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What is most efficient PRO for European based composers?
I am mostly doing electronic instrumental cues.
I want to start uploading to AS.It depends on where you live in Europe. In Norway we got TONO.
Chris
I think in most cases its most efficient and easiest to use your countrys PRO. So if theres no special reason to not use your local PRO I would just use them.
I’m from Greece but i skipped the greek PRO (AEPI) and joined BMI.
I’ve contacted AEPI before joining BMI and they didn’t sound well informed about various subjects related to publishing,song registration etc.
Plus there were a lot of stories about underpaid greek artists from AEPI.BMI was far more professional and since my main target was US,it was a no-brainer for me.
A fellow estonian artist told me this interesting thing: he was registered with the Estonian PRO but then he wanted to join BMI as well.
BMI told him he can simply be in both PROs: BMI would take care of all the royalties EXCEPT estonian ones and estonian PRO would take care ONLY the royalties coming from the estonian market.
Maybe you could do something similar.They will need the W-8BEN form and it’s best to contact IRS over the phone to get your ITIN number (the phone option will take you about 10 minutes while the mail option will take 6-8 weeks (!!!) until you get it by mail and involves a LOT of paperwork – yeah,i learned it the hard way!).
Get the ITIN number first so you can put it on your W-8BEN form then.I’m not sure why ASCAP asks for a 1040nr form.
BMI didn’t ask for it.ITIN (or EIN) is optional but if you don’t get it,the US companies you’ll work with (like AS) will withhold 30% of your earnings for tax reasons…that’s what the ITIN is good for!
Greece has a 0% tax treaty with the US and maybe that’s why i wasn’t asked for a 1040nr form.
Slovenia has a 5% tax treaty with the US though so,maybe that’s why they asked you for a 1040nr form.Check the link below,it’s quite informative (and maybe it’s best to ask for an EIN number instead of ITIN – many other artists did the same recently);
Avoiding 30% Withholding Tax on Royalties For Non-US Amazon Self Publishers
It might be a bit too much paperwork but you’ll do it only once (several companies you’ll work with will ask for a W-8BEN as well so,keep a copy of the correctly completed one).
You’re welcome!
Ask ASCAP (or whichever PRO you join) if they need a 1040nr form.
Other than that,you only need a W-8BEN form (it might look intimidating at first glance but it really isn’t) and a EIN number if you want to avoid the 30% deduction (recommended!).
Good luck!
I don’t think you have to open a company if you get a EIN.
There’s no fee involved for ITIN (apart from the phone call of course!) and i think the same applies to EIN.Check the link below:
Imo,the safer thing to do is call IRS,tell them why you need a tax number and ask what’s the difference between these 2.I’m sure they’ll guide you accordingly.
I got an ITIN number almost 4 years ago but then i didn’t know about EIN,neither the phone option.It took me 10 weeks to get the papers back and involved a TON of paperwork.
And yes,it’s better to have everything ready before you start pitching your music to libraries.
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