BMI Launches Bonus System For Top Streamed Songs

BMI has implemented a bonus payment system for the most-played songs on some digital services. The system is meant to be a complement to similar premiums the performing rights organization offers for songs performed on radio and television.

As the performing rights organization has done previously with traditional radio, BMI will recognize writers and publishers of the most-performed songs on streaming services with a quarterly bonus payment. The bonus system began with payments from Spotify and Rhapsody in the first quarter of 2015, with additional services slated to be added in future distributions.

The bonus is calculated on a per-stream basis and will apply to the top 20 percent of the most-played BMI songs on each service. The per-stream rate increase applied is 25 percent.

Funds for the bonus payment will come from a general licensing pool designated for those types of payments.

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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