In return for your invaluable support for our work on behalf of composers and songwriters across the UK, BASCA offers you a wide range of exclusive services aimed at helping you to develop and improve your music writing career. 

If you like the sound of our membership package, why not JOIN NOW using the links on your left? 


Representation 

BASCA’s main purpose is to campaign for the rights of music writers and to lobby for the fairest working environment for our members.  To fulfil this aim, on your behalf, we work with government, collection societies, broadcasting companies and other industry bodies, on both a UK and European level.  As a member of BASCA, you add strength and effectiveness to our voice in the corridors of power. 


Legal Support

BASCA offers its members a time-limited pro bono legal service.  Members have access to a panel of specialist industry lawyers who offer half an hour of free guidance on issues relating to your musical career.  If you’re offered a contract and don’t know whether to sign on the dotted line, or you feel someone has infringed your copyright – we can help.  


Professional Advice & Specimen Contracts 

BASCA staff are always available to give professional advice on an ad-hoc basis, and the Executive Committees can be consulted on issues specific to your genre.  

Our printed information resource, The Score, is an easy-to-follow series of advice sheets on career-related subjects and we also produce sample publishing, commissioning, synchronisation and co-writing contracts and licenses, which members can download and use free of charge.


Academy Recordings Ltd 

A digital-only record label, Academy Recordings allows our Professional members* to release their music globally via online music stores such as iTunes. 

As a not-for-profit label, Academy Recordings aims to give you the best possible returns for your work, and there is no additional cost involved.

(*Please note that, in order to be eligible for Professional membership of the Academy, and hence to make use of Academy Recordings, you must be a FULL or ASSOCIATE member of the PRS) 


Tax Helpline 

Members can have all of their tax queries answered by an industry accountant, via phone or email. 


Professional Development Seminars & Panels

Our annual programme of seminars and panels are organised by writers, for writers.  Aside from offering you the chance to access the expertise of industry professionals, they also provide an invaluable opportunity to network with your contemporaries and form important contacts within the industry.  Panelists at our events include top songwriters and composers who bring a wealth of advice and experience. 

Previous topics have included: 

Composing for Animation
Working with Words
Size Isn't Everything - writing ident music
Collaboration - the key to successful writing partnerships
Sound Scores - demonstrations in synthetic orchestration programs

We also run a series of business panels where members can access the knowledge of lawyers, accountants and royalty specialists. 

Our songwriters’ critique sessions offer members the opportunity to have their work appraised by professional writers and producers. 


Professional Meetings 

In addition to the above, BASCA also runs regular special briefings for its professional members that offer informative presentations by key speakers in a social environment and afterwards there is always a great opportunity to network with your peers.   We also aim to start a dinner club this summer; more information here soon. 

Members-only Website

The members’ area of the BASCA website is packed with useful resources to help further your career: regular news updates, The Score advice sheet series, sample contracts and agreements, useful links to other organisations, composer & songwriter opportunities and competitions, lists of showcase venues and a full diary of forthcoming industry events. 


Online Promotion – Members’ Directory 

BASCA's online directory offers a great opportunity for writers to promote their music writing on the web.  Every member is entitled to their own personal page within the Academy’s website, where they can include a full biography, a photograph, links to their personal website and/or MySpace page, lists of important works and lists of forthcoming performances.  Search functions enable visitors to locate music writers within specific genres and geographical areas.


Collaboration Service 

Members can register to receive details of other members looking for writing partners in a wide variety of genres: from Opera to Ballet, Film to Computer Games, R ‘n’ B to Rock & Pop. 


Publications 

Members can keep in touch with all BASCA activities via our in-house publication - TheWorks - a tri-annual magazine.  It contains a range of specially commissioned articles, industry updates, interviews and writing opportunities. 


Email Bulletins

All members who provide their email addresses receive a monthly email bulletin, containing the latest BASCA news and details of events, discounts and writing opportunities.  Members on email also receive details of exclusive one-off offers as and when they arise. 


Member Discounts 

All members receive extremely generous discounts on tickets to both the Ivor Novello Awards and the Gold Badge Awards.  Outside organisations, including Sibelius Software, MusicWeek Magazine and the Music Publishers Association also regularly offer our members one-off discounts.


Why not join now...?