AMERICAN COMPOSERS ALLIANCE

To provide support for American composers' music to be provided on request to performers, to help self-published writers with administration and rights issues in selling and licensing their work, and to help support performances in any way we can. Our central focus on American composers is unusual among arts organizations in the U.S. and ACA activities and results are showing that access and education efforts for this American art form has broad impact and importance.

ACA maintains a catalog of musical works that can be provided in print or electronic format on request. ACA helps report performances to the performing rights societies, to support creators of music. ACA also generates activity in performance and recordings of music supported by its score distribution and administration work. ACA also provides performance support and grants to performing artists who specialize in contemporary American music.

ACA supports chamber music in New York City and nationwide. The ACA catalog contains a variety of music by women, African-Americans, immigrants, and composers of all styles with holdings from 1905 to the present day.

From 2020-21 ACA supported creators and artists with support of over 50 premiere music recordings by professional musicians sheltering at home in order to support those who have lost income due to the cancellation of concerts. In this way the music can live on and be heard by anyone online in the future. Sounds of past voices of the organization were prioritized as well as current new works. These activities have benefited both sides - the artists and the organization's recording archives.

The longevity of the organization, which was founded by Aaron Copland in 1937 is based on the ability for composers' music to be respected and supported in public performance. This is a mission that was not addressed by performing rights organizations at the time it was founded. Composers should expect to engage in professional agreements with potential earnings and credit when their music is played, recorded, or copied and sold. American Composers Alliance can help self-published composers learn ways of managing agreements and engaging in revenue streams as the music business continues to evolve.

Since 2009, ACA has helped increase support, revenue and professional connections for its affiliated composers. Performance royalties tracked by the largest PRO companies for music from the ACA catalog increased by nearly 400% between 2009 and 2019. Licensing activity for access to scores and sets of performance materials, including the historical works in the archives as well as new works has increased up to its highest levels in 2019, more than 6 times higher than activity from ten years prior. The surplus income is used to further support creation of new editions, hiring of musical staff, and to provide services to individual composers. ACA leadership believes that the potential of the activity for the ACA catalog has not yet been met and that more work will bring the collection to an even wider audience.