MUSIC BUSINESS 101: What EVERY "Artist" Should Know

What is ASCAP, BMI, SEASAC and/or Other?
ASCAP stands for The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) which is a not-for-profit performance rights organization that protects its members' musical copyrights by monitoring public performances of their music, whether via a broadcast or live performance, and compensating them accordingly.

What is BDS?
Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems, better known as BDS, is a service that tracks monitored radio, television and internet airplay of songs based on the number of spins and detections. The service, which is a subsidiary of ACNielsen provides the basis for Nielsen Media publication Billboard in the United States, while in Canada, BDS helps determine the Canadian BDS Airplay Chart and the Canadian Hot 100 chart, which is published by Jam! and in the website for Canadian Music Network, in determining their radio airplay music charts and determines the chart movement in Billboard's Hot 100 chart when combined with single sales from Nielsen SoundScan. From August 2006 to its final June 2009 publication, BDS also provided chart data for R&R after Nielsen acquired the trade. On September 10, 2009, the website Radio-Info struck a partnership with Nielsen BDS to provide radio airplay charts and related data for over 20 formats.

What is Copyright?
Copyrights are huge in the music industry.  Everywhere you turn when dealing with music you will come across different copyright laws and requirements.  That said, it is extremely important for you to know and understand what is all involved in copyrights.  You will also need to know how to obtain one to protect the music that you and your band create.  This is relatively simply and most of the forms can be found at the US Copyright Office website, www.copyright.gov

What is an EPK?
An electronic press kit (or "EPK") is a press kit equivalent in electronic form. In business, electronic press kits are more commonly referred to as online or electronic media kits. They are used to promote artists and businesses via mass media. (Must be .DOC, .PDF or similar Format)