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A Message from Beth Matthews: Impact of COVID-19 on ASCAP royalties

We are all facing the devastating consequences of COVID-19, which has hit all of us personally. While health and safety are our first priorities, we also take seriously our duty to ensure that you continue to receive a steady flow of royalties so that you can pay your bills and feed your families. While there are many unknowns at this time, I would like to take this opportunity to explain what we can about how the negative economic impact of this virus will impact your ASCAP distributions.

An Update from Paul Williams During the Pandemic

I want you to know that ASCAP is doing everything possible to meet this challenge on your behalf and to ensure the flow of royalties to our members. For the first time in over a century, with ASCAP employees working entirely from home, we were pleased to have delivered our First Quarter Publisher Distribution on March 20, and we are on track to deliver our Second Quarter Writer Distribution on Tuesday, April 28. As COVID-19 has continued to escalate and more and more of our licensee businesses have shut down, we have had to transition to a more flexible distribution schedule throughout the remainder of 2020 and 2021.

Legendary ASCAP Soul Singer-Songwriter Bill Withers Has Died

Bill Withers, the legendary and Grammy Award-winning soul singer-songwriter behind the timeless hits “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Lovely Day,” “Just the Two of Us,” “Use Me,” “Grandma’s Hands” and “Lean on Me,” has died at the age of 81.

In Memoriam: ASCAP Family We Lost to COVID-19

The music community has been hit hard by COVID-19. Here are some of our beloved ASCAP family members we have lost during the pandemic. May their legacies live on through the music they’ve left us.

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