ABC-TV Signs Licensing Contract With BMI

ABC-TV has signed a new music licensing agreement with Broadcast Music Inc. that not only covers transmission of music used in programs and commercials, but also Web video and other new uses.

"This new agreement is innovative and comprehensive," said Del Bryant, president and CEO of BMI. "It covers the expanded use of music by ABC and assures fair compensation to BMI songwriters and publishers for these new uses. This agreement is a good example of how BMI works with our customers to develop licenses that cover the expanded use of music through new delivery methods and new business models."

Visitors to ABC's Web site can view full episodes of several popular series, which feature background music and themes composed by BMI composers. Site visitors can also sample music that has been showcased by the network and then link to other sites to purchase soundtracks, or entire episodes of ABC shows.

BMI represents more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and publishers of all types of music. The organization has been in business for more than 65 years and has a repertoire of more than 6.5 million works.