The Production Music Association (PMA) has announced today the creation and distribution of a formal Request-for-Proposal (RFP) for monitoring performances of music using fingerprinting technology. The RFP has the potential to shape the future of automated performance monitoring for music across all media worldwide. The working group that created the RFP consulted closely with representatives from ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.
“We are really excited to be working with all the major production music publishers as well as all three performing rights organizations,� said Randy Wachtler, President of the PMA. “This is the first time we’ve had industry-wide discussions on these issues. Our hope is it can lead to the establishment of a single technology standard that will benefit all technology providers, software developers, music publishers, composers and performing rights organizations, worldwide.�
The accurate identification of production music in television
and cable broadcasts has been a problem for composers, publishers and PROs for decades. Production music, or “library music� as it is sometimes known, is used heavily in network TV, broadcast sports programming, syndicated programs, commercials, promos and other situations where cue sheets are rare, and where voice-over, dialog or sound effects create an audio environment which makes automated identification via traditional fingerprinting technology difficult.
“The technology is here right now; the challenge is to integrate it into our business operations,� said Doug Wood, a composer, production music publisher and writer member of the ASCAP Board of Directors, who helped author the RFP. “As programs using production music proliferate on the Internet, across multiple new platforms and on wireless devices, tracking will become even more problematic. The RFP is designed to help technology companies understand how our industry works, and how their technology might fit into the picture.�
The RFP, returnable by September 8th, is open to all prospective vendors with a fingerprinting technology solution. Copies of the RFP are available from the Production Music Association, 11684 Ventura Blvd, Suite 962, Studio City, CA 91604.
About the PMA:
The PMA is a non-profit, volunteer organization currently comprising over 335 member companies, including major-label publishers and national independents, and is providing crucial leadership to protect the value of our work. The PMA provides education, support and advocacy on behalf of the production music community. For more information please visit www.pmamusic.com
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