Music Industry Acronyms Explained A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z A AACP Alliance Against Counterfeiting and Piracy Music alliance directly involved with the fight against counterfeiting and piracy. www.aacp.org.uk ACO Alliance of Composer Organisations Organisation that represents members from BASCA (British Academy of Songwriters Composers and Authors), the CGGB (Composers Guild of Great Britain) and the APC (Association of Professional Composers). AIM Association of Independent Music Represents independent record companies. www.musicindie.org AMIA Association of Music Industry Accountants Representatives for the music industry accounting profession. APC Association of Professional Composers Association that advises its' professional composer members on professional matters. APRS Association of Professional Recording Services Looks after the interests of those involved with professional sound recording. www.aprs.co.uk AURA Association of United Recording Artists Represents recording artists and producers. www.aurauk.com Return to top of page B BARD British Association of Record Dealers Represents music retailers in the UK. www.bardltd.org BASCA British Academy of Songwriters, Composers & Authors Represents a wide range of contempory songwriters and composers, and has involvment in most music industry issues. www.britishacademy.com BCC British Copyright Council Looks after the interests of those who create, or hold rights in, literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, and those who perform any such works. www.britishcopyright.org.uk BIEM Bureau International des societes gerant les droits d'Enregistrement et de reproduction Mecanique(International Bureau of Societies Administering the Recording & Mechanical Reproduction Rights). International organisation of mechanical rights administration societies. Their purpose is to assure effective and efficient administration of rights. BLACA British Literary and Artistic Copyright Association Founded in 1981. The national group of the International Literary and Artistic Association (ALAI). BPI British Phonographic Industry Represents the interests of UK record companies. www.bpi.co.uk BVA British Video Association Trade body that represents publishers and rights owners of video home entertainment. www.bva.org.uk Return to top of page C CIIPWG Creative Industries Taskforce Intellectual Property Working Group Investigating the promotion of copyright to consumers and users with particular reference to the digital age. CIS Common Information System A CISAC initiative to make for better copyright protection via unique identification of authors and their works. Composed of linked databases using international standards for data exchange. CLA Copyright Licensing Agency UK body licensing the photocopying of literary works – specifically books, journals and magazines. www.cla.co.uk CPA Concert Promoters Association Represents the interests of concert promoters. Return to top of page D DACS Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS) The copyright and collecting society for visual artists in the UK. www.dacs.org.uk DCF Digital Content Forum The UK representative body that has introduced a number of unlikely bedfellows, bridging the gap between traditional publishing, graphic design, film and TV production, music and high-tech computer engineering and e-entrepreneurs. www.dcf.org.uk DCMS The Department for Culture, Media and Sport The central UK Government Department responsible for Government policy on the arts, sport and recreation, the National Lottery, libraries, museums and galleries, export licensing of cultural goods, broadcasting, film, press freedom and regulation, the built heritage, the royal estate and tourism www.culture.gov.uk DTI Department of Trade and Industry Government department responsible for the interests and promotion of competitiveness of UK industry. www.dti.gov.uk Return to top of page E EMO European Music Office Represents major professional organisations from all sectors of the European Music Industry. www.euromusic.com ERA Educational Recording Agency Ltd Issues licences to educational establishments to record broadcast programmes for educational purposes. www.era.org.uk Return to top of page F FACT Federation Against Copyright Theft Investigative organisation which aims to combat counterfeiting and piracy in the British and American film, video and television industries. FAST Federation Against Software Theft Represents the software industry to promote the legal use of software. www.fast.org.uk Return to top of page G GESAC Groupement Européen des Sociétés d'Auteurs et Compositeurs (European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers) A European Economic Interest Grouping of 24 of the largest authors' societies in the European Union, Norway and Switzerland. Represents nearly 480,000 authors or their successors in the areas of music, graphic and plastic arts, literary and dramatic works, and audiovisual. Return to top of page H I IAEL International Association of Entertainment Lawyers Represents music industry solicitors/lawyers internationally. www.iael.org IAPU International Anti-Piracy Tool - SONGBIRD Songbird helps music copyright owners - including artists, songwriters, publishers, producers and record companies - find out how their music copyrights are being infringed in the online world. www.iapu.org IFPI International Federation of the Phonographic Industry The International Trade Association representing some 1,300 record producers in over 70 countries around the world. www.ifpi.org IMRO Irish Music Rights Organisation Irish performing right collecting society. www.imro.ie IPI Intellectual Property Institute Promotes awareness and understanding of intellectual property law. Members include major corporations, law firms, the Patent Office, individual legal professionals and students. www.ip-institute.org.uk IPPR Institute for Public Policy Research UK centre-left think tank. Its aim is to promote and contribute to a greater understanding of key social, economic and political questions. www.ippr.org.uk ISM Incorporated Society of Musicians Professional association for performers, composers and teachers. www.ism.org ISRC International Standard Recording Code Emerging standard, part of the CIS, intended to assign a unique number to each musical recording. ISWC International Standard Work Code Emerging standard, part of the CIS, intended to assign a unique number to each musical work. Return to top of page J K L M MCPS Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society UK mechanical right collecting society. www.mcps.co.uk MCPS-PRS ALLIANCE Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society and Performing Right Society Alliance To make best use of their individual strengths, MCPS and PRS have formed an operational in alliance. However, they are, and remain, separate societies in terms of income, constitution and guardianship of different rights. www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk MEC Music Education Council Represents all organisations connected with music education in the UK. www.mec.org.uk METIER The sector training organisation for the arts and entertainment industries. www.metier.org.uk MIA Music Industries Association UK trade association representing the interests of all UK businesses selling musical instruments and associated products. www.mia.org.uk MIDEM International Record, Music Publishing & Video Music Market held every January in Cannes. www.midem.com MMF Music Managers Forum Represents the interests of artist managers. www.ukmmf.net MPA Music Publishers Association Promoting and protecting the interests of music publishers. www.mpaonline.org.uk MPG Music Producers Guild Represents individuals in the music production and recording professions. www.mpg.org.uk MU Musicians Union Negotiates and provides a variety of agreements for musicians. www.musiciansunion.org.uk Return to top of page N NBR National Band Register Advises and helps on the protection of band names – provides a search service to determine whether a band name is currently in use. www.bandreg.com NCA National Campaign for the Arts Independent lobbying organisation which campaigns on issues affecting the arts. www.artscampaign.org.uk NEAC National Entertainment Agents Council Provides guidance and a code of conduct for agents. NEMIS New Music In Scotland Represents and promotes the music industry in Scotland, with a strong emphasis on contemporary rock, pop and dance music. www.nemis.co.uk NFMS Making Music Represents and promotes UK music societies. www.makingmusic.org.uk NLA Newspaper Licensing Agency UK body licensing the photocopying of newspaper content. www.nla.co.uk NMC National Music Council To view a copy of the NMC's recently launched statistical report, 'Counting the Notes': http://www.musiced.org.uk/features/ counting_the_notes.html Seeks to celebrate and promote the value and enjoyment of music which contributes, in all its forms, to the cultural, spiritual, educational, social and economic well-being of the UK. NMPA National Music Publishers’ Association Return to top of page O P PAD A division of APRS, PAD is the organisation of pressers and duplications of audio and video products. PAMRA Performing Arts Media Rights Association Administers the performers’ right to receive payments for the exploitation of their commercially published sound recordings. www.pamra.org.uk THE PATENT OFFICE Official body for the granting of patents and for the registration of designs and trade marks in the UK. Sponsored and maintained by the Patent Office, this site contains basic information about intellectual property to signpost users and creators appropriately. www.patent.gov.uk www.intellectual-property.gov.uk PCAM Society for Producers and Composers of Applied Music (Known as SPAM 1982 – 1997) Represents its members who write music for advertising, TV programmes and other audio-visual media. www.pcam.co.uk PPL Phonographic Performance Ltd UK collecting society licensing broadcast and public performance of sound recordings. www.ppluk.com PRS Performing Right Society UK collecting society licensing broadcast, cable and public performance of musical works. www.prs.co.uk PRSF Performing Right Society Foundation Registered charity that offers financial awards to organisations that encourage, promote and sustain music creation and it's performance. www.prsf.co.uk Pro-music Launched in May 2003 and endorsed by IFPI and IMPALA, this international initiative promotes legitimate online music services and confronts the myths surrounding piracy. www.pro-music.org Return to top of page Q QCA Qualifications and Curriculum Authority The Education Act 1997 gave QCA a core remit to promote quality and coherence in education and training. Its key aims are to promote participation in lifelong learning, raise the skills levels of the nation, and increase all-round achievement. www.qca.org.uk Return to top of page R RIAA Recording Industry Association of America The trade group for the US recorded music industry. www.riaa.com Return to top of page S SDMI Secure Digital Music Initiative Brings together the worldwide recording industry and technology companies to develop an open, interoperable architecture and specification for digital music security. The specification will answer consumer demand for convenient accessibility to quality digital music, enable copyright protection for artists’ work, and enable technology and music companies to build successful businesses. www.sdmi.org SMIA Scottish Music Industry Association Represents and promotes music created in Scotland. SPNM promoting new music Represents and promotes new music in the UK. www.spnm.org.uk Return to top of page T TRIPS Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights A WTO multilateral agreement on intellectual property effective 1/1/95. Countries signing up agree to: - minimum standards of copyright protection - general procedures and principles relating to enforcement - obligations subject to WTO dispute settlement agreement www.wto.org Return to top of page U V Video Performance Ltd UK collecting society licensing the broadcast and public performance of music videos. www.ppluk.com Return to top of page W WIPO World Intellectual Property Organisation UN organisation responsible for the promotion and protection of intellectual property throughout the world and for the administration of various multilateral treaties dealing with the legal and administrative aspects of Intellectual Property. www.wipo.org Return to top of page X Y Z Return to top of page Return to Music Copyright Menu Return to Homepage