About OMLA
The Orchestra Music Licensing Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association established to respond to many new and previously existing needs in the music licensing landscape that American orchestras now face:
Knowledge/Counsel Clearinghouse
The number of new music copyright and licensing issues faced by orchestras continues to increase. Most orchestras do not have and cannot afford dedicated music copyright counsel. OMLA can help provide a knowledge-base and basic counsel for its members in a cost-effective manner.
Takedown Notices/Bots
As orchestras have increased their online presence to maintain connection with their patrons, many have experienced significant disruption to their streaming videos and live concerts due to false copyright infringement claims triggered by record companies’ automated “bots.” This technology is clearly inaccurate when applied to classical music. OMLA is working with major record companies and the U.S. Copyright Office to find an amicable solution to this problem.
PRO License Negotiation
OMLA negotiates public performance license agreements between orchestras and performing rights organizations such as BMI and ASCAP. OMLA is committed to securing fair and equitable licenses on behalf of American orchestras.
DOJ/consent decrees
We are pleased that the Department of Justice announced recently that the existing consent decrees governing ASCAP and BMI will not be changed, for now. Meetings between the Department of Justice, The League of American Orchestras, and OMLA was a factor in this favorable ruling. One thing is certain, however: music publishers will continue to seek deregulation from the DOJ.
Music Copyright Law
After their success with the Music Modernization Act, music copyright owners continue seeking significant changes to the copyright law before Congress. Not all of these would impact orchestras, but OMLA continues to monitor new legislative activity in order to represent orchestras’ interests in Congress.
Music Copyright Owners Appetite
Along those same lines, music copyright owners have continued to become increasingly aggressive. Several broader copyright issues remain unresolved, and as publishers continue to focus on new revenue streams, it is only a matter of time before older disputes reanimate.
Membership to OMLA is open to nonprofit, tax-exempt American symphony orchestras.
If you are interested in becoming a member of OMLA, please click here.