AACT and ASCAP (the American Society of
Composers, Authors and Publishers) are pleased to offer AACT members a
tremendous discount on the Community Theatre License.
ASCAP's Community Theatre license covers the theatre for the AACT membership
year at all its venues for copyrighted pre-show, intermission, and post-show
music played by means other than live performers, such as CD's and tapes.
(The Community Theatre license does not cover recorded music during a play
or music performed live, such as in a musical revue or a string quartet
performing during a gala reception.)
The Community Theatre license year is September 1 - August 31. Theatres that
sign up through the AACT office by August 31 will receive a 30% discount on
the ASCAP license fee. AACT membership is required to receive the discounted
ASCAP rate. Both membership and ASCAP fees must be received in the AACT
office by August 31, along with a signed ASCAP license. (AACT member
theatres that miss the AACT group deadline can sign up directly with ASCAP
and receive a 10% discount.)
For more information about the AACT/ASCAP
agreement and discount program, see documents below.
Perhaps you are wondering, "Why do we need permission to play music?" or,
"What is ASCAP?" The answers are straightforward. You wouldn't perform a
copyrighted play without getting a license and paying royalties to the
author, usually through a royalty house or agent. The same applies to
copyrighted music. The copyright law requires users to receive permission to
perform copyrighted music publicly. This law applies even if you are playing
a mechanical recording, rather than performing the music live.
Remember, the composer's only payment for the creative work is usually
through royalties. Sure, a small fraction of the amount you paid to purchase
the CD or tape was for royalties to the songwriter or composer (almost all
of the amount you paid goes to the record company and performer), but that
was for private listening - you and a few friends - not for public
presentation. Composers and songwriters rely on public performance royalties
to earn a living. ASCAP makes that happen.
ASCAP is the oldest, largest, and foremost organization in the United States
that licenses the right to publicly perform copyrighted musical
compositions. ASCAP makes it easy to legally utilize music because it is a
membership organization representing more than 320,000 songwriter, composer,
lyricist, and music publisher members, provides an annual license at a
reasonable flat fee, and doesn't require submission of a list of songs to be
played. In addition, the vast ASCAP repertory to which licensees have
unlimited access--millions and millions of works--is listed on the ASCAP
website (www.ascap.com) so it is easy to determine if ASCAP handles a
particular song.Documents
[in PDF format]
ASCAP
Q&A's |
Rate Schedule
|
License
| |
