Marilyn Bergman Retires As President Of ASCAP

Marilyn Bergman, three time Academy Award-winning Songwriter, is stepping down as president and CEO of ASCAP. 82-year old Bergman has led the organization for 15 years, and will remain on the board of directors. Her successor will be elected during a board meeting later this month.

Bergman stated it was "the right time" to step aside, because of a number of music projects she is developing with her husband, and fellow songwriter, Alan Bergman.

ASCAP - the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers - is a music-royalties collection group that also lobbies on behalf of composers and copyright owners.

The Bergmans won three songwriting Academy Awards for their work on the original "The Thomas Crown Affair," and the Barbra Streisand films "The Way We Were" and "Yentl." They have been nominated on 13 other occasions.

The couple has just completed work on Steven Soderbergh's upcoming film, "The Informant."

During her tenure with ASCAP, Bergman has helped lobby for key pieces of legislation, including a 1998 law that extended copyright protection to cover the life of the author plus 70 years; a 20 year expansion from previous coverage.

With her departure, both ASCAP and its rival BMI have lost formidable female leaders in recent years. Frances Preston retired from BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) in 2004 after 18 years at the helm.