JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Industry Message Forum Does a BMI account Expire?

I got an email from the producers of the movie I have four songs in.
They said that unknown to them the movie Pope Dreams was aired twice in April 2009 on the Lifetime network under a different title.

They told me to check with BMI for any action/royalty
I have never made one cent from this film since 2005 but I figured i'd take a look and my accounts last quarterly date was 2008

So does a BMI account expire? I forget the details of BMI as I have never received a penny from them ever.
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And that's nice that not only can they take my worthless songs lol but lets just take
some ones movie, air it and say nothing! It was some problem with there distributor
but really...

What a crap business it all is. Hard hard work,so irrelevant.

Nope, it doesn't expire. You've given them permission to collect royalties on your works in perpatuity.

You're still there.....

Songwriter/Composer: MIKE CARO
Current Affiliation: BMI CAE/IPI #: 507647641
There are 6 Work Titles
Work Title BMI Work #
1. CLOSER 8750407
2. FEEL IT IN MY HEART 409024
3. LITTLE THINGS 8750435
4. ORPHANOLOGY 8750368
5. TIME IS RUNNING OUT 1516536
6. TRAGIC COMEDY 8750373

Expect a ckeck in..... oh..... 2025 ? Maybe ?

cheers, niteshift

Hi Nite & Thanks!

But my term agreement says

(a) The word "Period" shall mean the term from January 01, 2006 to September 30, 2008 and continuing
thereafter for additional terms of two (2) years each unless terminated by either party at the end of said initial term
or any additional term, upon notice sent by registered, certified or Express mail, or other sending method that
requires that the date that the item is sent be recorded by the courier (e.g., overnight mail or messenger service),
not more than six (6) months or less than three (3) months prior to the end of any such term.


Why those dates? and why doesn't it have any 2009 dates on my statement

Year Performance
Quarter Description Status

2008 6 Cable TV Retro Distribution No Royalties Due
3 3rd Quarter 2008 No Royalties Due
2 2nd Quarter 2008 No Royalties Due
1 1st Quarter 2008 No Royalties Due

2007 6 Cable TV Retro Distribution No Royalties Due


See?

Ah! I made this into a really nice list and it just keeps screwing it up when I submit the post. I hate that!

Oh ! I didn't know there was an opt out caluse ( I'm with ASCAP ), but nice to know you can pull the plug if you want to.



I wouldn't expect anything for at lease 6 months Mike. I've heard stories of overseas payments taking 1 - 1 1/2 years. Not that I need to worry. LOL

cheers, niteshift

Sounds like a real bummer Mike. I'd call BMI and find out what the story is.

As far as collecting past royalties; I can only tell you what ASCAP told me. ASCAP will go back six months to collect missed royalties. BMI probably has a time restriction as well - but not sure.

I never heard of a PRO terminating a member for lack of placements.

Best, John

I'm pretty sure I've read there's around a nine month lag in the reporting through BMI.

Brian

It is about nine months to a year on collections. And on something that is cable, I am not sure how long it will take. Cable television have different contracts. Part of the writer's strike in Hollywood had elements of this and streaming on Internet and trying to get paid for things people refuse to pay for.
All part of the changing dynamic in getting paid for music.

MAB

Thanks Guys

They emailed me and told me I'm still active.

I emailed back asking, why the statement page stops at 2008. Even if you have nothing happening why doesn't the quarters show up for 2009

Also asked about the movie airing under the different title.

I figured on NEVER getting anything for it so that's okay.even if I have to wait a year or so for my $5 bucks. But if I see it on TV I'm gonna get annoyed lol.. really glad now that I had to cancel cable It's one thing to hear a song you wrote in a movie. It's another to hear four of them and they are all performed/recorded and produced by you as well...You'll really feel robbed lol.
I'll see what they write back and post the reply here. Maybe it well help someone else.

Yeah, I'm curious as to what they say. Thanks, Mike.

Brian

Mike,

There are a lot of reasons for any delays. First of all, it takes about a year, for all accounting to be added in. Foriegn and domestic rentals, certain times and channels are re-negotiating contracts and a lot of money is tied up until all accounts are settled. And anyone that has every dealt with a corporate entity know what it is like dealing with account recievables departments. I did a $5000 show for Blue Cross, a few years ago, one of the largest insurance companies in the world and it took three months to get paid. I did USO tours in Puerto Rico and took six months.
With these smaller production companies, often, after everything is paid, investors, etc. they don't have a dime left over to pay anybody and actually a lot of these companies declare bankruptcy and fold so no one is paid.
You have done about all you can do. Wait until things have a chance to go through cycles, check back from time to time. Tape the shows and play them for your friends. Hell, turn the tables on them and put the sections on You Tube. At least get some milage out of it. Congratulations.

MAB

Thanks Marc

Good advice. I figured on waiting anyway but was a bit curious about the dates on my page. Even though there's nothing there maybe they put 2009 stuff up at years end or 6 months in. They have quarters so I didn't know why everything on my page stopped in 2008.

Also was curious about the title switch on the movie and how come nobody who owned it new.

But I'll do that now that I know it's out there I'll keep checking back from time to time. Wouldn't be enough dough to help me in current status, it was just more a principle and learning thing.

Thanks again

I'm with you Mike, I've been affiliated with them since 2004. and I know I've had a fair amount of play on radio and jukeboxes, as well as placement in T.V shows, and have never seen a DIME from them!

Mike and Bob,

I wonder if the plays are being reported (and under the proper title)?

John