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In this video, Berklee Online course author Dr. E. Michael Harrington explains cowriting and how performance rights organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC pay songwriters for their music. In a cowriting arrangement, the payment is automatically split equally unless otherwise stated in a written agreement. The video delves into issues such as each person contributing equally to the song. ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC all have one thing in common: they’re trying to get their members paid! While you as a songwriter reap rewards and benefits, there can also be issues. Getting sued for infringement is possible! Make sure you think before you get into a cowriting situation: there are many advantages, but you have to think about the mistakes that could occur as well.

About E. Michael Harrington:
Dr. E. Michael Harrington is a professor in music copyright and intellectual property matters. He has lectured at many law schools, organizations, and music conferences throughout North America, including Harvard Law, George Washington University Law, Hollywood Bar Association, Texas Bar, Minnesota Bar, Houston Law Center, Brooklyn Law, BC Law, Loyola Law, NYU, McGill, Eastman, Emory, the Experience Music Project, Future of Music Coalition, Pop Montreal, and others. He has worked as a consultant and expert witness in hundreds of music copyright matters including efforts to return "We Shall Overcome" and "This Land Is Your Land" to the public domain, and has worked with director Steven Spielberg, producer Mark Burnett, the Dixie Chicks, Steve Perry, Busta Rhymes, Samsung, Keith Urban, HBO, TPain, T. I., Snoop Dogg, Collin Raye, Tupac Shakur, Lady Gaga, George Clinton, Mariah Carey, and others. He sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Popular Culture, advisory board of the Future of Music Coalition and the Creators Freedom Project, and is a member of Leadership Music. Michael has been interviewed by the New York Times, CNN, Bloomberg Law, Wall Street Journal, Time, Huffington Post, Billboard, USA Today, Rolling Stone, Money Magazine, Investor's Business Daily, People Magazine, Life Magazine, and Washington Post, in addition to BRAVO, PBS, ABC News, NBC's "Today Show," the Biography Channel, NPR, CBC and others. He teaches Music Business Capstone and Music Licensing courses at Berklee Online, and is the course author and instructor for Music Business Law, part of the curriculum for Berklee Online’s Master of Art in Music Business degree.

About Berklee Online:
Berklee Online is the continuing education division of Berklee College of Music, delivering online access to Berklee's acclaimed curriculum from anywhere in the world, offering online courses, certificate programs, and degree programs. Contact an Academic Advisor today:
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Copyright Law | E. Michael Harrington | CoWriting | Cowriting | PROs | Performance Rights Organizations | BMA | SESAC | ASCAP | Music Business | Berklee Online | Berklee College of Music | Music Business Law