ASCAP, BMI Testing Joint Musical Works Database for Licensing; Launch Set for Late 2018

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and BMI are combining their repertoires into a database of copyright owners to provide clearer and more accurate information to those who want to license musical works. The performing rights organizations said they began working on the project about a year ago and expect to launch the combined "secure, user-friendly and searchable" database in phases beginning at the end of 2018. A BMI spokeswoman said it will contain more than 20 million works, or about 90 percent of the music licensed in the U.S. It may become customizable and eventually include other databases, Wednesday's release said. Last week, Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., and Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., introduced a bill that would direct the register of copyrights to create and maintain a searchable database of sound recordings, permitting businesses that want live music performed there to identify and pay copyright holders (see 1707200012). House IP Subcommittee Vice Chairman Doug Collins, R-Ga., called the announcement a "substantive step forward" that will help stakeholders achieve a "free-market solution."