An Interested Party Information number (commonly referred to as a ‘IPI Number’) is a unique identifier assigned by performance rights organizations (PROs), such as the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), BMI, and SESAC. If you are a songwriter or publisher and would like to identify yourself as the rights holder of your work, it is important that you have an IPI Number.
How Does an IPI Number Work?
The IPI number is used by PROs to track the use of musical works and to ensure that the correct person is paid royalties. The IPI number is typically between 9 and 11 digits and is linked to the name of the composer, lyricist, or publisher. This code helps to ensure that royalties are accurately credited and paid to the correct parties. If you’re a composer or publisher and you’re affiliated with a PRO, you likely already have an IPI number assigned to you. If you are interested in knowing the royalties generated by a specific individual, you would need to contact the PROs they are affiliated with or the individual directly.
What Can I Do With an IPI Number?
With an IPI number, you can: (1) ensure accurate royalty payments; (2) monitor the use of your works, by tracking the popularity and performance of your compositions; (3) register your works with PROS and to keep track of the usage and payment of royalties for your works; and (4) collaborate with other musicians and publishers, as it allows PROs to accurately track and distribute royalties for works that have multiple copyright owners.
Can an IPI Number Identify Royalty Performance?
An IPI number alone cannot tell you exactly how much a particular work has generated for a composer. You cannot publicly lookup someone else’s IPI number to see how much they have generated in royalties. The information about an individual’s IPI number and the royalties generated from their works is considered confidential and is only accessible to the individual and the PROs they are affiliated with.
To determine the exact amount of royalties generated by a specific work of yours, you would need to request a detailed royalty statement from the relevant PRO. A royalty statement typically includes information on where and when a work was performed, and how much was earned from those performances. By reviewing this information, you can determine the amount of royalties generated by a specific work and the composer who owns it. Royalty statements may only be available to the composer of the copyright owner, and the information contained in them is confidential. If you’re interested in obtaining a royalty statement for a specific work, you would need to contact the PRO directly or the composer if they are willing to share the information with you.
