BMI writer, ASCAP publisher: can you do that?

[Mesa Sand Music]

My wife’s co-writer just informed me that he has set up a publishing company through ASCAP for his works, but he is a BMI writer. When I questioned him about it, he said he knows several other writers who have done the same thing.

I had always seen everywhere that a BMI writer’s works have to be in a BMI publishing company, ASCAP writer’s in an ASCAP pub, etc. Has anyone seen this done before? Do the PRO’s go along with this?

[Art Munson]

I had always seen everywhere that a BMI writer’s works have to be in a BMI publishing company,

I believe that is correct but check with BMI to make sure.

[ibsenproducer]

yes she can do that!

[MichaelL]

I had always seen everywhere that a BMI writer’s works have to be in a BMI publishing company, ASCAP writer’s in an ASCAP pub, etc. Has anyone seen this done before?

That is correct. Get more of the details from your wife’s co-writer.

Yes, a BMI writer can have an ASCAP publishing entity. I had an ASCAP publishing entity as a BMI writer, but I was publishing the works of ASCAP writers, not mine.

Some composers who are members of one PRO, which may be the case with your wife’s co-writer, have a family member (like a spouse) join the other PRO and then they establish a publishing entity with the other PRO. Is it legit? I don’t know. Do the PRO’s like it? Maybe not, but it’s been going on for decades.

At the end of the end of the day, I’m not sure what the point is unless you are publishing the works of a writer that belongs to the other society.

If it’s some kind of scheme to double-dip, the people involved will eventually get caught and then the PROs will take their money back (at a minimum).

[Author]

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