Do I need to register with BMI or ASCAP? what does it mean exactly?

The problem we've had is in determining the difference between songwriting royalties and publishing royalties, and if everyone in the band needs a separate membership, or just the band as a collective.

DO THIS DO THIS DO THIS SHIT

My father was a country singer in the 70s, didn't really "make it" (I believe his highest charting single was #27 on the country charts). He's still getting royalties to this day. Europe has been playing his shit, apparently, and he just got a check for over a thousand bucks last month. Royalties are the gift that keep on giving

xpost to jaymc

At least with regard to songwriting royalties, every member of your band needs a separate membership. That's why in the liner notes each songwriter is given credit for each particular song.

Yeah, I think we've figured it all out. Like I said, I didn't do the majority of the legwork, I just signed stuff, haha.

Huh, I should find out if my band has ever done this (esp. since I heard one of our tunes in the background of a movie last weekend!).

No, there's no annual fee for BMI (and I don't think there's one for ASCAP) -- BMI is a nonprofit and the money they get comes from money that otherwise would go to you, if you were going to get any money. (So, they broker a contract with a club for $100/yr or whatever, and $95 of that is split among artists and $5 is kept by BMI, if I understand it right. The numbers here are totally ficticious.)

If I could just figure out how to tell BMI I've moved so I could get their sparkly newsletter again then my life would be complete.