Benefits

Our main role is to provide a single voice for the UK composer and songwriter community. We are entirely self-funding and rely on the continuing support of our members to carry on our work. In return for their invaluable support, BASCA provides a range of services to its members.

We have scores of benefits falling under 10 main categories.  These are:

• political campaigning
• regular communications
• events
• legal service
• professional advice 
• professional resources  
• members’ website
• discounts
• digital record label
• tax helpline

Political Campaigning

BASCA carries out invaluable work on behalf of composers and songwriters: regularly talking to UK and EU politicians, civil servants and government agencies; engaging with other areas of the music industry; campaigning to protect the value of copyright in an ever-changing technological world; and creating a better environment in which music writers can flourish.

BASCA makes sure that the voice of the music writer is heard throughout the music industry.  BASCA directors are representatives on the MCPS and PRS Boards. BASCA itself is a constituent member of a variety of music organisations, within the UK and throughout Europe. These include: Alliance of Popular Composer Organisations in Europe; Association of British Orchestras; British Copyright Council; European Composers Forum; European Composer & Songwriter Alliance; Federation of Film and Audio-visual Composers of Europe; Association of Independent Music; Julie’s Bicycle; Music Education Council; National Campaign for the Arts; National Music Council; and UK Music.

Communications

Published three times a year, The Works includes news, interviews, features and discussion on current issues relevant to our members. Designed as a digest of current activities and BASCA policy, each month the BASCA Briefing provides a short introduction to our current campaigns, and looks at news issues from the music writers’ point of view. Chairman’s Chat comes from BASCA Chairman Sarah Rodgers and updates our members on a selection of important issues. Our monthly E-News contains all the latest BASCA news and details of events, discounts and writing opportunities.

Member Events

Aside from offering members the chance to access the expertise of industry professionals, our annual programme of events also provides an invaluable opportunity to network with contemporaries and form important contacts within the industry.  Panellists at our Masterclass seminars include top songwriters and composers who bring a wealth of advice and experience.

BASCA runs a series of professional development seminars, The Score. This series of seminars is closely linked to the BASCA advice sheets of the same name. The Score offers information on the business aspects related to writing music.

Professional members of BASCA are given the opportunity to chat and network with colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere at our Professional Members’ Socials and Dining Club events.

Our Songwriters’ Critique sessions offer members the opportunity to have their work discussed by a distinguished panel of songwriters. BASCA reaches into the regions through its Hub events.

Legal Service

Specific legal advice for members who do not yet retain a lawyer may be requested via BASCA’s legal service.  Members complete a simple questionnaire to outline the exact nature of their problem and return it to BASCA, along with copies of any relevant paperwork.  Your query is then passed on to one of our panel of approved industry lawyers.  Please note that we can only advise on UK contracts and licences.

Professional Advice

In addition to the legal service which provides advice from industry lawyers, BASCA members can seek advice on professional matters from the experienced writers who make up the Board and Executive Committees.

Resources

The Score Advice Sheets offer simple easy to follow advice on a range of subjects close to music writers' hearts. These are advisory documents related to the business of writing music.

For many BASCA events, we provide full panel biographies and a write-up of what was said.  These write-ups aren’t full transcriptions of the event, but they are detailed notes which will hopefully give members who are unable to attend themselves lots of useful information and a flavour of the topics which were discussed.

BASCA provides Sample Contracts and Agreements that have been drawn up by our legal advisors. These can be used by members and are also designed to give an insight into contractual terminology.

BASCA publishes forthcoming opportunities relevant to members working across all genres, including competitions and calls for submissions.

BASCA 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.

Every member is entitled to their own personal page within the Members’ Directory, 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.

First Performances is designed to appeal to our ever-growing classical community. Members are able to register the first performances of their compositions which will flash up at random on the homepage.

Members from all musical genres are able to add collaboration tags to their profile, allowing them to find other collaborators in specific genres and locations.

Discounts

BASCA members are eligible for specially negotiated discounts that save our members hundreds of pounds each year. These include extremely generous discounts on tickets to both the Ivor Novello Awards and the Gold Badge Awards.

Academy Recordings

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.

Tax Helpline

If they have a general tax query or are struggling with their annual tax return, members of BASCA have access to a free tax helpline, provided by our accountants Howells & Co.

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