Ninety years ago, a group of about 100 songwriters, composers and publishers met in Manhattan to discuss a radical idea -- the formation of a society of music creators, for music creators and by music creators to collect and distribute royalties for the performances of their music. That meeting became the official founding of ASCAP, a momentous event that would change the future of music.

This year, as ASCAP celebrates its 90th birthday, the Society is very healthy. Our membership has grown considerably this past year – we now have close to 180,000 active members – and our revenue continues on an upward path every year. With advancements in technology, such as in the areas of the Internet, satellite radio and ringtone use, and with our improved ability to track music through ASCAP’s development of the innovative Mediaguide system, new revenue streams are flourishing.

While the debate over online piracy continues unabated, we at ASCAP remain vigilant in our protection of our members’ copyrights. It doesn’t matter what form a transmission of music takes place. In compliance with the copyright law, if it is a performance for profit that goes from Point A to Point B, with the beginning of that point being a creator, then the creator should be compensated for that work.

This year there are important legislative issues at play that are of major concern to songwriters and publishers. The issue of compulsory licensing is a red flag that we are watching closely. On another front, we are attempting to pass legislation that would abolish the deplorable system of deciding copyright royalties through CARPs, Copyright Royalty Arbitration Panels. A consensus has developed to abolish this offensive system and return to the system of a copyright royalty tribunal. The House of Representatives has approved the legislation, which now awaits approval by the Senate.

We are fortunate that ASCAP has made great strides in establishing the presence of the songwriter in Washington and we are now on the radar screen there. In fact, there are two senators who are ASCAP members: the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Orrin Hatch and Florida Senator Bob Graham. I think they and many of their colleagues well understand what creator’s rights are.

Finally, since it is awards season, I would like to personally congratulate all of ASCAP's recent Grammy and Academy Award winners. Your success helps make ASCAP the leading performing rights organization in the world.

Marilyn Bergman
President and Chairman of the Board