ASCAP and Rowe AMI Reach Agreement on Digital Jukebox License

ASCAP has announced that a new, five year license has been successfully negotiated with Rowe AMI for the public performance of ASCAP music in its digital jukeboxes. Rowe AMI, a company that has been an innovator in jukebox technology since 1909, has now established AMI Entertainment to specifically pursue digital entertainment. The license agreement will provide ASCAP’s member owners with new sources of income for their copyrighted music and allow AMI Entertainment to perform any of ASCAP’s over 7 million copyrighted songs in its digital jukeboxes.

“ASCAP, who have been a leading force in music creation for 90 years,” said Doug Johnson, President and CEO of Rowe, “and their strong current repertory will give us unparalleled advantage in the industry, and enhance the entertainment value we offer to our customers.”

“ASCAP has always been a leader in providing companies with new technologies the access to our powerful repertory and we have worked with Rowe and Rowe technology for over 25 years,” said ASCAP Senior Vice President of Licensing Vincent Candilora. “Clearly, both ASCAP and Rowe win with this agreement. But the ultimate winner is the American consumer who now has a wonderful new way to enjoy the work of the world’s best songwriters and composers.”

ASCAP Distributes Approximately $2.45 Million in ASCAPLU$ Cash Awards

Approximately $2.45 million in cash awards for 2004-2005 has been made to ASCAP writer members by the Society's ASCAPlus Awards Panels, it was announced by ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman. The purpose of these special awards, which have been given each year since 1960, is to reward writers whose works have a unique prestige value for which adequate compensation would not otherwise be received, and to compensate those writers whose works are performed substantially in media not surveyed by ASCAP.

Commenting on the awards, Ms. Bergman said, “Since 1960, the unique ASCAPlus Awards program has provided deserving music creators with something meaningful and tangible in the form of recognition and money. I can attest to this personally because at an early stage of my career, I was a Special Awards recipient. As always, we are greatly indebted to each of our hard-working panelists for giving their time and effort to this important endeavor.”

The members of the Popular Awards Panel are: Peter Filichia, drama critic for the (Newark) Star-Ledger; Peter Keepnews, a journalist specializing in jazz and popular culture; Melinda Newman, West Coast Bureau Chief of Billboard; and Pat Prescott, veteran radio personality who currently co-hosts the morning show on KTWV (The Wave) in Los Angeles.

The members of the Standard Awards Panel are: Michael Morgan, Conductor of the Oakland East Bay Symphony Orchestra; H. Robert Reynolds, Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan; and Steve Smith, Classical Music Editor for Time Out New York Magazine.