Creators

Creators FAQ

What is BMI? Answer

Celebrating over 80 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, BMI is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in over 22.4 million musical works created and owned by more than 1.4 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI’s repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites, span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year.

To learn more about BMI and how to become a BMI affiliate, consider attending one of our upcoming BMI 101 workshops.

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Q: How do I copyright my song and/or collection of my songs?

Your composition is copyrighted automatically when the work is “created,” which the law defines as being “fixed” in a copy or a recording for the first time. The registration of your copyright is recommended, but not required. BMI does not copyright works for you.

If you wish to copyright your works, which we recommend, visit copyright.gov.

Q: A distribution check was issued to my account but I still have not received it. What can I do?

Please ensure BMI has your correct address by logging onto your Online Services account and clicking the “Change of Address” option on the lefthand menu. If the address is outdated, please use that option to update your address.

If your address is correct and you have not received your check two weeks after the distribution date, please contact statement@bmi.com. Please note that direct deposit payments arrive much quicker, and this payment method can prevent delayed receipt of BMI distributions.

Q: How do I register my songs/works with BMI?

To begin registering your works, log in to your Online Services account.

Select Works Registration.
On the Works Registration home page, click Add New Work to begin the registration process.
Proceed through the steps:
- Work Info
- Other Works
- Publishers & Writers
- Artists & Recordings
- Summary

Once submitted online, they will be processed by BMI before appearing in your Works Catalog. Once processed, you will receive an email notification from bmiworksregistration@bmi.com.

Need to update an already registered work? Refer to Instructions for Updating Registered Works

Q: Does BMI need an audio file or copy of the lyrics of my song?

No. BMI relies on the information you provide when registering your song such as title, writer, and artist information. BMI does not need a copy of audio and/or lyrics.

Song registration is simple and can be done online with our online song registration program. BMI does not accept uploads of audio files (.MP3 etc) as part of song registrations.

Q: What is an IPI/CAE number?

IPI stands for: Interested Parties Information

CAE stands for: Composer, Author and Publisher

The IPI/CAE number is a publicly accessible international identification number used to identify participants on a work. Writers and publishers will be assigned a unique number for each name/AKA on file with BMI. Therefore, writers with multiple names/AKAs will have multiple numbers.

Register your works using the IPI Number associated with the name/AKA you would like to appear on the new work. Regardless of the IPI Number you decide to use, the royalties will all be directed to your BMI account. Please note your BMI account # is not your IPI#. Please do not use a BMI account number as an IPI# when registering a work.

Locate your IPI numbers via Online Services or via Songview.

Online Services

IPI Numbers are available in Online Services. Once you log in to your account, click IPI Number.

If you only have one BMI account, you will be taken directly to your IPI information.

If you have multiple BMI accounts, under My Accounts, click the name of an account.

In the example below, this person has access to their BMI writer and publisher accounts.

Your Legal Name and any AKAs registered with BMI will be listed on this screen, each with its own unique IPI Number.

Songview

Go to Songview
From the drop-down menu, select Writer/Composer or Publisher.
Enter the name in the search bar.
Click Search.

The IPI number appears under the column IPI#.

Q: How do I change my mailing address or email address?

To update your account information, you must first log into your Online Services account.

Once you’re logged in, from the menu on the left side of the screen, you can:

Select “Change of Address” to update your contact information, including mailing address and phone number(s).
Select “Edit User Profile” to update your email address.

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Q: How do I log in to my Online Services account and what is my password?

If you have already created an Online Services account, you can log in here: Online Services.

If you have never logged into Online Services and need to create an account, you can follow the “Create Your Account” instructions found on the left side of the login page.

If you have forgotten your username or password, or if you find that your password is expired, you can follow the “Forgot Username/Password” instructions found on the login page. You will need to use the email address or mobile phone number that BMI has on file for your account.

Q: Is the direct deposit payment method available to non US- residents?

Yes, you can register with Payoneer and use the USD banking information they provide to set up direct deposit through your BMI Online Services account. Royalty payments of $2.00 and above will be paid to your Payoneer account. Please refer to your Payoneer terms and conditions for any fees that may apply.

You may also elect BMI to send payment via wire; however, earnings must reach $250 or above before a quarterly payment is made, or $25 or above in August’s distribution. Please refer to bmi.com under Frequency of Royalty Payments for more information about Accruals. Please see your Bank’s terms and conditions for any fees that may apply. You can request a wire transfer form by emailing International@bmi.com.

Q: How do I get a copy of my BMI contract?

If you’re a writer who affiliated using our online form, you may find your BMI contract is available in your Online Services account.

If you cannot locate your agreement through your Online Services account, a copy of your BMI contract can be requested. Download the BMI Document Reproduction Form and follow the instructions. Please note that there is a fee for document reproduction.

Q: How do I make changes to a work that is already registered with BMI?

Please refer to Instructions for Updating Registered Works for complete instructions to update registered works.

In short, you can email update requests to reviseworks@bmi.com. In your email, be sure to include the title and work number, as well as a clear description of the revision that is being requested. Your request will be reviewed and, if supporting documentation is required before the update can be completed, we’ll email you back with further instructions.

Please note, this is the only way to update an existing work. If you try to register a new version of the same work it will be rejected automatically.

Q: I got a letter from BMI about uncashed checks, what do I do?

When we find that BMI royalty checks have gone uncashed for an extended period of time, a member may be sent a letter in an attempt to have the checks reissued.

See more info on our Uncashed Royalty Checks page.

Q: Why haven’t I received any royalties?

BMI licenses many marketplaces and there are several potential answers to this question. However, there are three common reasons you may not have received royalties for certain performances, and those are distribution timelines, works registration status, and distribution thresholds.

BMI’s royalty distributions typically cover performance activity that has taken place 6 to 8 months in the past, so please ensure your inquiry falls within this timeframe. Also, please ensure you are inquiring about a song that you have registered with BMI. You can register works through your Online Services account. Once logged into your account, you will find additional information on how to register. Finally, please note that BMI issues royalty payments above certain threshold that vary depending on payment method. For physical checks and international wires, the threshold is $250 dollars. For domestic direct deposit or Payoneer, the threshold is $2.

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