BMI vs. ASCAP vs. SESAC

Surfgitar

Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 1342
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
United States

Posted on Oct 17 2011 09:00 AM

I remember this topic being covered once before but my seach came up blank. (It might have been on the old site) Anyhow, it appears we need to join one. Any preference / recommendations / suggestions? THANKS!!

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jdangerously57

Joined: Nov 21, 2010
Posts: 236
Medford, OR, USA
United States

Posted on Oct 17 2011 02:07 PM

I don't know a whole lot about any of those, but from what I've heard ASCAP and SESAC sound more like an old school mob protection style of shakedown than an actual service to musicians. One of the local club owners here in my town, a small joint by the name of Johnny B's (owned and ran by the namesake, Johnny B), has been threatened constantly by both ASCAP and SESAC and they both seem to want insane amounts of money just because he happens to play cd's in the bar. Problem I see is that he's not playing any kind of mainstream MTV music, it's mostly music from bands that generally aren't on a major label of any kind, and cd's that he's personally bought or had given to him by the bands when they played at the club. Would be interesting to hear from some of those on here who are in bands as to whether these services actually provide them with anything, especially Jake, since The Verb played at Johnny's before and I know Johnny has played there cd from time to time.

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-Damon.

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LHR

Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
Costa Rica

Posted on Oct 17 2011 02:58 PM

From a composer or performer's point of view, ASCAP is about as easy as it gets. Same goes for publishing, if you do that sort of thing. I probably would have rather gone with SESAC but I didn't learn about them until after I joined ASCAP and you can only belong to one, really.

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SSIV

Last edited: Oct 17, 2011 14:59:45

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dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on Oct 17 2011 10:38 PM

I joined BMI with our publishing company back in the olden days: it was super-easy and straight forward process...cheap too...

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Surfgitar

Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 1342
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
United States

Posted on Oct 18 2011 05:06 PM

Thanks guys. Filled out an ASCAP application today.

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LHR

Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
Costa Rica

Posted on Oct 18 2011 05:09 PM

ASCAP works fine for me. All these PROs are pretty much the same. You just gotta pick one and stick to it. After ASCAP approves your application, be sure to use their Limelight licensing service if you wish to clear covers. It is a lot easier (and maybe even cheaper) than using Harry Fox Agency.

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SSIV

Last edited: Oct 18, 2011 17:14:14

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Surfgitar

Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 1342
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
United States

Posted on Oct 18 2011 08:49 PM

Thanks for the tip on limelight, LHR. DP, the application fee as a publisher using an existing corporation was $35 for ASCAP vs. $250 for BMI. Ouch. But BMI was free for applying as a writer.

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dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on Oct 18 2011 10:52 PM

wow! that BMI price went way up...as I said, I used 'em way back in the olden days (1980s)...definitely go econo!

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CrispyGoodness

Joined: Apr 06, 2009
Posts: 565
North Cackalacky
2 News Pins

Posted on Nov 26 2011 06:01 PM

JDangerously57's comments about ASCAP and SESAC apply to all three of these folks--they ALL have goons shaking down bars for cash. The difference between them (at least locally) is that some (ASCAP) are willing to negotiate the price of their goonery, while others (BMI and SESAC) are not. Currently several local bar owners are trying to get the latter two to be a little more flexible in this down economy. I hope they can work it out.

--Crispy

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Surfgitar Joined: Mar 16, 2007 Posts: 1342 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida	Posted on Oct 17 2011 09:00 AM I remember this topic being covered once before but my seach came up blank. (It might have been on the old site) Anyhow, it appears we need to join one. Any preference / recommendations / suggestions? THANKS!! — CUTBACK Top
jdangerously57 Joined: Nov 21, 2010 Posts: 236 Medford, OR, USA	Posted on Oct 17 2011 02:07 PM I don't know a whole lot about any of those, but from what I've heard ASCAP and SESAC sound more like an old school mob protection style of shakedown than an actual service to musicians. One of the local club owners here in my town, a small joint by the name of Johnny B's (owned and ran by the namesake, Johnny B), has been threatened constantly by both ASCAP and SESAC and they both seem to want insane amounts of money just because he happens to play cd's in the bar. Problem I see is that he's not playing any kind of mainstream MTV music, it's mostly music from bands that generally aren't on a major label of any kind, and cd's that he's personally bought or had given to him by the bands when they played at the club. Would be interesting to hear from some of those on here who are in bands as to whether these services actually provide them with anything, especially Jake, since The Verb played at Johnny's before and I know Johnny has played there cd from time to time. — -Damon. Top
LHR Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle	Posted on Oct 17 2011 02:58 PM From a composer or performer's point of view, ASCAP is about as easy as it gets. Same goes for publishing, if you do that sort of thing. I probably would have rather gone with SESAC but I didn't learn about them until after I joined ASCAP and you can only belong to one, really. — SSIV Last edited: Oct 17, 2011 14:59:45 Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Oct 17 2011 10:38 PM I joined BMI with our publishing company back in the olden days: it was super-easy and straight forward process...cheap too... Top
Surfgitar Joined: Mar 16, 2007 Posts: 1342 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida	Posted on Oct 18 2011 05:06 PM Thanks guys. Filled out an ASCAP application today. — CUTBACK Top
LHR Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle	Posted on Oct 18 2011 05:09 PM ASCAP works fine for me. All these PROs are pretty much the same. You just gotta pick one and stick to it. After ASCAP approves your application, be sure to use their Limelight licensing service if you wish to clear covers. It is a lot easier (and maybe even cheaper) than using Harry Fox Agency. — SSIV Last edited: Oct 18, 2011 17:14:14 Top
Surfgitar Joined: Mar 16, 2007 Posts: 1342 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida	Posted on Oct 18 2011 08:49 PM Thanks for the tip on limelight, LHR. DP, the application fee as a publisher using an existing corporation was $35 for ASCAP vs. $250 for BMI. Ouch. But BMI was free for applying as a writer. — CUTBACK Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Oct 18 2011 10:52 PM wow! that BMI price went way up...as I said, I used 'em way back in the olden days (1980s)...definitely go econo! Top
CrispyGoodness Joined: Apr 06, 2009 Posts: 565 North Cackalacky	Posted on Nov 26 2011 06:01 PM JDangerously57's comments about ASCAP and SESAC apply to all three of these folks--they ALL have goons shaking down bars for cash. The difference between them (at least locally) is that some (ASCAP) are willing to negotiate the price of their goonery, while others (BMI and SESAC) are not. Currently several local bar owners are trying to get the latter two to be a little more flexible in this down economy. I hope they can work it out. --Crispy Top

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BMI vs. ASCAP vs. SESAC