BMI Licensing Center · Voice & Tone

UI Copy
Improvement Guide

Before → After copy transformations across key screens, grounded in the BMI Licensing Center Voice & Tone Guidelines.

Product: BMI Licensing Center Prepared by: Enspirit Date: April 2026
Contents
01 · Payment Screen4 examples
02 · License Summary4 examples
03 · Auto-pay Setup4 examples
04 · Error Messages8 examples
05 · Confirmation Messages4 examples
Voice & Tone Principles
P1Position as a new launch, not an upgrade
P2Plainspoken & accurate about system behavior
P3Human and respectful, not forced or salesy
P4Use "you" intentionally and consistently
P5Eliminate internal jargon & system terminology
P6Avoid implying monitoring, judgment, or enforcement
P7Payment language: setup & continuity, not transactions
P8Maintain terminology consistency across screens
Section 01

Payment Screen

1.1 · Page Heading
Before
Heading
Review and Pay
After
Heading
Review Your Payment
What changed & why
  • "Review and Pay" reads as a system command. "Review Your Payment" addresses the user directly and removes the transactional imperative from the heading.P4 P7
1.2 · Line Item Label
Before
Line item
Past Period (Unlicensed Usage Fees)
After
Line item
Previous Period Balance
What changed & why
  • "Unlicensed Usage Fees" implies the customer was at fault - it's enforcement language. "Previous Period Balance" is factually accurate without the judgment.P6 P5
1.3 · Authorization Checkbox
Before
Checkbox label
As an authorized signatory, I agree to pay the total amount and to receive communications electronically according to BMI's ESIGN Disclosure.
After
Checkbox label
I authorize this payment and agree to receive electronic communications per BMI's ESIGN Disclosure.
What changed & why
  • "Authorized signatory" is internal legal jargon most users don't identify with. Plain first-person ("I authorize") is legally equivalent and far more natural.P5 P3
1.4 · Renewal Disclosure
Before
Disclosure
The license will automatically renew annually and the applicable license fee charged unless you cancel 30 days before the end of the term through this portal or by calling (800) 925-8451.
After
Disclosure
Your license renews annually. To cancel, contact us at least 30 days before your renewal date, either through this portal or at (800) 925-8451.
What changed & why
  • Split into two sentences - easier to scan. "Before the end of the term" → "before your renewal date": user-centric, not system terminology.P4
  • "The applicable license fee charged" is passive and slightly threatening. Reframed around what the user needs to do.P6
Section 02

License Summary

2.1 · Page Heading
Before
Heading
License Summary
After
Heading
Your License Overview
What changed & why
  • Adds "Your" to address the user directly. "Overview" is more customer-facing than "Summary," which reads like an internal report label.P4 P3
2.2 · Signature Line
Before
Label
Contract Signed by: [Name]
After
Label
Signed by: [Name]
What changed & why
  • "Contract Signed by" reads like a CRM or legal record field. "Signed by" is clean, direct, and less surveillance-oriented.P6
2.4 · Music Service Field Label
Before
Field label
Music Service
After
Field label
Music Service (e.g., Mood Media)
What changed & why
  • "Music Service" alone is vague - most users don't know what a "commercial music service" is. Adding a familiar example gives instant context without adding jargon.P5
Section 03

Auto-pay Setup

3.1 · Toggle Label & Helper Text
Before
Toggle label
Turn On Automatic Payments
Helper text
When enabled, future payments will be charged automatically.
After
Toggle label
Set Up Automatic Payments
Helper text
Your payments will be scheduled automatically based on your billing frequency.
What changed & why
  • "Turn On" implies a switch. "Set Up" frames this as establishing a billing schedule - more accurate to what actually happens.P7
  • "Will be charged automatically" → "scheduled automatically": reflects that payments are initiated/scheduled, not instantly charged.P2
3.2 · Auto-pay Enabled Disclosure
Before
Disclosure
BMI will charge your payment method based on your selected billing schedule. These payments will continue until you cancel through this portal or call (800) 925-8451 at least five days before the scheduled transfer date.
After
Disclosure
Payments will be initiated on your billing schedule. To make changes, visit this portal or call (800) 925-8451 at least five days before your next scheduled payment date.
What changed & why
  • "BMI will charge your payment method" sounds enforcement-oriented. "Payments will be initiated" is accurate and subscription-framed.P7 P6
  • "Scheduled transfer date" is banking jargon. "Next scheduled payment date" is what users understand.P5
3.3 · Disable Auto-pay Modal - Title & Body
Before
Modal title
Turn off Automatic Payments?
Body
This will change your billing from monthly to annually. Monthly billing requires Automatic Payments. You can re-enable Automatic Payments anytime to switch back.
After
Modal title
Switch to annual billing?
Body
Turning off automatic payments will move your billing to an annual schedule. You can re-enable automatic payments at any time to switch back to monthly.
What changed & why
  • Title reframed around the outcome (billing change) not the action (turning something off) - what users care about is what changes next.P7
  • "Monthly billing requires Automatic Payments" was a system constraint stated as a rule. The revised body explains the relationship naturally.P3
3.4 · Disable Auto-pay Modal - Buttons
Before
Primary
Continue
Secondary
Cancel
After
Primary
Switch to annual billing
Secondary
Keep monthly billing
What changed & why
  • "Continue" is vague in a destructive-action modal. Explicit labels reduce anxiety and accidental confirmations.P2
  • "Cancel" is ambiguous - cancel the action or the billing? "Keep monthly billing" is unambiguous and reduces cognitive load.P3
Section 04

Error Messages

4A · From Product Screenshots
4.1 · Payment Scheduling Failed (Modal)
Before
⚠️
Payment Scheduling Failed
Payment Scheduling failed due to technical error.
Try Another Way
After
⚠️
We couldn't schedule your payment
Something went wrong on our end. Your payment was not processed. Please try again or choose a different payment method.
Try a Different Method
What changed & why
  • "Payment Scheduling failed due to technical error" repeats the title and is cold. "We couldn't..." takes ownership and sounds human.P3
  • "Try Another Way" is vague. "Try a Different Method" tells the user exactly what to do next.P2
4.2 · Payment Scheduled, Setup Incomplete (Modal)
Before
🔴
Payment Scheduled, Setup Incomplete
Your payment is scheduled, but your license setup is not complete. You cannot access your Dashboard at this time. Contact BMI for assistance.
Contact Support
After
🔴
Payment confirmed. A few more steps needed.
Your payment is on track. We're still completing your license setup, so your dashboard isn't available just yet. Reach out if you need help in the meantime.
Contact Support
What changed & why
  • Title leads with the good news ("Payment confirmed") - separating the positive from the partial issue reduces unnecessary alarm.P3
  • "You cannot access your Dashboard" is phrased as a restriction. "Isn't available just yet" implies temporariness and is softer.P6
  • "Contact BMI for assistance" is impersonal. "Reach out if you need help" is warmer.P3
4.3 · Scheduled Maintenance (Modal)
Before
⚠️
Scheduled maintenance currently in progress
Payments are temporarily unavailable due to maintenance. Please try again later.
Close
Contact support
After
⚠️
Payments are temporarily unavailable
We're performing scheduled maintenance right now. Payments will be available again shortly. Your license information is safe.
Close
Contact Support
What changed & why
  • Title focuses on user impact; maintenance detail moves to the body where it belongs.P2
  • Added reassurance ("your license information is safe") - users in payment flows need to know their data is secure.P3
  • Standardized "Contact Support" capitalization for consistency.P8
4.4 · Scheduled Maintenance (Inline Banner)
Before
Banner
After
Banner
What changed & why
  • "Please try in some time" is grammatically awkward and vague. "Available again shortly" is natural and sets a clear expectation.P2
  • "We're performing" makes it human and accountable rather than an impersonal passive construction.P3
4B · Representative Examples
4.5 · Payment Failed (Modal)
Before
⚠️
Payment Failed
Your payment could not be processed.
Try Again
After
⚠️
We couldn't process this payment
Your payment didn't go through. Please check your payment details and try again, or use a different method.
Review Payment Details
What changed & why
  • System takes ownership ("We couldn't") rather than passive voice ("could not be processed").P3
  • Body tells the user what to do next - not just what happened. "Review Payment Details" is more specific than "Try Again".P2
4.6 · Invalid Card (Modal)
Before
⚠️
Invalid Card Details
The card information you entered is not valid.
Update Card
After
⚠️
We couldn't verify your card
Check the card number, expiration date, and CVV and try again. If the issue continues, use a different card or contact your bank.
Update Card Details
What changed & why
  • "Invalid Card Details" sounds like a system rejection. "We couldn't verify" is less judgmental - the system couldn't confirm it, not that the user did something wrong.P6
  • Body now tells the user exactly which fields to check - specific and actionable.P2
4.7 · Required Field (Inline Validation)
Before
Inline error
Legal Entity Name
This field is required.
After
Inline error
Legal Entity Name
Please complete this field to continue.
What changed & why
  • "This field is required" is a system instruction. "Please complete this field to continue" is human, explains the consequence, and reduces friction.P3 P8
4.8 · Confirm Business Info - Subtext
Before
Heading
Confirm Business Info
Subtext
Review your business name, details, and address so we can keep your license information accurate.
After
Heading
Confirm Your Business Details
Subtext
Review and update your business name, address, and contact details before continuing.
What changed & why
  • "So we can keep your license information accurate" frames the task as helping BMI's records - CRM-oriented. Revised subtext focuses entirely on the user's action.P6 P4
Section 05

Confirmation Messages

5.1 · Payment Scheduled - Title & Body
Before
Title
Payment Scheduled Successfully !
Body
Your payment is all set.
It will be processed shortly.
After
Title
Payment Scheduled
Body
Your payment has been scheduled. A receipt will be sent to your email, and your license will be updated once processing is complete.
What changed & why
  • "Successfully !" (including the errant space) is forced enthusiasm that doesn't match the calm, professional tone.P3
  • "All set" is casual filler. The revised body explains the two concrete things that happen next: receipt by email, license update on completion.P2
  • "Processed shortly" is vague and overpromises speed. Revised copy reflects what the system actually does without overstating immediacy.P2
5.2 · Payment Scheduled - CTA Button
Before
Button
Take me to the Dashboard
After
Button
Go to Dashboard
What changed & why
  • "Take me to the Dashboard" is playful in a way that doesn't match the product's professional tone. "Go to Dashboard" is clean, direct, and consistent with standard navigation conventions.P3 P8
5.3 · Confirm Business Contact - Heading & Subtext
Before
Heading
Confirm Business Contact Info
Subtext
Confirm the best way for us to reach you about your license.
After
Heading
Confirm Your Contact Details
Subtext
Review the contact details we'll use to send you updates about your license.
What changed & why
  • "Best way for us to reach you" is BMI-centric - it's about what BMI needs. Revised subtext explains what the information will be used for, putting the user first.P6 P4
  • "Business Contact Info" → "Your Contact Details": adds "your" consistently; drops "Business" which is redundant in context.P4 P8
5.4 · Email Field Helper Text
Before
Helper text
We'll use this to send you updates about your license
After
Helper text
License updates and receipts will be sent here
What changed & why
  • "We'll use this" can feel surveillance-adjacent. The revised helper is neutral and lists both types of communications (updates and receipts) - more accurate and useful.P6 P2
BMI Licensing Center · UI Copy Improvements · April 2026 Prepared by Enspirit · Confidential