Performing
Rights Societies
Performing rights societies are businesses designed to represent
songwriters and publishers and their right to be compensated for having their
music performed in public. Performing rights societies license music for all
types of public performances- including: television and radio stations,
auditoriums, restaurants, hotels, theme parks, malls, etc. The three major
societies are, ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.
| DESCRIPTION |
LINK |
| ASCAP
(American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) Created
in 1914, ASCAP boasts a membership of more than 120,000 U.S. composers,
songwriters and publishers, including everyone from Duke Ellington to
Beck, Tito Puente to Madonna. Last year ASCAP
paid $511 million to its members. |
http://www.ascap.com |
| BMI
(Broadcast Music International) The largest performing rights
society, BMI represents 300,000 songwriters, composers and music
publishers in all genres of music. Their roster includes; John Lennon,
Chuck Berry, David Bowie, as well as, Britney Spears and Eminem. |
http://www.bmi.com |
| SESAC
The smallest of the performing rights societies, SESAC has a policy of
quality over quantity. Once dealing primarily with European and gospel
music, SESAC has expanded to a repertory that includes music performed by
Garth Brooks, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Jimi Hendrix, and of
course Bob Dylan. |
http://www.sesac.com |
Music on the Web
| DESCRIPTION |
LINK |
| Listen’s Rhapsody player allows users to listen to
streaming music from independent labels for a small monthly fee. The San
Francisco based company has recently signed deals with BMG, EMI, Sony, WMG
and 46 independent labels. |
http://www.listen.com |
| MusicNet is a subscription service (partnered with
AOL and RealNetworks) that allows users to download and listen to
streaming music for a fee. |
http://www.musicnet.com |
| Pressplay is a joint venture between Sony and Vivendi
Universal. The site offers both downloadable and streaming music
subscription services. |
http://www.pressplay.com |
| Yahoo’s stab at online music features customized
streaming radio stations, music videos, access to the PressPlay
subscription service as well as album reviews, feature stories, and artist
interviews. |
http://www.launch.com |
| Gnutella is actually several sub clients. It is
a free distributed real-time peer-to-peer search and file sharing
application, which is also at the center of the music piracy controversy. |
http://www.gnutella.com |
| FMITV allows users to view streaming video of many
different genres including music videos. Also available are fashion show
clips, sports highlights, movie previews, and celebrity interviews. |
http://www.fmitv.com |
| Musicmatch Jukebox (a downloadable software program)
allows users to convert their CDs into MP3s for use in a playlist
function. It is also possible to create customized streaming internet
radio stations. The full software package retails for about $20.00. |
http://www.musicmatch.com |
| MP3.com allows users access to a wide range of free
downloadable music. |
http://www.mp3.com |
| IMUA offers free downloads from independents and up
and coming artists. |
http://www.iuma.com |
| The Ultimate Band List allows you to search the web
for sites dedicated to your favorite musicians, both official pages and
fan sites. |
http://ubl.com/
|
| Crunch is a content specific digital distribution
site that specializes in DJ performances. |
http://www.crunch.co.uk/
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Record Labels
Music Organizations
| DESCRIPTION |
LINK |
| The Recording Industry Association of America is the
trade group that represents the U.S. recording industry. Their mission is
to "foster a business and legal climate that supports and promotes
our members' creative and financial vitality." The RIAA also
certifies Gold, Platinum, and Diamond sales awards. |
http://www.riaa.com |
| The Recording Artist's Coalition is a nonprofit,
non-partisan coalition formed to represent the interests of recording
artists with regard to legislative issues in which corporate and artists'
interests conflict, and to address other public policy debates that come
before the music industry. It's members are recording artists. |
http://www.recordingartistscoalition.com |
| With over 250 local unions throughout the United States and
Canada, the American Federation of Musicians is the largest union
in the world, representing the interests of professional musicians. |
http://www.afm.org |
| The Future of Music Coalition is a not-for-profit
think tank based in Washington, DC. The FMC's primary goal is to educate
musicians and the public at large about some of the critical issues that
are shaping the policy debate in the music/technology space. |
http://www.futureofmusic.org/ |
| The website of the National Music Publisher’s
Association and its licensing arm, the Harry Fox Agency
provides music licensing news and publisher’s resources. |
http://www.nmpa.org |
Music Periodicals
Music Copyright Law
Search By Artist / Title / Publisher
Music Publishers
Artist Development
International Music Rights
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