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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, introduced only last year, 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. There is a line on the enclosed
membership renewal form on which to insert your ASCAP fee. Remember 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 250,000 songwriter, composer, lyricist,
and music publisher members, provides an annual license at a reasonable fl
at 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
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License |
