Can Foreigners Join ASCAP/BMI?

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[@petecolorado5387]

Thank you for the information. This is much appreciated.

[@SyncMyMusic]

Glad it helped!

[@SheMilly]

great video

[@geraldopereirajunior]

Thanks for your video! Your channel is awesome. You think the libraries prefer composers associate with BMI and ASCAP rather than a PRO from another country? Like, I contact my local PRO in Brazil and they told me that would be better to associate with them, once I'm correnctly living in Brazil, but I assume that they said that just so I can sign up with them. Libraries really don't care about which PRO you are associate to or do they have a preference for the PRO from the country they are too?

[@SyncMyMusic]

I'm sure it varies from Library to Library, but I would imagine most libraries would feel more comfortable with writers who have ASCAP/BMI memberships simply because that's what they're used to (People in general prefer to do things they're used to doing), but I know of many libraries who DO accept submissions from foreign writers with foreign PROs. I would just let a library know your situation BEFORE you submit to make sure they are ok with it.

[@geraldopereirajunior]

Awesome! I was thinking to give a headsup before any close contract, and now I'm sure that that is the right thing to do. Altough I'm not yet with any PRO. Still deciding it. Thanks a lot for the quick awnser. And thanks again for all your work and effort putting those videos online and helping many of us who have lots of questions about this field. All the best from brazil, Gérard!

[@SyncMyMusic]

You're very welcome!

[@fredericoankh]

@@geraldopereirajunior Ei Geraldo! Eu estou começando agora e tendo as mesmas dúvidas. Você chegou a se cadastrar com a BMI/Ascap ou alguma do Brasil? Se puder me dar umas dicas sobre isso eu agradeço!

[@ibsenproducer]

I am from Venezuela, for register me with ASCAP (2015), i contact directly to ASCAP for join,They asked me for the W-8BEN because i am outside of USA. i think if you contact to your City PRO, they will want sign with him, in the case of Venezuela with more reasons.

[@pcbz9]

Hola Ibsen! como te fue con el registro a ASCAP? Al final tuviste que contactar a tu PRO de Venezuela? Soy de Peru y tambien pienso que si contacto con mi PRO local querrán que me una a ellos pero no em fío mucho. Me gustaria saber si pudiste. Muchas gracias.

[@ibsenproducer]

Me fue bien, contacte solo con ASCAP directamente, en caso de que ya estas en una PRO en Peru, si te tocaria contactarlos, pero si no estas en ninguna PRO en este momento, ve con ASCAP directamente. Yo me registre sin ningun Problema, de nada paolo.

[@pcbz9]

Ibsen Producer Gracias bro! Un abrazo

[@pcbz9]

Ibsen Producer Hola Ibsen! Tienes un correo electronico para poder comunicarme contigo? Estoy llenando el formulario de BMI pero tengo unas dudas. Gracias

[@andor3442]

Glad I found this video, so coming from Toronto Canada and never having any beforehand relationships/registrations, would I still have to contact my country's PRO? Also, would I have to join both organizations (BMI & SOCAN *Canada*) if I wish to receive royalties from both US & Canadian platforms? Because I'm assuming the directories are all US based... Thanks in advance, you are appreciated

[@SyncMyMusic]

If you're not already a member of SOCAN, you can directly join BMI - just call them or visit their site to get the required documents filled out. As a BMI member, you'll also get your SOCAN payments - BMI collects international royalties from every PRO around the world. And most U.S. Music Libraries are happy to work with foreign producers given the right documents are signed, etc.

[@MusicalDystrophy]

@@SyncMyMusic is it better to go with BMI then instead of SOCAN first?

[@EtherealDawnOfficial]

A question. Do i need to use Bmi(stim =swedish version) is it still vaild if for example you sign contract with a sync agent? I'm a little bit confused about it. For example if you register your song on Bmi(stim). Can it still be synced with an agent? Regards Marcus

[@SyncMyMusic]

Yes, Sync Agents only handle pitching your music to opportunities. BMI just collects royalties for you AFTER you've had your tracks placed by the Sync Agent. So yes you should register your tracks with BMI before sending them off to a Sync Agent.

[@DamienAlter]

What if I made a mistake of showing up on the BMI website and registering and not being a US citizen?

[@SyncMyMusic]

Call them and clear up the mistake ASAP.

[@ryanharrison3118]

Hi Jesse, If my PRO let's me add a US representative on my PRO website (canadian) would that be basically work the same registering with a US PRO?

[@SyncMyMusic]

As long as you've gotten clearance from your PRO to have a US representative, you should be good to work in the US.

[@ryanharrison3118]

I email my PRO and they informed me that they will collect royalties in the US for the public performance of my copyright from a variety of different sources that do not include music libraries. If I want to collect royalties from the US (from my library music) does this sound like I should be registering with a US PRO? They told me I must always must indicate them as my PRO and they will do the rest when it comes to royalty collection for territories outside of Canada (including US). That's great.. except I plan on making royalties off my library music!

[@D-a-n-c-e--For--Life]

Hi There. I'm from Slovakia, but now I'm living in England. Here I've got a job & music doing in my spare time. But deejaying, mixing & production , want to do like profession in the near future. I just getting started with deejaying & also production of music. I decided to affiliate with BMI. It doesn't matter what'd you think. here's the Question : Do I have to contact PRS , if I never signed contract with them, because you didn't mention about that. But I think I don't need. if I never signed a contract with PRS, and also I never signed a contract with other organizations , I do not need to contact them. Am I right? Have a great day!

[@SyncMyMusic]

Yes I believe you are correct - if you weren't affiliated with PRS you wouldn't need to contact them at all. But many subscribers already have contracts with their country's PROs and THOSE are who I'm talking about in this video. Thanks for the comment!

[@D-a-n-c-e--For--Life]

You're welcome & thank you!

[@0903sniper]

How would BMI transfer the money to foreign users? are they going to mail a cheque instead of wiring it?

[@SyncMyMusic]

Exactly. They would mail a check.

[@ashaypallav4158]

I checked their faq's and they can pay you with "Payoneer" which is similar to PayPal

[@DoartYT]

Do I need to talk to the PRO of my country even if I'm not signed to them?

[@SyncMyMusic]

I would recommend it just to make sure you're clear on what their policy is.

[@DoartYT]

Sync My Music Sounds good! Thank you! 🙏

[@alessiopeck]

What about if I'm registered to PRS (UK) as a songwriter but I wanna register with BMI (US) as a publisher? Reason being, MCPS (the publisher side of PRS in the UK) charges £500 to register as publisher while BMI only charges $150. Plus, my music is being used in the USA.

[@SyncMyMusic]

I actually don't know the answer to that, but I'm sure a quick phone call to PRS would help you find your answer. You might want to consider registering as a writer with BMI as well if most of your placements are coming from the U.S. market.

[@alessiopeck]

@@SyncMyMusic looks like I can't register to bmi or ascap unless I have an American social security number and us bank issued credit card 🙄

[@SyncMyMusic]

@@alessiopeck Call BMI. From their website: "I live in a foreign country. Can I affiliate with BMI? As long as you are not a member of any other performing rights organization in the world, you are free to affiliate with BMI if you believe you will be earning performance royalties."

[@urbbanq]

Hi Jesse, thank you for everything ! I would have a small question.. if is possible I am part of a PRO in Europe, and on BMI site it says that they represent aswell my PRO into the US territory. And makes me think.. do I really need to sign up with BMI also? Because I need to complete a W8 BEN form what says that are 30% of foreigner taxes. What makes me arrive to the conclusion that , if the payment is made directly between PROs will be way easy for me to not deal with that kind of paperwork. Can you correct me please? Thank you in advance for your precious time kind sir ! Have a good day

[@ashaypallav4158]

Bro, I'm facing the same problem. BMI asked me to fill the Tax form. Can you help me out?

[@neilmalkan2303]

@@ashaypallav4158 have you figured it out? Guessing you’re Indian, I’m brown too and I need help

[@ashaypallav4158]

@@neilmalkan2303 Where are you from bro?

[@neilmalkan2303]

@@ashaypallav4158 India, Bombay

[@ashaypallav4158]

@@neilmalkan2303 Go with the BMI and you don't have to fill any tax forms.

[@emilienthevenin1]

I signed up to BMI as a foreigner but I see that there is a beholding of 30% because of tax, is that correct? It seems ridiculously high like if you earn 1000 usd you end up with 700 usd how is that possible... wtf...

[@SyncMyMusic]

That's about the rate we pay here in the States for taxes so it seems about right to me.

[@emilienthevenin1]

@@SyncMyMusic Thank you for your reply. So if I understand foreigners don't pay a lot more taxes than us citizens in the end?

[@SyncMyMusic]

@@emilienthevenin1 Every country has a different tax rate so I'm sure it's mixed across the globe.

[@ashaypallav4158]

@@emilienthevenin1 Did you fill any kind of Tax form?

[@dokkeallah7973]

Hello bro am a singer and songwriter from Senegal Africa. Am working with an American producer and publisher. So am about to open my BMI account so I wanted to know which kind of form tax should I apply? Please I need your help

[@SyncMyMusic]

8-BEN. Google search it and you'll find a copy that you can fill out.

[@tal6y_]

Yo bro, im from morocco, north africa, for the payment options do they mail a check to you? I want to join ascap btw

[@dedebellavita14]

I'm from italy, which taxes for bmi should i choose ?

[@SyncMyMusic]

Which taxes? There's just one option - U.S. Government taxes. I'm not sure what your question is referring to?

[@dedebellavita14]

@@SyncMyMusic it is the foreign option too

[@dedebellavita14]

@@SyncMyMusic www.bmi.com/creators/taxes

[@Ericovich]

@@dedebellavita14 I think you mean W-8BEN or W-9 true?

[@hyeonhoportfolio1387]

You look very young here