BMI has introduced a new initiative called Spark, created to support its affiliated songwriters, composers, and producers with access to professional tools, educational resources, and wellness services. The program is designed to assist music creators at different points in their careers by offering benefits that go beyond traditional royalty collection.
According to BMI, Spark was developed in response to direct feedback from its creative community. Mike Steinberg, the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue & Creative Officer, explained that the program aims to address real challenges faced by music creators. “We developed BMI Spark after hearing from our songwriters and composers about the services and resources they wanted to best support them throughout their careers,” he said.
The program is organized into three core areas: Career Development, Learn & Connect, and Lifestyle and Well-Being.
In the Career Development section, members can access discounts on music creation tools and distribution services. These partnerships include BandLab, Cosynd, DISCO for Artists, and LANDR. The goal is to help creators manage their work and expand their reach more effectively.
The Learn & Connect category provides educational content from Berklee Online, School of DISCO, and Rise. These resources are intended to help musicians grow their knowledge of the music industry and improve their creative skills.
In the Lifestyle and Well-Being area, BMI has partnered with organizations like Music Health Alliance, Porter’s Call, and Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. Additional benefits include discounts at Nashville’s Hutton Hotel and access to its Writers Studio. These services aim to support the personal and mental well-being of creators, especially those facing the pressures of the music industry.
As part of the program launch, BMI is waiving the application fee for new songwriters and composers who want to join the organization. This change took effect on March 1.
BMI currently represents the public performance rights for more than 22.4 million musical works, owned by approximately 1.4 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The organization negotiates licenses and distributes collected fees as royalties when songs are performed in public settings.
The launch of Spark also aligns with BMI’s ongoing advocacy efforts. Recently, the organization encouraged its members to participate in a U.S. Copyright Office inquiry that explores the role and practices of performance rights organizations. The new initiative reflects BMI’s efforts to broaden its services and support for music creators in a changing industry landscape.
