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Sponsor of 9th Annual LA Music Awards
What Is ASCAP?
We are the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), a membership association of more than 540,000 US composers, songwriters, lyricists and music publishers of every kind of music. Through agreements with affiliated international societies, we also represent hundreds of thousands of music creators worldwide. We are the only US performing rights organization created and controlled by composers, songwriters and music publishers, with a Board of Directors elected by and from our membership.
We protect the rights of ASCAP members by licensing and distributing royalties for the non-dramatic public performances of their copyrighted works. Our licensees encompass all who want to perform copyrighted music publicly. We make giving and obtaining permission to perform music simple for both creators and music users.
We’re also committed to nurturing music makers throughout their careers. Visit our Career Development page for more information on our roster of workshops, award programs, grants and showcases open to ASCAP members.
Who Is ASCAP?
We are our members — creative people who write the music and lyrics that enrich lives in every corner of the world.
ASCAP is home to the greatest names in American music, past and present — from Duke Ellington to Katy Perry, from George Gershwin to Jay-Z, from Leonard Bernstein to Beyoncé, from Marc Anthony to Alan Jackson, from Henry Mancini to Hans Zimmer — as well as many thousands of writers in the earlier stages of their careers across the entire musical spectrum.
Our members are individuals who make their living writing music. We know that there are many steps between creation and compensation. A music creator is like a small business, and we exist to ensure that ASCAP members are paid promptly and fairly when their compositions are performed publicly.
Click here to find out more about ASCAP’s long history of helping music creators thrive.