General
Canadian University Music Society (CUMS)
Musicology
American Musicological Society (AMS)
International Musicological Society (IMS)
Ethnomusicology and World Music
British Forum for Ethnomusicology (BFE)
Canadian Society for Traditional Music (CSTM)
International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM)
Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM)
American Music
Society for American Music (SAM)
British Music
North American British Music Studies Association (NABMSA)
Theory
Society for Music Analysis (SMA)
Society for Music Theory (SMT)
Composition
American Composers Alliance (ACA)
American Composers Forum (ACF)
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)
Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)
Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC)
Music Education
American String Teachers Association (ASTA)
Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations (CFMTA)
International Society for Music Education (ISME)
Music Educators National Convention (MENC)
Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)
National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors (NACWPI)
Rock and Popular Music
International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM)
Music and Technology
Association for Technology in Music Instruction (ATMI)
International Conference on Music Information Retrieval (ISMIR)
Musical Instruments and Organology
American Musical Instrument Society (AMIS)
Music Perception and Cognition
Society for Music Perception and Cognition
Music Librarianship
Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC)
Canadian Association of MusicLibraries, Archives, and Documentation Centres (CAML)
International Association of MusicLibraries, Archives and Documentation Centres (IAML)
Music Library Association (MLA)
Performance Rights Organizations (PRO)
Musical compositions constitute intellectual property that belongs to its artists, the creators of the works. The role of performing rights organizations (PRO) is to ensure musicians are rightfully compensated for use of their music.
Several Performing rights organizations (PRO) exists – American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), and SESAC, formerly the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers.
Wherever music is used (that is not for personal use) permission is required – be it Bars, restaurants, wedding halls, radio and television network/cable stations, over the Internet. And the permission usually comes in the form a fee-based license.
The PRO collects fees and pays out royalties to its members (artists).
A blanket license to play copyrighted music usually costs from a few hundred dollars a year into the thousands, depending upon the music used, nature of use and which PRO is involved.
PROs do a commendable job of ensuring business establishments pay for the music; their field representatives visit establishments throughout the country to make sure rules are being followed.
Those caught without license are usually given a warning the first time (and an application to buy a license). However, the next time you’re caught playing music without a proper license, fines can be huge.
Difference between BMI, ASCAP and SESAC
There are three main PROs operating in the United States of America: BMI, ASCAP and SESAC.
- American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is the oldest PRO in the US.
- SESAC stands for Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC) – its very selective of its members.
- Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is the youngest of the three
- A more recent PRO is SoundExchange
These PROs work only in the United States, and represent artists based only in the United States, and they collect royalties for the performances that only occur in the United States.
All three charge a fee for their services, which is deducted from the royalties of the artists and publishers.
Here are the key differences:
- BMI and ASCAP are not-for-profit businesses (not driven to make a profit). SESAC, on the other hand, is a private company, which means that it is driven by the profit model.
- ASCAP is run by its own members. They also regularly conducts Workshops & Conventions for its members and industry officials.
- SESAC & BMI is run by Radio and television broadcasters. BMI also conducts conventions for its members and industry officials.
- SESAC is very selective about the members it takes on.
AMP: Association of Music Producers
It Stands for the “Association of Music Producers (AMP)”.
It was founded in 1998 and is now a national organization with Chapters in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Austin, and Miami.
It was formed to address the common goals and concerns of those who make the music. Some of the matters where it is actively involved include:
- Music production guidelines
- Composer royalties and Rights Agreements
- Educating its members
- Music production, from creation to final use.
- Advertising to various media communities
- Increase awareness, consciousness and fund-raising events
So how does it differ from other ad agency ceremonies such as Cannes Lions or the Clios? Well, they tend to focus on overall creativity whereas AMP is specifically for achievements in music.
The AMP Awards include the following categories:
- Best Original Song
- Best Original Score
- Outstanding Adaptation or Arrangement
- Best Use of a Licensed Song
- Best Sound Design
- Most Effective Use of Music in a Campaign
- Best Use of Music For a Film or Game Promo/Trailer
- Best Use of Music in Interactive Branding or Web
- Outstanding Mix.
AMP is a trade group that represents anyone who produces or places music in commercials, and that includes everyone from music production companies to supervisors at ad agencies to record labels to publishers.
Music Producers Guild (UK)
The Music Producers Guild is supported by producers and engineers passionate about making and recording music. It’s a not-for-profit company and is run by volunteers from the members.
This creative community celebrates their achievements through the annual MPG Awards event.
You can read the various discussions and debate on their website: mpg.org.uk
You may join the MPG to:
- Add your voice to the music industry
- Network with other people from your field
- Learn from top music production professionals
- Exchange ideas with other professionals
- Benefit from regular meetings, information forums and seminars.
- Check out equipment demonstrations and studio visits
- Learn more about the legal and financial aspects of music.
- Get discounts on equipment hire, purchase, and other relevant industry services
Useful Links
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