Broadcast Music, Inc.

Broadcast Music, Inc.
BMI (1939-present)
IndustryMusic
Founded1939
HeadquartersNew York City, U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Michael O'Neill (President & CEO)[1]
ProductsMusic performance blanket licenses
ServicesDistributing performance royalties
Websitewww.bmi.com

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is a performance rights organization in the United States. It collects blanket license fees from businesses that use music, entitling those businesses to play or sync any songs from BMI's repertoire of over 22.4 million musical works. [2] On a quarterly basis, BMI distributes the money to songwriters, composers, and music publishers as royalties to those members whose works have been performed.

In FY 2022, BMI collected $1.573 billion in revenues and distributed $1.471 billion in royalties.[3] BMI's repertoire includes over 1.4 million songwriters and 22.4 million compositions. BMI is the biggest performing rights organization in the United States and is one of the largest such organizations in the world.

BMI songwriters create music in virtually every genre. BMI represents artists such as Patti LaBelle, Selena, Miley Cyrus, Lil Wayne, Lil Nas X, Birdman, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Rihanna, Shakira, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Ed Sheeran, Karol G, J Balvin, Sam Cooke, Michael Jackson,[4] Willie Nelson, Fats Domino and Dolly Parton; bands as diverse as Evanescence, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Linkin Park, Twenty One Pilots and Fifth Harmony; and composers such as Harry Gregson-Williams, John Williams, Danny Elfman, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Ludwig Göransson, and the Sherman Brothers.

In 1961, BMI co-founded the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop, which fosters new musical theater writing talent. Notable alumni have included Alan Menken, Maury Yeston, Robert Lopez, Jeanine Tesori, and the songwriting team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.[5] In recognition of its contributions to musical theater, the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop has won both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award.[6]

  1. ^ "BMI CEO Michael O'Neill Adds Title of President". BMI. July 11, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  2. ^ "About". BMI.com. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  3. ^ BMI Sets Revenue Record With $1.28 Billion - Variety
  4. ^ "Michael Jackson". Billboard.
  5. ^ "Theatre Workshop | Notable shows by BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop Members and Alumni". BMI.com. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  6. ^ "Theatre Workshop | History of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop". BMI.com. Retrieved October 18, 2022.