The Law & Music Royalties

From C-Span: Hear two perspectives on legislation covering music royalties from Steve Newberry, Pres. & CEO of Commonweatlh Broadcasting Corp. & Duke Fakir, an original member of the "Four Tops." Program from Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009


Electric Chair 3000

Learn as much as you can, songwriters. If you are blessed and get song placements on TV & film plus radio airplay and major sales, you must know everything about the music business. Yeah, it's like you're back in school but that's the way of life. Learn this stuff.

Kara DioGuardi in BMI's Behind the Song

From BMI Video: From BMI's Behind the Song This series offers advice, insight and knowledge of challenges and successes from top songwriters and producers. These creators discuss how they see themselves as a songwriter and/or producer; their distinct approaches to songwriting and producing; and advice on getting into the music industry.


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Pic of Kara DioGuardi

Ian Burke (Why Sign With ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) on The Remix w/ DJ C...

From ATLRemix2: Ian Burke tells songwriters why they should sign with ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC. He also answers questions about certain scenarios such as ghostwriting, payments to estates, BDS, etc...

Join one, songwriters.

Electric Chair 3000(BMI)

What Do ASCAP, BMI and SESAC Do?

From Events Music: Myles Lewis (R) with BMI LOS ANGELES, Loretta Munoz (C) with ASCAP NEW YORK, and Shannan Neece (L) with SESAC NASHVILLE, explain briefly what their respective Performance Rights Organizations do. Hosted by Steve Garvan (far R) of Garvan Management. Recorded live at the Durango Songwriters Expo Santa Barbara 2008.


Learn about the music business, songwriters.

Electric Chair 3000 (BMI)

Lady Gaga Accepts Songwriter of the Year at the 2011 BMI Pop Awards

Lady Gaga wins Songwriter of the Year at the 2011 BMI Pop Awards.

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Getting Paid: An Intro To Song Royalties

From McNallySmith: McNally Smith music business instructor Dave Olsen talks about how artists & songwriters get paid: royalties.

Fellow songwriters, learn as much as you can about the music business. It's a bitch but you got to learn. WE'VE got to learn.

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BMI Kingston Songwriter Camp

From BMI: The BMI Kingston Songwriter Camp took place at Anchor Recording Studios in Jamaica's capital city from February 14th- 21st.

BMI songwriters from the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, the United States, as well as Jamaica came together to write and record material and explore their artistic creativity.

Four songs were recorded at the event and the songwriters' respective publishers are pitching these songs to labels and music supervisors.



Anthony Lloyd (BMI)
Electric Chair 3000

Lil Wayne Collects Another BMI Urban Songwriter of the Year award

From BMI: Lil Wayne took home his second consecutive Urban Songwriter of the Year award by writing six of the past year's most-performed songs in BMI's urban repertoire.

BMI saluted the songwriters, producers and music publishers of the most-performed R&B, rap and hip-hop songs September 10 at its annual Urban Awards. BMI presented the BMI President's Award to will.i.am in recognition of The Black Eyed Peas co-founder's work as an artist, producer, and humanitarian. Lil Wayne took home his second consecutive Urban Songwriter of the Year; "Boom Boom Pow" earned Urban Song of the Year; EMI Music Publishing claimed the Urban Publisher of the Year crown; and BMI Urban Producer of the Year went to Polow Da Don. BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Catherine Brewton, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, hosted the ceremony along with Ray J at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.

BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated) is one the top performing rights organization in the world.

Anthony Lloyd (BMI)
Electric Chair 3000

Taylor Swift Wins BMI Songwriter of the Year Award

From Clevver TV: Taylor Swift also took home the BI's Country Song of Year honor for "You Belong with Me," which makes her a record breaker yet again - she's the first songwriter to win that award three times in a row. Of course all the while, Taylor maintains herself as a down to earth girl. During the actually ceremony she tweeted out that she was at the BMI awards. She tweeted: "It's got a red theme. They have hot tamales in the centerpiece at the table. Is it bad that I'm eating them? Classy..." We love it!

I will not post a Kanye West joke.

Anthony Lloyd (BMI)
Electric Chair 3000

The Difference Between ASCAP And BMI

From Artists House Music: In this clip from www.artistshousemusic.org - Todd Brabec is the Vice President and Director of Membership for the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). He talks about the differences between ASCAP and BMI. One of the main differences is the reason each organization was founded. ASCAP is a writer and publisher owned organization dedicated to enforcing the copyright law. BMI is a corporation owned by the broadcasting industry. The two organizations also differ in other ways such as payment formulas. Also in this segment, Brabec stresses the affiliation regulations. Writers have to join one or the other. However, writers are free to switch to the other organization. The significance of a good relationship with foreign societies is covered as well. Brabec also focuses on the importance of having a contact at the performing rights organization (PRO). Also in this segment, he offers some advice. Brabec recommends knowing information such as the PRO's philosophy and if they pay correctly in certain areas.

Fellow songwriters, this is Anthony Lloyd, leader of Electric Chair 3000, and a professional songwriter. (Yes, I have received songwriter royalties, thus, I am a professional songwriter.) Dear songwriter, please join BMI, ASCAP or SESAC, these organizations are here to help you get your due royalties.

Personally, I don't care which one you join, that's your business but you should join one of them. As it says in the video, do research the PRO, performing rights organazation, before you join.

As of 2011, I am a member of BMI. BMI is home to Mariah Carey, Rhianna, and Taylor Swift to name a very few of the thousands of artists who claim BMI as their PRO.


What else should you songwriters do? Learn to copyright your songs and join Sound Exchange and The Harry Fox Agency. More on those organizations in other posts.

Anthony Lloyd
Electric Chair 3000