SESAC - mostly for country and gospel

These guys collect license fees from any public place that plays music, and divide that money up and give it to the composer and recording artist. You choose to register with one of the two companies, and they send you the checks (minus some accounting fees). Here's the catch: the shares are split up based on monitoring radio and TV airplay. So club music can just forget it, even though the clubs must pay the license. Agents from these companies really do go to bars and take meticulous notes and bust places that don't pay their license. I'm not kidding. The other sucky thing, is that when you achieve a certain level of airplay, you get bonuses ! So Led Zepplin are walking off with even more of your money.

Really though, in the US very few small artists see much money from these guys. People who are represented by publishing companies tend to get paid, individual artists don't. The European situation is different, they get paid.

Of the two, BMI monitors far more radio hours (100,000), and thus increases your chances of being a blip on the radar. They also have no membership fee, and offer free legal consultation.

ASCAP are better if you want to go AOR (album orientated rock dude). Better bonuses.

BMI and ASCAP have deals worked out with agencies in other countries. European airplay gets monitored, the fees get collected, and theoretically the money makes its way back to the US artist and record label. The reverse is true as well except all we have on the radio over here is Garth Brooks.

_GEMA_

wir lieben techno.