ASCAP Tops 300,000 Members
Milestone Underscores Diversity and Growth of World's Leading Performing Rights Organization
| Source: ASCAP
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - August 13, 2007) - From Irving Berlin to Beyoncé, George Gershwin
to Green Day, Henry Mancini to Joan Sebastian, Duke Ellington to Hans
Zimmer, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP),
the first and leading performing rights organization, has long been driven
by the talent and vision of its music creator members. Today, ASCAP
announced a new milestone: the number of songwriters, composers and music
publishers to join the Society has now surpassed 300,000, providing the
voice of the music creator with increasing strength and influence in the
future of the music industry.
With reported record revenues of $785 million and royalty payments of $680
million for 2006, as well as an all-time low operating expense ratio of
12.0 percent, ASCAP emphasizes that its membership is the focal point of
the organization. Founded in 1914, ASCAP is the only U.S. performing
rights organization created and controlled by composers, songwriters and
music publishers, with a Board of Directors elected by and from the
membership. During its 93-year history, ASCAP has developed a robust
membership. In 2006 alone ASCAP elected over 40,000 new members.
"Today, the range of media, delivery systems and venues for performances of
music is vast and expanding," said ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento. "Music is
everywhere and the fact that the public wants to discover new music and
listen to music all the time, wherever they are and whatever they are
doing, attests to music's popularity and importance. Music creators are
joining ASCAP in record numbers because, in the face of such great change
in the music industry, they see the value in a member-run organization
whose sole interest is in protecting their rights and cultivating their
careers."
Reflecting the continuing evolution of the musical spectrum, ASCAP's
repertory of over 8.5 million songs represents all genres of music. And,
with ASCAP membership now growing by over 700 music creators a week, to
celebrate the 300,000th member milestone, ASCAP presents the profiles of
new members that are typical of today's ASCAP: up-and-coming pop/rock
bands The Amaury and The Undeserving; established bluegrass family band
Cherryholmes, teenage rap phenomenon Lil' Mama; award-winning television
composers Jeff Lippencott and Mark T. Williams; and legendary Regional
Mexican music icon Ramon Ayala. Cherryholmes, Ayala, Lippencott and
Williams switched from another performing rights society to join ASCAP,
further emphasizing ASCAP's leadership and the advantages of
member-ownership. To view profiles of these new members and check out their
music, please visit http://www.ascap.com/playback/2007/summer/new_members/.
As music creators pursue their goals in the industry and make their living
writing music, many join ASCAP to leverage the organization's wide range of
customized member benefits. Some of the value-added benefits ASCAP has
created for its members include: MusicPro Insurance®, which provides
affordable insurance for music professionals; Mediaguide, a
state-of-the-art music tracking service; and the annual ASCAP "I Create
Music" EXPO which helps attendees obtain the knowledge, tools and contacts
to maximize their success and inspire their work. ASCAP also offers a wide
variety of retail, travel and association discounts. For more information
about ASCAP or how to become a member, please visit http://www.ascap.com
About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers) is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization
representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million
copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 300,000
songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP also represents
the repertories created by the international affiliates of 90 foreign
performing rights organizations. ASCAP protects the rights of its members
and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their
copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed
performances. ASCAP is the only American Performing Rights Organization
owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com