Songview Grows to Include GMR and SESAC Musical Works Data

Photo Credit: BMI

The Songview platform—a joint initiative initially launched by ASCAP and BMI—has announced a significant expansion to now include musical works information from Global Music Rights (GMR) and SESAC.

For the first time, Songview will encompass data from all four major US performing rights organizations (PROs), meaning over 38 million works will be covered under a single, comprehensive public performance copyright resource.

Songview launched in December 2020 by ASCAP and BMI to provide clarity in copyright ownership for the licensing community. Now with GMR and SESAC joining, Songview is addressing one of the industry’s largest pain points: the fragmented and opaque nature of music ownership data. Over the coming months, Songview will incorporate all 100% owned works represented by GMR and SESAC.

Additionally, the database will enhance information for works that have shared ownership between GMR and SESAC and either ASCAP or BMI, including publisher names. However, exact ownership percentages for these split works will be added at a later stage.

“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. Having the four major US PROs come together to enhance data transparency highlights how we as an industry can successfully collaborate and deliver solutions that benefit the entire music community,” says BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill.

“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,” comments ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews.

“We look forward to reviewing the updated database’s functionality and providing input on any areas where improvements would enhance the user experience and functionality for those seeking to rely on the database for business licensing decisions,” shares the MIC Coalition.

“Previous iterations of Songview have suffered from several deficiencies that limited the database’s utility for licensees including the lack of a blanket guarantee regarding the accuracy of data and a legal disclaimer that limited a licensee’s ability to rely on it for protection against copyright infringement.”