Songview Will Now Include Information From Four Major US PROs

Songview, a public database for performance copyright information, will now include data from prominent US performance rights organizations (PROs) GMR and SESAC. Previously, the database only included information from ASCAP and BMI.

Songview:

• ASCAP and BMI launched Songview in December 2020.

• With all four PROs contributing information, the database will include over 38 million musical works.

• This will bring in works that are 100%-owned by GMR and SESAC, and also update information on BMI and ASCAP works that are split-owned by GMR and SESAC.

What they said:

• John Josephson, Chairman & CEO of SESAC: “The addition of SESAC and GMR to Songview will provide a comprehensive view of ownership data and licensing representation for the largest music market in the world.  This collaborative solution addresses requests from licensees and Congress that extend the visibility of repertory data already available from SESAC.”

• ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews: “We are thrilled to collaborate with BMI, GMR, and SESAC as we innovate to provide more transparency to licensees into musical ownership data for the combined repertories of the most performed music in the world.”

• BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill: “It was always our intention to ensure Songview would be the single most comprehensive source of copyright information for the industry, which is why the addition of GMR and SESAC data is so important.”

• House IP Subcommittee Chairman Darrell Issa (CA-48): “Our copyright system is the backbone of our creative economy, with clarity and transparency essential to ensuring creators have the compensation they deserve while licensees have the predictability they need. I congratulate ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR on the launch of a new and improved Songview to enhance clarity and transparency in music licensing.”