News from ECSA: August 2023
Advocacy
ECSA Secretary General participates in two panels at Soundtrack Zurich on 29 September
ECSA Secretary General Marc du Moulin participates in two different panels at Soundtrack_Zurich. This three-day conference on film and media music in Zurich, Switzerland, is organised as part of the Zurich Film Festival and takes place between 29 September and 1 October. The conference offers a series of panels, networking sessions, case studies and workshops that address current issues in today's film and media music scene. Marc will speak during the panels “Video Games + Buy-outs” and “AI and Music Rights”, both taking place on Friday, 29 September.
Calling all music creators: WIPO for Creators survey
Are you passionate about your rights as a creator in the music industry? Do you want to get fair compensation and credits when your songs are used? WIPO for Creators and ECSA have got something exciting brewing that you’ll want to be part of. We are on the lookout for music creators to test a brand new, free music industry rights education platform. Your input can make a positive impact and can help to shape the platform according to creators’ needs. Click the link below if you’d like to take part in this exclusive opportunity. For the best experience, we recommend using a computer. It’s only by hearing music creators' voices, like yours, that this platform will really hit the mark!
ECSA President on the unstable working conditions of songwriters and musicians in The Independent
On 27 July, UK news outlet The Independent published an article about the precarious situation musicians often find themselves in, the recent strikes of actors and writers in the US, and why musicians face different circumstances. In the article, ECSA President Helienne Lindvall elaborates on these issues, and for instance explains why music streaming is an unsustainable source of income for most songwriters. Read the full article below.
US Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) judges give DSPs 6 months to pay the amounts they owe publishers and songwriters for 2018-2022
On 10 August, the US Copyright Royalty Board judges announced their final determination on the mechanical rates for making and distributing phonorecords for the period of 2018 until end 2022. This decision implies that songwriters and music publishers in the US will finally be paid by Digital Services Providers (DSPs) with the compulsory mechanical rates that were due to have been applied during those years, in line with the CRB decision taken in January 2018. Read more in the official determination, in Creative Industries News (behind paywall), or in Music Business Worldwide.
Cultural activities
Oticons Film Music Business mentoring course: winners announced!
Last month, ECSA opened a call for the “Film Music Business Career Mentoring for European Film Composers”; a 2-day online mentoring course performed by George Christopoulos (founder & CEO of Oticons). Last week, two lucky winners were selected: Emer Landers from Ireland and Magnus Hexeberg from Norway! George Christopoulos stated: "I distinctly noticed great personal character infused in their music. It was not generic film music. It was the work of two composers with obvious - and rare - musicality. At the same time their works communicate their love about the artform of music. All of these parameters to me indicate that these are talents that are ready for the jump into film music and the film industry." During the mentoring sessions, George will help the two winners towards a successful career path by offering career advice and industry insights. Congratulations, Emer and Magnus!
Call for ECCO-System grants: open until 11 September
Our call for proposals for the 2024 ECCO-System grants is still open until 11 September 2023. The call is dedicated to ECSA Members only. The grants (financial support to third parties) are funded through the support of the Creative Europe programme for European Networks of Cultural and Creative Organisations. ECSA members are invited to apply for this funding opportunity to organise an ECCO concert in collaboration with an ensemble. More information can be found via the button below.
Members' news
Nominees announced for the Nieuw Geneco Fair Practice Award
Dutch Society for Composers Nieuw Geneco announced the nominees of the Nieuw Geneco Fair Practice Award. The winner will be announced on 8 September 2023 in Utrecht, The Netherlands. With the presentation of the Fair Practice Award, Nieuw Geneco focuses on fair practice, fee guidelines and good commissioning practices in new music. Good examples are honoured. Composers have made a motivated nomination based on their experience with a Fair Practice commission. You can see the full shortlist of nominees below (information in Dutch).
What else?
Call for submissions for 2024 HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award
Each year during the Nordic Film Music Days, the HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award is awarded to that year’s most outstanding Nordic film composer. This month, Nordic Film Music Days has opened submissions for the 2024 edition, and is asking composers who work in the Nordic countries to submit their best film & TV scores. The composition must be for a narrative feature, documentary, or TV series released between 21 July, 2022, and 21 July, 2023. The submission deadline is 1 October, 2023.
Private Kitchen interviews Dutch film composer Loek Dikker
Private Kitchen, a digital magazine about Dutch media composers, produced by Muziekinstituut Multimedia, has published an interview with Dutch film composer and long time ECSA member Loek Dikker. The interview zooms in on Loek’s impressive career as a film composer.