|
ASCAP Music Licensing
MTNA has a special licensing agreement with the American Society of Composers,
Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), granting MTNA and its Divisions, State and
Local Affiliates a blanket license to publicly perform copyrighted music, if the
copyright holder is a member of ASCAP, for the entire organization.
To comply with this agreement, state and local affiliates must send two copies
of any association-sponsored event program during which copyrighted music is
performed to the MTNA Deputy Executive Director by June 30 of each year. This is
done to ensure ASCAP composers are properly credited for the performance. No
attendance figures are required from the states or locals.
MTNA submits the report, the programs, and pays the licensing fee to ASCAP on
behalf of the entire association. We are pleased to provide our affiliates this
beneficial service. If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Kramer,
Director of Educational Services at
rkramer@mtna.org.
MTNA Local
Association Grants
These matching grants
provide assistance to MTNA-affiliated local associations for the educational
and professional development of teachers, as well as support and promotion of
music in the immediate community.
MTNA
Local Association Start-Up Grants
These grants provide
assistance to newly established or currently forming MTNA-affiliated local
associations for the development of the local association’s presence in the
community through projects offering education al and professional development
for teachers, as well as support and promotion of music in the community.
MTNA Local
Association of the Year Award
This award recognizes the local
MTA that makes the most significant contribution to the music teaching
profession through participation in MTNA national programs and additional
programs established within its state and local area.
Alliance MTA received a $500 MTNA Association Grant for 2006.
General Liability
Insurance
MTNA is pleased to offer general liability insurance coverage for every MTNA-affiliated
state and local association. Every state and local association is covered under
this policy for an unlimited number of events at no cost to any individual
association. MTNA has agreed to pay the cost of this premium.
More details
501(c)(3)
State and local
affiliates may apply for 501(c)(3) status through MTNA’s group exemption
process. As of May, 2005, 116 affiliates had taken advantage of this
opportunity, saving themselves a combined total of more than $58,000 in Internal
Revenue Service application fees.
Click here for more information.
Among the advantages of 501(c)(3) status, affiliates can accept charitable
contributions that will be tax deductible to the contributor and claim exemption
from state sales tax.
To take advantage of this benefit, affiliates must review their constitutions
for compliance with Code Section 501(c)(3) requirements and submit a letter
authorizing the national organization to include them on MTNA’s “group exemption
roster.” The national headquarters provides guidelines for completing the
process.|
For more information about becoming a 501(c)(3) organization, contact MTNA
national headquarters at (888) 512-5278 or
mbengel@mtna.org.
MTNA OFFERS LEGAL CONSULTATION SERVICES TO MEMBERS
Beginning July 1, MTNA
will offer legal consultation services free of charge, exclusively to MTNA
members. Assistance in the following areas will be available:
-
Zoning issues
-
Bill collection
-
Business formation (additional fees may be required
for filing in your state)
-
Non-compete agreements
-
Buying and selling existing studios
-
Music purchases and resale to studentsCopyright and ASCAP issues
-
Ethics issues
-
Liability issues
-
Tax issues
Call the MTNA National
Headquarters to discuss your legal questions and issues. After calling the
office, you may be directed to an attorney for further consultation.
Also, new this year is
the MTNA Professional Support Line. Assistance provided by the educational
services staff is available for pedagogical and business issues.
To use both of these
services, contact the MTNA National Headquarters at (888) 512-5278 or
mtnatnet@mtna.org.
Remember to renew your
membership for the 2006–2007 year to continue enjoying all the benefits MTNA
offers and take advantage of these two new services.
Please share this with
your members.
| 
