Types of Copyright / Licenses
Public Performing Right
The exclusive right of the copyright owner is granted by the U.S. Copyright Law. It authorizes the performance or transmission of the work in public.
Public Performance License
BMI issues licenses on behalf of the copyright owner or his agent granting the right to perform the work in, or transmit the work to, the public.
Reproduction Right
The exclusive right of the copyright owner is granted by the Copyright Act, to authorize the reproduction of a musical work as in a record, cassette or CD.
Mechanical License
Harry Fox Agency, Inc. issues licenses on behalf of the copyright owner or his agent, usually to a record company, granting the record company the right to reproduce and distribute a specific composition at an agreed upon fee per unit manufactured and sold.
Synchronization License
Music Publishers issue licenses as copyright owner or his agent, usually to a producer, granting the right to synchronize the musical composition in timed relation with audio-visual images on film or videotape.
Publisher information is available on our website in the repertoire search. If you need further assistance in locating complete publisher information, please contact our Research Department. You can also call the BMI repertoire information hotline at 1-800-800-9313 where you can request information on 3 song titles per call.
Digital Performance Right in Sound Recordings
Sound Exchange along with Record Companies license the exclusive rights on behalf of copyright owners in a sound recording (which is separate from the copyright in the underlying musical works that BMI represents) under U.S. Copyright Law to authorize many digital transmissions (e.g., Internet streaming).
Blanket License
"Blanket license" is a license which allows the music user to perform any or all of over 8.5 million songs in the ASCAP repertory as much or as little as they like. Licensees pay an annual fee for the license. The blanket license saves music users the paperwork, trouble and expense of finding and negotiating licenses with all of the copyright owners of the works that might be used during a year and helps prevent the user from even inadvertently infringing on the copyrights of ASCAP's members and the many foreign writers whose music is licensed by ASCAP in the U.S.