Music Organizations

If you ever wondered what they
do, this may help you out.

Music organizations exist to help support, encourage and in some cases, protect musicians and the music industry as a whole. There are many varied music organizations that all have their own mission in helping musicians. The following is a list of some of the more well known organizations for the music industry.

Most of these organizations work to help ensure that copyrights for musical works are observed and that the proper person is receiving the correct amount of compensation for the use of that work. These organizations help to ensure that those in the music industry are receiving the payment that is due to them for the work that they have created.

Most of the following organizations are membership based, which means that they represent those in the musical industry that choose to be members of their organization. Some of the organizations work on only specific types of musical works while others cover all types. Most of the music organizations represent all those in the music industry, from songwriters to performers to publishers. Others specialize in representation of only certain groups within the industry. All of the organizations below are open to music in all genres.

ASCAP - American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers

ASCAP is an association made up of composers, songwriters, lyricists and music publishers in the United States. ASCAP also represents music creator’s world wide, as well. Members in ASCAP are actually responsible for the creation and control of the association.

The goal of ASCAP is to protect the rights of members through the licensing and distribution of royalties on their copyrighted work. ASCAP aids in making the process of allowing permission for use and requesting permission of use for copyrighted work simple.

AFM - American Federation of Musicians

AFM is a music organization that represents professional musicians in various aspects of their career. Some of the things that the AFM does for musicians include negotiating agreements, protecting ownership of work, securing benefits and lobbying.

The mission of the AFM is to help ensure that musicians can work freely, be compensated fairly, have a voice in how they are treated and have the ability to grow creatively. The AFM serves as a major player in ensuring that musicians are able to work without having to deal with improper treatment or losing out on anything they are rightly owed.

AIMP - Association of Independent Music Publishers

AIMP is focused on educating and informing music publishers about industry trends and practices. AIMP serves as a forum where music publishers can discuss issues and problems. It is not limited to just publishers, though. AIMP also welcomes all people from the entertainment industry.

BMI - Broadcast Music Inc.

BMI is responsible for collecting license fees for songwriters, composers and publishers. BMI collects the fees and then distributes them to members as royalties. BMI also issues licenses. The organization was founded by radio executives to help ensure there was diversity and choice in the area of performing rights representation. Members who join BMI can count on the organization to help ensure they get timely payment and proper payment for their work when it is used by others.

HFA - The Harry Fox Agency

HFA is the leading organization that handles licensing, collecting and the distribution of royalties to music publishers. HFA is part of the National Music Publisher's Association and has the main mission of serving as a clearinghouse and information source for the licensing of musical copyrights. HFA focuses on mechanical rights, which are used for obtaining permission to perform music in live public performances.

NMPA - National Music Publishers Association

The NMPA is a publishing trade association. This music organization has over 800 members and works to help protect, promote and take forward the interests of those who create music. The NMPA is a major voice for music publishers of all sizes and works to help ensure property rights are protected on all fronts. The NMPA is very active in negotiations that help to shape the current and future face of the music industry.

SESAC

SESAC is a performing rights organization that works for both songwriters and publishers to help ensure they receive payment for the use of their work when publicly performed. SESAC is located in Nashville on Music Row. Offices are also located in New York, London, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Miami.

U.S. Copyright Office

The U.S. Copyright Office is a government agency that ensures protection for creative works. This includes music, among other creative pieces. A copyright is basically ownership of a creative piece of work so that others may not use it without the owner's permission or without properly compensating the owner. Copyrighting is very important in the music industry so those that create music professionally can get payment for the work they produce and offers protection so others cannot use the work as their own.

Having representation and support of music organizations like those above is important within the music industry. Music is a creative art. There is no tangible product that can be protected. Anyone can use someone else's work and attempt to claim it as their own. This is why these music organizations exist. They help to ensure that those who do create these works of art have some protection so nobody can take what they have created and call it their own. Without organizations like these protecting the music industry there would not likely be much of a profit and many artists, producers and songwriters would change professions simply because they would be unable to make a living from doing it.