American Society
of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)
ASCAP is a membership association of over 240,000 U.S. composers,
songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers of every kind of
music. Through agreements with affiliated international societies,
ASCAP also represents hundreds of thousands of music creators
worldwide. 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.
Association
of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP)
AIMP is dedicated to serving the independent music publishing
community by providing continuing professional education, analysis
of trends and developments in creative, business, and legal
areas, music copyright exploitation opportunities, and opportunities
to cultivate professional relationships in a collegial environment.
Broadcast Music
International (BMI)
BMI is an American performing rights organization that represents
more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers
in all genres of music. The non-profit-making company, founded
in 1939, collects license fees on behalf of those American creators
it represents, as well as thousands of creators from around
the world who chose BMI for representation in the United States.
The license fees BMI collects for the "public performances"
of its repertoire of more than 6.5 million compositions - including
radio airplay, broadcast and cable television carriage, Internet
and live and recorded performances by all other users of music
- are then distributed as royalties to the writers, composers
and copyright holders it represents.
Canadian Musical
Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd. (CMRRA)
CMRRA is a non-profit music licensing agency, which represents
the vast majority of music copyright owners doing business in
Canada.
The Copyright
Society of the U.S.A. (CSUSA)
CSUSA is a non-profit corporation that was organized in
1953 to foster interest in and advance the study of copyright
law and the rights in literature, music, art, the theatre, motion
pictures, and other forms of intellectual property.
The Hal
Leonard Corporation is the world’s largest print music
publisher. For more than 50 years, Hal Leonard has been publishing
and distributing publications and products for virtually every
instrument and performance group.
The Harry
Fox Agency (HFA)
HFA is the foremost mechanical licensing, collection, and distribution
agency for U.S. music publishers. HFA’s processes, culture,
and technology are client-driven and results-oriented. HFA continually
strives to add value and strength to the music rights industry.
National Music
Publisher Association (NMPA)
Since 1917, NMPA has been a strong and effective champion
for the protection of music copyrights in an age of rapid technological
changes. NMPA was a leading voice for music publishers in connection
with the enactment of the Copyright Act of 1976, and has successfully
advocated amendments to that Act where necessary to protect
the interests of music copyright owners. Currently representing
over 800 American music publishers, NMPA has worked to interpret
copyright law, educate the public about licensing, and safeguard
the interests of its members. To insure a fair and orderly market
for everyone involved in music publishing, NMPA is dedicated
to the protection of music copyright across all media and across
all national boundaries.
SESAC
is the most innovative and fastest growing performing rights
organization in the United States, with headquarters in Nashville
and offices in New York, Los Angeles, and London. Currently
celebrating its 75th year of operation, SESAC was founded in
1930, making it the second oldest PRO in the United States.
SESAC's repertory, once limited to European and gospel music,
has diversified to include today's most popular music, including
R&B/hip-hop, dance, rock classics, country hits, the best
of Latina music, Contemporary Christian, the coolest jazz, and
the television and film music of Hollywood’s hottest composers.
The
United States Copyright Office
The U.S. Copyright Office is proud to be part of a long
tradition of promoting progress of the arts and protection for
the works of authors. This office serves the copyright community
of creators and users, as well as the general public. Available
on this site are key publications, including information circulars,
application forms for copyright registration, links to the copyright
law, and to the homepages of other copyright-related organizations,
as well as a link to online copyright records cataloged since
1978.
