fill out our Online Form and a BMI Representative will get back to you with more information.
NOTICE TO COMMERCIAL LOCAL TELEVISION BROADCASTING STATIONS
Please be advised that the term of BMI’s current blanket and per program license agreements for local television stations (the “BMI-18 Licenses”) is expiring on June 30, 2024. BMI and the Television Music License Committee (the “TVMLC”) are currently negotiating new final rates and terms for the performance of BMI musical works by commercial television broadcasting stations for a new license period commencing July 1, 2024. If you are a member of the TVMLC and/or have authorized the TVMLC to represent you in such negotiations, your station(s) will be licensed by BMI on an interim fee basis starting July 1, 2024, pending the outcome of such negotiations or until the BMI rate court issues an order setting final rates and terms. The final license fees and other license terms will be effective retroactively to July 1, 2024. For those stations that are not members but who nevertheless want to be included in the BMI/TVMLC negotiations, BMI has sent extension agreements that extend the stations’ current licenses on an interim basis. Please access BMI Community to view and approve the extension agreement by June 30, 2024.
For purposes of the interim licenses described above, the BMI-18 Licenses will continue to establish the terms on which your station is licensed and the license fees your station pays. The interim monthly blanket license fee for each station for the period of July 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, shall be the monthly blanket license fee allocated by the TVMLC to each station for the period January 1, 2024, through June 30, 2024. Should the interim licenses extend into 2025 or any year thereafter, stations may be subject to a new blanket license fee allocation. The interim license fees may be adjusted by the TVMLC and BMI during the negotiation period.
Feel free to reach out to us via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or via phone at (800) 206-7671.
Local Television FAQs
If you have additional questions, please review our full list of Licensing FAQs or contact a BMI representative.
BMI and the Television Music Licensing Committee (TVMLC) negotiated a license that covers Local Television stations. Each station’s fees are determined in accordance with allocations set forth by the TVMLC. Please reference our television licenses on this page below.
Per Program is used by those stations that directly license music in local or syndicated programming. All other stations customarily select the Blanket License.
If you are streaming your local content on the station website, those performances would be covered under the Blanket or Per Program Licenses.
Yes, digital broadcast channels are included in the current Local TV license.
BMI has an umbrella agreement with PBS affiliated stations. As a result, these stations do not need a separate license with BMI. Please check with your BMI representative if you believe you are covered under the PBS license.
Low Power Television FAQs
If you have additional questions, please review our full list of Licensing FAQs or contact a BMI representative.
Fees are based on a station’s net revenues unless the station broadcasts shopping related programming or operates as a 501(c).
A station is required to submit an Annual Financial Report to BMI on or before April 1st of each year. This report will ask for financial information for the previous year. You can find a copy of this report form on this page below.
BMI has an umbrella agreement with PBS affiliated stations. As a result, these stations do not need a separate license with BMI. Please check with your BMI representative if you believe you are covered under the NPR license.