NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — 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 performing rights organization, has long been driven by the talent and vision of its music creator members. ASCAP has reached 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." –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
