Sep 09 2015

National Music Council And Music Publishers Association Announce 2015 Copyright Awareness Scholarship Winners

After reviewing hundreds of applications for the 2015 Copyright Awareness Scholarship we are pleased to announce this year’s big winners!

First Prize ($5,000) went to Hannah Paine for her heartfelt and honest take on the value of music. Hannah, who just completed her first year at Chapman University, is studying film production.


Second prize ($3,000) went to Jordan Hendrickson. Jordan, who just graduated from High School in Luck Wisconsin, is headed to the Milwaukee School of Engineering to study Software Engineering.

Third prize ($2,000) went to Lorena Durán for her artistic take on the subject; her video asks the viewer to think about what happens when we dilute art. Lorena is a graduate student in film at NYU.

With so many outstanding submissions this year it was hard to select just three winners. The National Music Council and the Music Publishers Association would like to acknowledge the excellent work of our finalists:

Christopher Delgado, Palm Beach, FL
Victoria Miller, Sarasota, FL
Noelani Rachel Min, Memphis, TN
Alex Nazarchuk, Fife, WA
David Ramirez, Pembroke Pines, FL
Alex Rennie, Santa Fe, NM
Ryan Rusin, Garden Grove, CA

We are certain that each and every one of these students have a bright future ahead of them.

And to all of the brave students who stood up to the challenge to tell us why copyright and intellectual property are important, we commend them! We know so much work goes into these projects and look forward to viewing the creative and fantastic things that come from the minds of our applicants.

The Copyright Awareness Scholarship was created in 2010 by the Music Publishers Association to help students learn more about intellectual property and copyright. The MPA has since joined with the National Music Council to help cast a wider net and reach a larger audience of students.

For more information please contact scholarship@mpa.org.

Founded in 1895, the Music Publishers Association is the oldest music trade organization in the United States, fostering communication among publishers, dealers, music educators, and all ultimate users of music.

The National Music Council is celebrating its 75th year as a forum for the free discussion of this country’s national music affairs and challenges. Through the cooperative work of its member organizations, the NMC promotes and supports music and music education as an integral part of the curricula in the schools of our nation, and in the lives of its citizens. The Council provides for the exchange of information and coordination of efforts among its member organizations and speaks with one voice for the music community whenever an authoritative expression of opinion is desirable.

Jul 23 2015

NMC Mourns the Loss of Theodore Bikel

The National Music Council is profoundly saddened to note the passing of legendary performer and civil rights activist Theodore Bikel. Bikel was honored with the Council’s American Eagle Award in 2012 in recognition of his unique contribution to the artistry, development, and appreciation of music in America and for his pioneering work as an ambassador of American music to the world.

Jul 23 2015

National Music Council Presents 2015 American Eagle Awards to Kris Kristofferson, Jim Lauderdale, Jim Halsey, Sherman Halsey & Music Makes Us

Nashville July 11, 2015 – The National Music Council continued its 75th Anniversary Celebrations by bringing its Annual American Eagle Awards presentation to Nashville for the very first time on July 11th as part of the Summer NAMM Show events. The highly prestigious Eagle Awards, are presented each year in national celebration of an individual’s or an organization’s long term contribution to America’s musical culture and heritage.

This year, music legends Kris Kristofferson and Jim Lauderdale were honored, along with country music management icon Jim Halsey and country music producer/director Sherman Halsey. A special award was presented to the Nashville Mayor’s Office, Metro Nashville Public Schools, and Country Music Association & Foundation, for the creation and support of the Music Makes Us arts education initiative.

This year’s celebration included tributes to the honorees by a host of musical greats, including Rosanne Cash, Jack Ingram, The Oak Ridge Boys, Dwight Yoakam, and John Oates.

Dr. David Sanders, director of the National Music Council, notes that the individual recipients are being honored, “not just for the incredible gifts they have given generations of music lovers throughout the world with their creative output… but also for their dedication to encouraging young musicians– and potential musicians – through their great support and commitment to music education.”

Past American Eagle Award recipients include Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Clive Davis, Van Cliburn, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Morton Gould, Dave Brubeck, Marian Anderson, Max Roach, Lena Horne, Roy Clark, Elliott Carter, Roberta Peters, Odetta, Leonard Slatkin, Stephen Sondheim, Sesame Street, Hard Rock Cafe and VH1 Save the Music Foundation. This year’s event in Nashville marks the 32nd year of formal presentations of the Awards.

The awards were preceded by the Council’s annual Leadership in Music symposium, this year focusing on “Fair Trade Music,” with a panel of leading songwriters moderated by NMC board member Charles Sanders. The symposium featured the New York Emmy award winning animation created by the NMC and the Music Publishers Association of the United States as part of a primary school lesson plan that encourages kids to think about the ramifications of taking other people’s creative works without permission. Sanders frames the animated piece as “part of a world-wide effort by creators to change the narrative in terms of fostering an understanding that the online protection of creative works enhances freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas, rather than encroaching on them.“

The National Music Council is celebrating its 75th year as a forum for the free discussion of this country’s national music affairs and challenges. Founded in 1940 to act as a clearing house for the joint opinion and decision of its members and to work to strengthen the importance of music in our life and culture, the Council’s initial membership of 13 has grown to almost 50 national music organizations, encompassing every important form of professional and commercial musical activity.

Through the cooperative work of its member organizations, the National Music Council promotes and supports music and music education as an integral part of the curricula in the schools of our nation, and in the lives of its citizens. The Council provides for the exchange of information and coordination of efforts among its member organizations and speaks with one voice for the music community whenever an authoritative expression of opinion is desirable.

Jun 15 2015

NMC Mourns the Passing of Jim Ed Brown

The National Music Council is profoundly saddened to note the passing of legendary songwriter and performer Jim Ed Brown. Jim was scheduled to appear at the annual American Eagle Awards gala this coming July 11 in Nashville, Tennessee. He will be missed that day, and every day, by all those many in the music community who loved and admired him. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.

May 20 2015

National Music Council presents: Songwriters Fair Trade Panel at Summer NAMM in Nashville

National Music Council presents: Songwriters Fair Trade Panel
2015 Summer NAMM
Saturday, July 11, 2015
9:00-10:00 am
Nashville Music City Center, Room 205

The concept that industries around the world can be financially strengthened by voluntarily joining in support of “Fair Trade” agreements is a trend that has taken hold in the 21st century. The Fair Trade Coffee movement is just one example among many of how the public’s support for ensuring fair treatment to everyone in an industry’s value chain can both build more financially robust businesses and protect the rights and livelihoods of individuals. Establishment of the Fair Trade Music movement is well underway, and under the guidance of the leaders of the North American songwriter and recording artist communities, making huge strides toward ensuring the future economic health of music creators through fair royalty payments and respect for intellectual property rights. Join us, and songwriter panelists Rick Carnes, Eddie Schwartz and others, to discuss these exciting new developments.

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Apr 27 2015

National Music Council Announces Special Award To Nashville Mayor’s Office, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Country Music Association & CMA Foundation for Music Makes Us Initiative

New York, New York – The National Music Council will continue its 75th Anniversary Celebrations by bringing its Annual American Eagle Awards presentation to Nashville, Tennessee, for the very first time on July 11, 2015.  A special award will be presented to the Nashville Mayor’s Office, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Country Music Association & CMA Foundation, for the creation and support of the Music Makes Us arts education initiative.

A joint effort of Metro Nashville Public Schools, Mayor Karl Dean and music industry and community leaders, the Music Makes Us® initiative is being recognized as a national model for music education. With a focus on music literacy and student participation, and generous funding from the Country Music Association and CMA Foundation, Music Makes Us has strengthened Nashville’s traditional school music programs while adding a contemporary curriculum that embraces new technologies and reflects a diverse musical landscape.
 
The vision of Music Makes Us is for all Kindergarten through Grade 12 students in MNPS to have access to high quality traditional and/or contemporary music instruction that is standards-based and sequential, taught by highly qualified music educators and enhanced by a network of music professionals, music industry and community based organizations from the Nashville community and beyond.

The highly prestigious Eagle Awards are presented each year in national celebration of an individual’s or an organization’s long term contribution to America’s musical culture and heritage.  This year, music legends Kris Kristofferson, Charley Pride and Jim Lauderdale will be honored, along with music management icon Jim Halsey and country music producer/director Sherman Halsey.

Dr. David Sanders, director of the National Music Council, notes that the individual recipients are being honored “not just for the incredible gifts they have given generations of music lovers throughout the world with their creative output, but also for their dedication to encouraging young musicians and potential musicians through their great support and commitment to music education.”

Past American Eagle Award recipients include Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Clive Davis, Van Cliburn, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Morton Gould, Dave Brubeck, Marian Anderson, Max Roach, Lena Horne, Roy Clark, Elliott Carter, Roberta Peters, Odetta, Leonard Slatkin, Stephen Sondheim, Sesame Street, Hard Rock Cafe and VH1 Save the Music Foundation.  This year’s event in Nashville will mark the 32nd year of formal presentations of the Awards.

The event will also feature the New York Emmy award winning animation created by the NMC and the Music Publishers Association of the United States, as part of a primary school lesson plan that encourages kids to think about the ramifications of taking other people’s creative works without permission. Sanders frames the animated piece as “part of a world-wide effort by creators to change the narrative in terms of fostering an understanding that the online protection of creative works enhances freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas, rather than encroaching on them.“

The National Music Council is celebrating its 75th year as a forum for the free discussion of this country’s national music affairs and challenges. Founded in 1940 to act as a clearinghouse for the joint opinion and decision of its members and to work to strengthen the importance of music in our life and culture, the Council’s initial membership of 13 has grown to almost 50 national music organizations, encompassing every important form of professional and commercial musical activity.

Through the cooperative work of its member organizations, the National Music Council promotes and supports music and music education as an integral part of the curricula in the schools of our nation, and in the lives of its citizens. The Council provides for the exchange of information and coordination of efforts among its member organizations and speaks with one voice for the music community whenever an authoritative expression of opinion is desirable.

Proceeds from the event support the Council’s music education advocacy efforts. For ticket and sponsorship information contact: NMC Director David Sanders at sandersd@mail.montclair.edu

Apr 27 2015

National Music Council Set To Honor Kris Kristofferson, Charley Pride, Jim Lauderdale, Jim & Sherman Halsey and Others at 32nd Annual American Eagle Awards in Nashville

New York City – The National Music Council will continue its 75th Anniversary Celebrations by bringing its Annual American Eagle Awards presentation to Nashville for the very first time on July 11th. The highly prestigious Eagle Awards are presented each year in national celebration of an individual’s or an organization’s long term contribution to America’s musical culture and heritage.

This year, music legends Kris Kristofferson, Charley Pride and Jim Lauderdale will be honored, along with country music management icon Jim Halsey and country music producer/director Sherman Halsey. A special award will be presented to the Nashville Mayor’s Office, Metro Nashville Public Schools, and Country Music Association & Foundation, for the creation and support of the Music Makes Us arts education initiative.

This year’s celebration will include tributes to the honorees by a host of musical greats, including Rosanne Cash, Jack Ingram, The Oak Ridge Boys, and John Oates.

Dr. David Sanders, director of the National Music Council, notes that the individual recipients are being honored, “not just for the incredible gifts they have given generations of music lovers throughout the world with their creative output, but also for their dedication to encouraging young musicians – and potential musicians – through their great support and commitment to music education.”

Past American Eagle Award recipients include Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Clive Davis, Van Cliburn, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Morton Gould, Dave Brubeck, Marian Anderson, Max Roach, Lena Horne, Roy Clark, Elliott Carter, Roberta Peters, Odetta, Leonard Slatkin, Stephen Sondheim, Sesame Street, Hard Rock Cafe and VH1 Save the Music Foundation. This year’s event in Nashville will mark the 32nd year of formal presentations of the Awards.

The awards will be preceded by the Council’s annual Leadership in Music symposium, focusing on “Fair Trade Music,” with a panel of leading songwriters moderated by NMC board member Charles Sanders. The symposium will also feature the New York Emmy award winning animation created by the NMC and the Music Publishers Association of the United States as part of a primary school lesson plan that encourages kids to think about the ramifications of taking other people’s creative works without permission. Sanders frames the animated piece as “part of a world-wide effort by creators to change the narrative in terms of fostering an understanding that the online protection of creative works enhances freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas, rather than encroaching on them.”

The National Music Council is celebrating its 75th year as a forum for the free discussion of this country’s national music affairs and challenges. Founded in 1940 to act as a clearing house for the joint opinion and decision of its members and to work to strengthen the importance of music in our life and culture, the Council’s initial membership of 13 has grown to almost 50 national music organizations, encompassing every important form of professional and commercial musical activity.

Through the cooperative work of its member organizations, the National Music Council promotes and supports music and music education as an integral part of the curricula in the schools of our nation, and in the lives of its citizens. The Council provides for the exchange of information and coordination of efforts among its member organizations and speaks with one voice for the music community whenever an authoritative expression of opinion is desirable.

Proceeds from the event support the Council’s music education advocacy efforts.

For more information on schedule, location details, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.musiccouncil.org or contact National Music Council Director David Sanders at sandersd@montclair.edu

Mar 26 2015

Ask Congress to #StandWithSongwriters

The Songwriter Equity Act has been reintroduced. Take action now!

We are happy to report that Senators Hatch (R-UT), Whitehouse (D-RI), Alexander (R-TN), and Corker (R-TN) and Representatives Collins (R-GA) and Jeffries (D-NY) have recently reintroduced the Songwriter Equity Act in the new Congress.

This legislation, which was first introduced early last year, is important to music creators because it addresses two outdated sections of the US Copyright Act that currently limit your ability to get paid fairly when your music is streamed. We must deliver this message to Congress.

Background:
Songwriters, composers and music publishers rely on the royalty income they earn through two separate rights: the right to publicly perform their music works, and the right to make and distribute mechanical reproductions of those works.

Two outdated portions of the US Copyright Act, Section 114(i) and Section 115, currently prevent songwriters and composers from receiving royalties that reflect the fair market value of their intellectual property. This inequity harms America’s songwriters, composers and music publishers in the digital age.

To remedy this, SEA would allow a “rate court” to consider other royalty rates as evidence when establishing digital performance rates for songwriters and composers, and it would also adapt a fair rate standard for reproduction (mechanical) licenses.

Statement from ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams:

“The Songwriter Equity Act represents an important first step toward updating an outdated music licensing system that treats songwriters differently than other copyright owners and prevents us from earning a fair market royalty rate when our music is streamed or downloaded online. We are grateful to Senators Hatch, Whitehouse, Alexander and Corker and Representatives Collins and Jeffries for their efforts to attract bipartisan support for these simple and reasonable changes. They are vital to ensuring that next generation American songwriters are able to make a living creating the music we all love. We look forward to working with policymakers to reform the broader regulatory framework, including ASCAP’s outdated consent decree with the DOJ, so that music licensing better reflects the way people listen to music today.”

Click here to Take Action Now

Thank you in advance for your participation!

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Mar 05 2015

NMC Supports NY State Music Tax Credit Legislation – Join Us in Our Advocacy Effort

Legislation is pending in Albany that would provide a tax credit for music that is created and produced in New York. The legislation was conceived by Brooklyn Assemblyman Joe Lentol, and is championed by a coalition called New York is Music. The National Music Council supports the measure, and encourages the music community – especially those residing in NY State – to demonstrate to Assemblyman Lentol and the coalition that we are with them. Sound your voice on this important issue. Join the coalition at http://p2a.co/hycLNat or by texting MUSIC to 52886. For further information, visit the links below:

NY Times piecehttp://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/08/business/media/music-industry-pushes-for-ny-tax-credits-like-film-industrys.html?_r=0

Lentol press releasehttp://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Joseph-R-Lentol/story/60250/

Current draft of legislationhttp://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/A1465-2015

Mar 03 2015

Can you creatively tell us why copyright is important? If so, you could win up to $5,000!

The National Music Council and the Music Publishers Association are looking for students to creatively present their viewpoints, in video format, on “The Importance of Intellectual Property and Copyright Law”.

Here are some questions you might want to think about when making your submission:

Who does copyright protect? Why is it important to protect intellectual property? What would the world be like if there were no protections for intellectual property? Why do you think people ignore copyright laws? What can other students learn from watching your video?

You can submit online by using the following form:
http://mpaoftheusa.coffeecup.com/forms/2015%20Copyright%20Awareness%20Scholarship

You can see previous winners on our YouTube channel here: http://youtube.com/MPAofUSA

Please read the complete rules below. Questions regarding the scholarship can be directed to scholarship@mpa.org.

OFFICIAL RULES OF THE NMC COPYRIGHT AWARENESS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
SPONSORED BY THE MPA

1. ELIGIBILITY: The NMC Copyright Awareness Scholarship Program Sponsored by the MPA for 2013 is open only to those legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia and individuals currently studying in one of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia pursuant to a valid F-1 Student Visa who are between thirteen (13) and twenty-five (25) years of age at the time of application and who are currently enrolled in an accredited secondary school or post-secondary institution of higher learning (college, university or trade school). Students must supply contact of school official so that enrollment can be confirmed.

Current employees, officers, directors and agents of Sponsor and their immediate family members (defined as spouse, parents, siblings and children) are not eligible to win.

2. HOW TO ENTER: To enter, beginning February 1, 2015 go to www.mpa.org and follow the instructions for completing the Application and uploading your Submission.

Applications must be submitted by Sunday, June 15, 2015 no later than 11:59 PM EST. No exceptions will be made to submit past this deadline.
Limit one (1) Application and Submission per person. Written, pictorial, audio or video responses that are obscene, pornographic, defamatory or otherwise objectionable will be disqualified. All Applications and Submissions become the property of the Sponsor and will not be returned. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for lost, late, misdirected, or unintelligible entries. By submitting an Application and Submission, you fully and unconditionally accept and agree to these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding.

The NMC and MPA are looking for students to creatively present their viewpoints, in VIDEO format, on The Importance of Intellectual Property and Copyright Law. All submissions must consist primarily of original material. If a submission contains copyrighted material (e.g., a song, a video clip) owned by another party, please submit evidence of permission to use that material. Submissions that contain copyrighted material but which do not include such evidence of permission to use that material will be automatically disqualified.

*Videos must be in .mp4, .m4v, mov, or .wmv formats. Other formats will not be accepted.

*Files must be 4MB or less.

*Videos should be between thirty (30) seconds and three (3) minutes.

*Winners must be able to supply a high quality version of their video.

*Files uploaded must contain the name of the student.
Examples: jennifer_smith.m4v, john_harris.mov, jim_ellis_pirate_party.wmv. If files are not named appropriately they will not be viewed.

3. SELECTION OF POTENTIAL WINNERS: Sponsor is looking for Submissions that are well-constructed and clearly and creatively address the topic. On or about June 16, 2015, a qualified panel of judges will select three (3) potential winners. Winner we be notified by the end of July, 2015.

4. PUBLICITY: By submitting an Application and Submission, Applicant (or, if a minor, his/her parent or legal guardian) agrees that Sponsor may, without any limitation or further compensation or notice, use his or her name, voice and/or likeness in any and all media, worldwide, for the purpose of advertising and promoting the Website, the Sponsor, the Scholarship Program, or any other promotion, contest or sweepstakes of the Sponsor.

5. OWNERSHIP: By submitting an Application and Submission, Applicant (or, if a minor, his/her parent or legal guardian) grants to Sponsor a worldwide perpetual non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, distribute and exploit the material submitted, including the worldwide copyright and any extensions, renewals, revivals, reversions and restorations thereof, for any educational, promotional or other non-commercial purpose. Applicant further agrees that Sponsor and its designees may edit and modify the Submission and all elements of it in any and all media now known or not currently known, throughout the world in perpetuity without compensation, permission or notification to Applicant or any third party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Applicant shall be entitled to terminate the license granted to Sponsor hereunder upon written notice to Sponsor after a period of five (5) years from the date Applicant submits the Application and Submission.

6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES/INDEMNIFICATION: Each person who enters this Scholarship Program represents and warrants to Sponsor as follows: (i) the Application and Submission, including any written, pictorial, audio and/or video content are the Applicant’s own original, previously unpublished, and previously unproduced work (except for any copyrighted material owned by third parties as to which all necessary permission to use such material has been obtained) and, as of the date of submission, are not the subject of any actual or threatened litigation or claim; (ii) the Application and Submission, including any written, pictorial, audio and/or video content, neither infringes upon nor violates the intellectual property rights or other rights of any other person or entity; (iii) the Application and Submission, including any written, pictorial, audio, and/or video content, does not and will not violate any applicable laws, and meets the Official Rules set forth herein. Each Applicant hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Sponsor harmless from and against any and all third party claims, actions or proceedings of any kind and from any and all damages, liabilities, costs and expenses relating to or arising out of any breach or alleged breach of any of the warranties, representations or agreements of Applicant hereunder.

7. NO OBLIGATION TO USE: Sponsor shall have no obligation (express or implied) to use any winning Submission, or to otherwise exploit a winning Submission or continue the development, production, distribution or exploitation thereof, and Sponsor may at any time abandon the use of the winning Submission for any reason, with or without legal justification or excuse, and the Scholarship prize recipients shall not be entitled to any damages or other relief by reason thereof.

8. LIST OF SCHOLARSHIP PRIZE RECIPIENTS: The names of the Scholarship prize recipients and their winning Submissions may be posted on Sponsor’s Websites.

9. SPONSOR: The NMC Copyright Awareness Scholarship is sponsored by The Music Publishers Association of the United States and the National Music Council (NMC).

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