[Fmpro] BMI>>> Dave Joining ASCAP/BMI

[LesHurdle]

As a BMI Publisher I asked about the payment for commercials;

I received the following answer;

Please note the 'free air' requirements.



Dear Mr. Hurdle:

Thank you for your interest in commercial jingles.  Please take a few  
moments to review the requirements for submitting commercial jingles.

In order for commercial jingles to be processed for payment, the  
following materials need to be submitted simultaneously to our  
Commercial Jingle Department:

-  A CD(audio), audiocassette, DVD, VHS videotape or QUICKTIME (PC  
version) of the commercial as broadcast. In the case of TV  
commercials, the audio portion alone is sufficient.  All tapes must  
be a final mix with voice-over. Please do not submit studio tapes.   
These tapes will be retained in our files and not returned to you.

-  BMI Commercial Jingles Data Sheet and a copy of the Sync License  
between the publisher and the advertising agency.  Public performance  
rights must be clearly conveyed to the writer and publisher.  Only  
one data sheet form needs to be submitted for each commercial or  
commercial version.  If use continues after the initial time period  
covered by the form, a letter from the agency to our Commercial  
Jingle Department referring to the original form and updating the  
time buy information is adequate.

-  Performance information submitted must include the network or  
station call letters and the specific air dates for each  
performance.  Redacted copies of station invoices will also be  
accepted. BMI encourages electronic submission of airdates on either  
diskette or E-mail using MICROSOFT EXCEL or other compatible software.

Documentation should be submitted to:

BMI Commercial Jingle Department, 10 Music Square East, Nashville,  
TN  37203
Or
Promos at bmi.com

To qualify for Background payment, the commercial jingle must include  
a minimum of 5 seconds of music, exclusive of any tags, logos, or  
emblems of a single composition. Background payments are made for  
performances only on network television - ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, UPN, WB  
and Syndicated television.

To qualify for Feature payment, the commercial jingle must include an  
aggregate of 15 seconds or more of sole focus, without voice over of  
a single composition.  Feature payments are made for performances on  
network television (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, UPN, WB) network cable  
television, syndicated and local television, cable and radio.

Please feel free to call me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Charlie Campbell
BMI TV Operations
(615) 401-5352



I than asked;


Hi Charlie,

Thanks for the info.

I'm intrigued.

I have to assume the broadcasters pay for all of the music used on TV  
either by a blanket license or a PPL license.
Since BMI is licensing all music performances to broadcasters under  
blanket licenses, what happens to the portions of the license fee due  
composers whose commercials BMI chooses not to pay because it has too  
much voiceover, etc?

Does the addition of voiceover to a commercial which doesn't leave 15  
seconds of music in the clear effect the value to the broadcaster?    
Why should this determine whether a composer is paid or not for a  
legitimate music usage in a national advertising campaign especially  
since the broadcaster has already pre paid for all of the airtime?

I look forward to your reply at your earliest convenience.

Les Hurdle




So far .... nothing

Les