ASCAP Donates to MusiCares in Wake of California Wildfires

ASCAP, the world leader in performing rights and advocacy for music creators, today announced that it is making a donation to MusiCares®-a charity of the Recording Academy™-to support members of the music community, including the thousands of ASCAP songwriter, composer and music publisher members affected by the recent wildfires in northern and southern California.

"We have all been stunned by the devastation caused by the California fires and the heartache and loss suffered by our members who reside there." said ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams. "ASCAP has always been an advocate for music creators, and faced with these terrible circumstances, we have their backs. We are pleased to work with MusiCares to get help to those who need it most."

"The music community knows that it can turn to MusiCares in times of distress," said Elizabeth Matthews, ASCAP Chief Executive Officer. "They have the organization and the infrastructure necessary to respond to these horrible events and help members of the music community in times of need. We're glad to work with MusiCares once again to ensure that our funds reach the people most affected by the fires."

"We are truly grateful for the support and ongoing partnership of ASCAP," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares. "Their work on behalf of music people is vital, and their generosity to the music community is equally strong. This donation demonstrates how the music industry works together to take care of their own."

Members can request disaster relief by contacting MusiCares toll-free at 1.800.687.4227.

To donate to the fund, visit musicares.org/donate and choose "Disaster Relief" in the gift designation drop-down menu.

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a professional membership organization of songwriters, composers and music publishers of every kind of music. ASCAP's mission is to license and promote the music of its members and foreign affiliates, obtain fair compensation for the public performance of their works and to distribute the royalties that it collects based upon those performances. ASCAP members write the world's best-loved music and ASCAP has pioneered the efficient licensing of that music to hundreds of thousands of enterprises who use it to add value to their business - from bars, restaurants and retail, to radio, TV and cable, to Internet, mobile services and more. The ASCAP license offers an efficient solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while respecting the right of songwriters and composers to be paid fairly. With more than 680,000 members representing more than 11.5 million copyrighted works, ASCAP is the worldwide leader in performance royalties, service and advocacy for songwriters and composers, and the only American performing rights organization (PRO) owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. Learn more and stay in touch at www.ascap.com, on Twitter and Instagram@ASCAP and on Facebook.

A friend and ally of the music community, MusiCares was established by the Recording Academyâ„¢ to safeguard the health and well-being of all music people. A four-star charity and safety net in times of need, MusiCares offers confidential preventative, recovery, and emergency programs to address financial, medical, and personal health issues. Through the generosity of our donors and volunteer professionals, our dedicated team works across the country to ensure the music community has the resources and support it needs.

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