Don't Lose Your Rights To Your Music! Try This Instead

Don't Lose Your Rights To Your Music! Try This Instead

If you're a music artist, producer, or songwriter — this is for you.

In this blog, you'll learn how to protect your rights, get paid properly, and tap into royalties you're probably missing by using Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) — one of the top Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) in the game.

We’ll break down why BMI is important, what royalties they collect, and a hidden gem at the end that could boost your money game. Let’s get into it.

0:00 – Intro

Many artists upload music, get streams, and even go viral — but never see the full check they deserve.

That’s because they’re not signed up with a Performance Rights Organization — also known as a PRO. And if you're not registered, you're leaving money on the table.

0:51 – Welcome To The Stripper Game Intro

This series is dedicated to giving artists the tools they need to win. No fluff — just real, usable strategies to own your music and get paid.

1:00 – What Is BMI?

BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.) is a Performance Rights Organization. It collects performance royalties when your music is played publicly — on:

  • Radio

  • TV

  • Venues

  • Streaming platforms

  • Restaurants & bars

  • And more

Basically, anytime your song is performed publicly, BMI is responsible for tracking and paying you.

1:21 – Why Do You Need BMI?

If you don't register your music with a PRO like BMI, you're not getting paid for any public performance of your music.

It’s not enough to have your music on Spotify or Apple Music — you need BMI to:

✅ Monitor public usage
✅ Track performance data
✅ Send you royalty checks every quarter

And yes — you can sign up for free as a songwriter.

1:41 – Royalties Percentages

Royalties from public performances are split 50/50:

  • 50% to the songwriter

  • 50% to the publisher

If you're an independent artist, you should register as both the songwriter and the publisher — so you collect 100% of the royalty share.

2:00 – How Royalties Are Collected

Here’s how it works:

  1. Your song plays on a platform or in a public space

  2. That platform reports usage to BMI

  3. BMI tracks the performance

  4. BMI collects money from the platform

  5. BMI sends you your cut

It’s that simple — if you're registered.

If not? That money goes unclaimed.

2:51 – BMI Secret Sauce

Here’s the trick most artists don’t know:

If you perform live at shows, open mics, or even virtual events — you can report your setlists to BMI and get paid every time you perform your own music.

It’s called the BMI Live program — and it turns your performances into passive income.

Even small shows can add up over time.

Final Thoughts

Don’t lose out on royalties that belong to you.

If you're serious about music, registering with BMI (or a PRO like ASCAP) should be one of the first steps you take. It’s your way of saying:
“This is my art, and I deserve to be paid for it.”

✅ Sign up with BMI
✅ Register your songs
✅ Claim both songwriter and publisher shares
✅ Use BMI Live to report your performances
✅ Start collecting all your money

🎥 Watch the full video here: Don't Lose Your Rights To Your Music! Try This Instead

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