ASCAP expands Asia Pacific strategy

The New York-based American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) – which has over 600,000 members representing more than 10 million copyrighted works – is expanding its Asia Pacific strategy and looking at ways to increase revenue.

An ASCAP executive confirmed to TMN that the expansion includes Australia and New Zealand.

ASCAP has engaged CML Consultancy Services to deliberate on the matter from April 1. CML will work with ASCAP’s senior leadership team to foster international relations among ASCAP and its society partners in the Asia-Pacific region.

It will also provide management consulting services to fill the role formerly held by Willie Yeung, ASCAP Regional Director, International, who retired at the end of 2016 after over 20 years with ASCAP.

CML is led by Miew Lan Chan, the former General Manager of Music Authors Copyright Protection (MACP) Berhad in Malaysia.

Since joining MACP in 1994, she increased revenue from MYR$2 million to a record MYR$60 million in 2016, while holding operational costs at 10%.

She struck numerous strategic agreements on behalf of music publishers, labels and other stakeholders, most recently a joint venture to handle one-stop licensing for public performances and broadcast covering both authors and neighbouring rights in Malaysia.

Chan has also served as Vice Chairman, CISAC Asia Pacific Committee; as Director of Music Rights Malaysia Berhad; on the Board of Governors of the Asian Academy Music Arts & Science; and as Director and Treasurer of Malaysian Music Industry Cooperative.

Image: Miew Lan Chan

“As a global organization, ASCAP is focused on protecting and serving creators and rights-holders around the world,” said ASCAP Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Matthews.

“We are thrilled to bring on CML Consultancy Services with Miew Lan Chan’s expertise and vision to help expand our Asia-Pacific business.

“Miew Lan is extremely talented and knowledgeable about the Asia-Pacific performance rights landscape.

“ASCAP members will greatly benefit from her relationships and understanding of those markets and our Asia-Pacific society partners will benefit by having her as a liaison with ASCAP.”

Miew Lan Chan added, “The Asia-Pacific region continues to grow in importance as a market for music. Working with ASCAP presents a unique opportunity to explore innovative approaches to global rights management for the benefit of songwriters, composers and music publishers, and to expand opportunities with our partners in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Set up in 1914 in the United States, ASCAP competes with two other PROs — Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) and the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC).