Episode #54 BMI, ASCAP, SESAC Explained

In this episode, we explore the critical role that Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) like BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC play in the music industry. Whether you're a musician, songwriter, or venue owner, understanding these organizations is key to navigating copyright, royalties, and legal music usage.

🎶 What You'll Learn:

What are PROs?: Understand the difference between BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC — three major PROs in the U.S. that help protect music creators’ rights and ensure they get paid when their music is publicly performed.

BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.): A for-profit organization with over 1.4 million affiliates, representing artists like Miley Cyrus and Eminem.

ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers): A nonprofit with over 1 million members, including stars like Billie Eilish and Beyoncé.

SESAC: An invitation-only, for-profit PRO representing artists like Bob Dylan and Ariana Grande.

How PROs Work: Learn how these organizations help creators by tracking public performances of their music, managing licenses, and distributing royalties. Discover how they simplify the licensing process for venues and businesses using music.

How PROs Benefit Musicians: Find out how PROs offer a steady income source, protect creators' rights, and ensure fair royalty payouts. Despite challenges in royalty distribution, PROs play a pivotal role in supporting songwriters and composers, especially in the streaming era.

What PROs Offer Venues: If you run a venue or business that plays music, you’ll want to know how PROs help you legally comply with copyright laws, access a huge music catalog, and avoid the risks of non-compliance (fines, lawsuits, reputation damage).

Real Talk About Royalties: While many musicians don’t live off their royalties, songwriters still benefit the most from PROs. As the backbone of the music industry, they need support more than ever with the decline of physical sales and the rise of streaming.

🔑 Why it Matters: Whether you’re an artist, venue, or music lover, understanding how music licensing works through PROs is crucial for keeping the music business fair and sustainable. Support live music and compensate creators for their work!

#MusicIndustry #BMI #ASCAP #SESAC #PerformingRights #Royalties #MusicLicensing #MusicRights #Songwriters #MusicBusiness #HowPROsWork #VenueLicensing #LiveMusicSupport #MusicCreators #MusicRoyalties

Episode #53 "Who even wrote these questions" featuring the Colin Alvarez Band

This week's guest was the ENTIRE Colin Alvarez Band.

If you're tired of the same tired, recycled, and unoriginal band interviews you may hear on other platforms, you'll be happy to know we turned to the listeners for questions to ask the band, and holy cheese balls did you deliver!! Sit down with Colin, Sam, and ANOTHER Colin aka "Deuce", while we tackle such hard hitting topics as:

* Would you rather fight ONE horse-sized duck or ONE HUNDRED duck-sized horses?

* What's one thing people know about you that they probably wish they didn't?

* Why do you hate Morgan Wallen?

* For 1 MILLION dollars, which bandmate would you kill?

* Why are musicians so fragile

We also discuss hair care, hairnets, and the pursuit of happiness. Thanks for watching/listening and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE hit the like and subscribe button so I can go LIVE on YOUTUBE at some point in my lifetime.

2024 Year-In-Review

In this special VIDEO episode of Thursday Thoughts, I dive into my 2024 Year-In-Review. You can check out the video on my YouTube Channel at https://www.YouTube.com/DaveGatesMusic.

I outline 9 observations from 2024, and 9 goals for 2025, including:

2024:

1. The best decision I made

2. If I could travel back in time to 2023, what would I tell myself?

3. The best way I used my time this year

4. My biggest waste of time this year

5. Something I regret doing in 2024

6. The Biggest A-HA moment I had this year

7. Three things in 2024 that brought me Joy

8. What I'm most grateful for

9. Who I'd like to thank for their support

2025:

1. My word for the year

2. What I'm most excited about

3. What experiences/people I'd like to manifest

4. What I will say YES to

5. What I will say NO to

6. What I'm devoted to creating

7. My TOP THREE intentions

8. Who I need to become to reach my goals

9. What gifts I will share

Do you have your own list? Share it with me in the comments!!

Episode #51 "Solo Skills Pay The Bills" featuring Marshall Stone

This week I sit down with an absolute phenom of a local musician, Marshall Stone. Marshall is an award-winning solo acoustic musician as well as the lead singer of the band LODI. He performs over 200 gigs annually at venues all over PA, MD, and WV. Marshall’s vocal range and guitar abilities wow audiences and keep them coming back for more, making him one of the most successful AND in-demand artists in our area. In this episode, we discuss what Marshall does to stand out in a sea of live performers, including:

  • The formation of LODI

  • The difference between band performance and solo

  • Booking advice

  • The importance of taking requests

  • Being willing to take risks and learn new things

  • Pushing through difficulties

  • The importance of being genuinely you

  • The future for Marshall

Thursday Thoughts 12.26.2024

SHOWS THIS WEEKEND:

  • FRIDAY 12/27 - Carlisle Moose Lodge ~ Carlisle, PA 7-10PM

  • SATURDAY 12/28 - Antietam Brewing Company ~ Hagerstown, MD 6-9PM

My Thursday Thoughts this week are about the wisdom in the book “Skip the line” by James Altucher, the 10,000 hour rule, how practice is best served focused, and the need for reflection and improvement.

https://www.amazon.com/Skip-Line-Experiments-Surprising-Reaching-ebook/dp/B08BLLF3RD

Episode #50 "Rock Mill Industries" featuring Logan Summey

This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with Logan Summey. Logan is the owner of Rock Mill Industries in Mechanicsburg, PA. Rock Mill is a musician’s paradise, incorporating a tattoo studio, recording studio, live stream studio, practice room, and an embroidery and screen printing & DTF space. This is a must listen for entrepreneurs and anyone looking to take a leap into business ownership.

Logan and I talked about a BUNCH of things, including:

  • His vision with Rock Mill

  • His love of all things audio

  • Engineering Live sound vs. Recording

  • The creative process in-studio

  • Owning a small business

  • Persevering through difficulties

Thanks for listening!!