Meet the Composer

Merger of the two organizations

Why are AMC and MTC merging?
It is no secret that the field of new American music is changing, and now more than ever is the time to rethink and reassess current practices field-wide. AMC and MTC’s programs complement each other beautifully, and after extensive and very collegial talks, we decided to merge to form a stronger organization to enhance what we do best: online media programs serving composers and their listening community, and grants to composers, performers and presenters. Together, we will form one unified, stronger voice for our community, able to project our message even better in an increasingly noisy and crowded marketplace of ideas.

How is American Composers Forum involved?
American Composers Forum (ACF) is taking on the responsibility for membership and professional development that had been shared between the organizations. ACF will also work closely with New Music USA on national and international advocacy.

Why aren’t all three organizations merging?
We talked long and intently about this, but in the end we decided the strongest solution was this arrangement, merging the two New York offices and consolidating membership services in the center of the country.

How will the merger impact me?
If you are an AMC member, your membership benefits will come from American Composers Forum starting in summer 2011 (see below). All other AMC activities and all of MTC’s core programs will continue as before, but in a new and powerful context of synergy. The new organization will command more than $16 million in endowments that can be used more efficiently together. Together, our grant programs are projected to award more than 400 grants involving approximately 1,600 composers and ensembles over the next year or so, resulting in the creation of approximately 145 commissions or premieres, and supporting approximately 15 new recordings. Together, we will reach composers, performers, and listeners in all fifty states, and project a much more visible and audible profile for new American music all over the world.

What happens to the names “American Music Center” and “Meet The Composer”?
Through the transition period, the two organizations will maintain their own names. Once the merger is complete the surviving corporation will be called New Music USA, with key brands “NewMusicBox” and “Meet The Composer” continuing under the over-arching organization name. “American Music Center” will remain the legacy name of the 20th Century Collection of scores and recordings housed at the New York Public Library; otherwise the name will be referenced in the history of New Music USA.

How can I make my thoughts on the merger known?
If you are an AMC member in good standing, you should receive voting materials on April 6 or 7. You can vote at the AMC Annual Meeting on May 2nd at Chelsea Art Museum [556 West 22nd Street] at 5pm. If you haven’t yet, please RSVP for that event. If you are unable to attend, please send in your proxy as instructed in the voting materials.

If you are not an AMC member, we still want to hear from you. Write to us at allison@amc.net, mtc@meetthecomposer.org, or mail@composersforum.org.

Why are you only holding Town Meetings in three cities?
We realize that NYC, Chicago and San Francisco are not the only cities in the USA where our constituents live. However, given the time restrains, and knowing we wanted to appear on the east coast, west coast and in the center of the country, we felt these three were a good start. The three CEOs have has a pretty visible presence in Minnesota during the annual Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute, all three hosted a composer meeting at the National Performing Arts Convention in Denver in 2008, and AMC has hosted composer gatherings in Los Angeles in 2006 and 2009, but we haven’t even met our constituents publicly in San Francisco or Chicago. But of course, it’s just a start—there are many cities we’d like to visit, in the north, south, east and west. We hope to have more meetings in the future, and in the interim hope that those who cannot attend these meetings in person will participate via media platforms or by writing to us at the emails above.

New Music USA

When does NewMusicUSA become official?
We anticipate the merger to be complete before the end of 2011.

Who will lead the new organization?
Ed Harsh, current President of MTC, will become President and CEO of New Music USA. AMC President and CEO Joanne Hubbard Cossa announced her December 2011 retirement date in 2008, before the beginning of a strategic planning process. Frederick Peters, current chair of MTC, will be chair of New Music USA; Steven Stucky, AMC chair, will be Vice Chair of the new organization. The initial board will be made up of nine current members of each of AMC and MTC’s boards, plus the President and CEO.

Does this mean one organization is taking over the other?
No. The merger between AMC and MTC is a merger of equals, and all structural questions have been agreed upon by both current organizations. All programs and services of both organizations will be administered by New Music USA.

What is the mission of the new organization?
The corporate purposes of New Music USA are (i) to foster and encourage the composition of contemporary music in the United States and to promote its production, publication, distribution and performance and (ii) to advance the works of living composers and their exposure to the general public.

The board of New Music USA will approve a formal mission statement at its first meeting.

Will New Music USA have its own website?
Yes, it will be www.newmusicusa.org

Where will New Music USA be based?
The new organization will be based in New York City. It will choose an office in fall 2011, and will make this location publicly known.

Will New Music USA serve composers on a national level?
Yes. New Music USA will give grants in 40-50 states each year. NewMusicBox will add national correspondents as a result of the merger and will continue to promote the breadth of American music to tens of thousands each month in every state and around the globe. New Music USA and the American Composers Forum will partner to advocate for the field through the Performing Arts Alliance, the National Performing Arts Conversion/VNPAC, and the International Association of Music Information Centres.

Will New Music USA give out Annual Awards as AMC has done?
Yes. The AMC Letters of Distinction and its Founders, Trailblazer and Educator awards are a nearly 50-year legacy honoring the brightest lights in new music and will be continued by New Music USA.

Membership

Will New Music USA continue membership services?
No, New Music USA will not be a membership organization as AMC has been in the past. Instead, the American Composers Forum will assume the role of the leading national provider of new music membership services and will partner with New Music USA in national and international advocacy. In addition to its excellent commissioning, residency and innova® recording programs, ACF already offers many of the same benefits AMC members have enjoyed for years. Putting our benefits together makes a more extensive menu of services for you, and simpler access as some of you requested when we surveyed you last year.

I am a member of AMC but not ACF but want to continue to receive membership benefits. Do I need to become a member of ACF as well?
No. AMC members will be automatically transferred to ACF after July 1, 2011, unless you notify AMC to the contrary. In the meantime, enjoy your AMC member benefits, which will essentially continue uninterrupted even after the transfer.

I just became a member of AMC / renewed my membership. Or, I was planning on becoming an AMC member or my AMC membership will renew before June 30, 2011. What happens now?
Nothing right now. You will continue to access your AMC member benefits until June 30, 2011. At that point, unless you have notified AMC you would rather discontinue your membership, it will be transferred to ACF internally. You will be issued a new ACF password for access to the members only site of ACF. There will be no interruption in your membership services. For example, say your AMC membership is valid until September 2011. You will be transferred to ACF from July to September, at which point you will be asked to renew your membership with ACF.

I have an automatically renewing AMC membership. Will my new ACF membership automatically renew?
Only if your AMC membership automatically renews before July 1, 2011. The first time your membership comes up for renewal after July 1, ACF will contact you directly to address payment for the future.

Will I have to pay another (or an additional) membership fee to ACF?
No. Your AMC membership payment will automatically transfer to ACF.

I am currently a member of both AMC and ACF. Will my AMC membership fee be pro-rated or refunded?
Yes. If you currently belong to both organizations, the number of months you have remaining on your AMC membership on June 30 will be added to your existing ACF membership.

What will the annual dues be?
As of July 1, 2011, individual ACF dues will be $65, and student and senior memberships will be $45.

How will my membership benefits change?
ACF will carry out membership benefits similar to those currently provided by AMC. You will continue to have access to the AMC Online Library. The professional development materials know as “Composer’s 411” will be transferred to ACF’s website. ACF also offers fiscal sponsorship, and will of course continue to offer Opportunity Update as they always have along with this Sounding Board newsletter. ACF members also enjoy discounts on Finale and Sibelius notation software.

You can learn more about ACF’s membership program here.

Will I continue to receive Opportunity Update?
Yes. Right now, both AMC and ACF each produce an opportunities listing. After the membership transfer takes place, beginning on July 1st, ACF will administer member opportunities listings for all members.

I’m an AMC member who doesn’t live in Minnesota. Does ACF support composers outside of MN?
Yes. ACF has members in all 50 states and, while some grant programs are regional (as are some of AMC’s and MTC’s, due to funding sources), ACF has programs that help the entire country.

What if I do not wish to become a member of ACF?
If you do not wish to continue your membership services, please contact Membership Services Director Deborah Horne at amcmembership@amc.net directly. You will have the option of having a pro-rated amount of your AMC membership dues refunded to you or having them reclassified as a donation to AMC.

What if my question is not answered here?
Please contact Membership Services Director Deborah Horne at amcmembership@amc.net.

Grants

Going forward, will there be any membership requirements for grant applicants?
No. Effective July 1, 2011 there are no membership requirements; grants are open to all.

I just applied to the February 18 Cary New Music Program grant, March 1 Composers Assistance Program grant, or the March 18 Commissioning Music/USA grant. Will that be affected?
No. The panel process will continue as planned. Awards will be announced in May 2011 for the March 1 Composers Assistance Program grant, late May 2011 for the Cary New Music Performance Fund, and early July 2011 for the Commissioning Music/USA grant.

Will any grantmaking programs be eliminated because of this merger?
No. New Music USA will administer all current grantmaking programs of AMC and MTC. This includes AMC’s Composers Assistance Program (CAP), CAP Recording, and Live Music for Dance (LMD) and MTC’s Cary New Music Performance Fund, Commissioning Music/USA, MetLife Creative Connections, Music Alive and the Van Lier Fellowships. New Music USA, in collaboration with ACF, will continue to administer LMD Minnesota.

Will the deadlines change?
Upcoming deadlines include: April 1 and June 1 for MetLife Creative Connections, April 11 for the Van Lier Fellowships and July 14 for CAP Recording. Fall deadlines for the Composers Assistance Program and Live Music for Dance are usually in October (CAP) and December (LMD). The next deadlines for the Cary New Music Performance Fund, Commissioning Music/USA, and Music Alive will be announced later this summer. Any changes to these deadlines will be posted here and here.

Will the guidelines change?
Applicants are advised to check the guidelines carefully for any changes before applying. Again, updates will be posted on amc.net and on newmusicusa.org.

If I was previously awarded a grant but I have not received it yet because my project hasn’t taken place, will I still receive the grant?
Yes. As usual, CAP grant recipients can request payment two months prior to the premiere performance within one year of the grant deadline for which they applied; LMD grantees can request composer commission fees at any time and musicians’ fees two months prior to the date of the performance(s); and CAP Recording grantees can request funds at any time (within 2 years of the award). Grantees are advised to contact the office prior to submitting payment requests after January 1, 2012. Existing MetLife Creative Connections, Commissioning Music/USA, and Music Alive grants will continue as contracted.

Who do I credit for grants after July 1? For example, would I credit AMC if I receive a Live Music for Dance grant, but MTC if I receive a Commissioning Music/USA grant?
You should credit the appropriate grantor, AMC or MTC, for grants awarded through 2011 and until you are notified that the merger is final. At that time updated crediting information will be sent to you, if applicable.

What if my question is not answered here?
For inquires regarding AMC grants please contact Jenny Clarke, Manager for Grantmaking Programs, at jclarke@amc.net. For inquires regarding MTC grants, please contact Scott Winship, Program Manager, at swinship@meetthecomposer.org.

Media Programs

What will happen to NewMusicBox?
NewMusicBox will continue to be an editorially independent publication that champions the broadest possible range of contemporary music being created in the United States. In fact, as a result of the realignment, NewMusicBox is in a more financially secure position moving forward and will be able expand its outreach by bringing on additional editorial staff based in various parts of the country. NewMusicBox will continue to exist at www.newmusicbox.org, and will be linked to from the New Music USA website.

What about Counterstream Radio?
Counterstream Radio will be integrated into NewMusicBox to create a single-destination multimedia site. The station’s 24/7 broadcast stream will continue without interruption, and additional on-demand programs will be developed to deepen its content offerings.

What will happen to the AMC Online Library? I have uploaded many of my compositions to the library.
The Online Library will now be prominently linked to the widely trafficked homepage of NewMusicBox, making it even more accessible to a broader public. Current ACF members will be able to upload their works to the Online Library starting this summer, as will current AMC members who become members of ACF in July.

What will happen to Meet The Composer Studio?
The Studio site will continue to develop its approach to illuminating the lives and work of composers. In the coming season, the focus will be on projects from New Music USA’s various grant-making programs, as selected by our peer panel processes.

What if my question is not answered here?
For questions regarding NewMusicBox, Counterstream or the Online Library, please email Molly Sheridan at molly@amc.net. For questions about Meet The Composer’s media programming, please email either Eddy Ficklin at eficklin@meetthecomposer.org or Kevin Clark at kclark@meetthecomposer.org .

Advocacy

What are the future plans for advocating for American composers and new American music generally in the United States?
New Music USA will partner with the National Performing Arts Convention (NPAC) and the Performing Arts Alliance (PAA) in arts advocacy efforts nation-wide. Further, we plan to use new media creatively to amplify the many voices of new American music.

What are the future plans for advocating for American composers abroad?
New Music USA will advocate for American composers abroad through its participation as the official American music information center as part of the International Association of Music Information Centres (IAMIC). New Music USA will continue the work AMC has begun, specifically concerning the Composer Diaspora Database, and will represent the United States at international IAMIC conferences. NewMusicBox will continue to increase coverage of US composers abroad.