Production Music Association Pauses Annual PMC and Moves Mark Awards Online

LOS ANGELES, California, April 23, 2020 — In the interest of protecting its members, partners, and contributors, the Production Music Association announced today that in lieu of holding its annual Production Music Conference in the fall of 2020, the PMA will be moving the Mark Awards to online only and launching the new PMA Academy, a new webinar series focusing on topics of interest to the production music community. The online sessions will be held regularly beginning Tuesday, April 28. The regular annual in-person PMC conference will return in the fall of 2021.

The annual Mark Awards ceremony, usually held during the conference, will still proceed as planned, switching to an innovative new online format. Longtime host and music supervisor John Houlihan will be returning to emcee the virtual event that will take place on October 6, 2020, official time TBA. Submissions for the Mark Awards will open in May 2020 and a percentage of submission fees will be donated to COVID-19 relief.

PMA Executive Director Morgan McKnight says, “We will continue to bring together the production music community in whatever forms are possible during these challenging times. Although we are of course saddened to make this decision, it is our responsibility to do what we can to limit the spread of the virus and protect the health and safety of our members. The PMA believes these changes and initiatives will help keep our industry, and those who are a part of it, healthy and connected.”

PMA Academy’s first webinar, entitled “Surviving the Pandemic: Resources Available to the Production Music Community,” will discuss the CARES Act, MusiCares, Sweet Relief, and other resources available to production music composers and publishers during this time. Panelists include Jacqueline Charlesworth (partner at Alter, Kendrick & Baron, LLP,), Michelle Lewis of SONA, and Allie Shaw (Board Member of Sweet Relief), with Abby North of North Music Group, LLC as Moderator.

The second webinar, slated for Tuesday, May 12, is entitled “Remote Recording Tips and Techniques.” Panelists to be announced.

“These free webinars offer incredible value to all members and will help build and strengthen the production music community. Connecting with each other, sharing information, and learning from each other allows us all to play an integral part in upholding the value and long term success of our industry,” says Adam Taylor, PMA Chairman.

All PMA Academy webinars will be held at 11:00 AM PST and will be free of charge to all attendees through the end of the year. For more information and the webinar schedule, please visit https://pmamusic.com/pma-academy/

Future webinars will be announced over the coming weeks. PMA members and guests are encouraged to submit panel, workshop or topic ideas here: https://forms.gle/CeePMhd372UhN4my6

About the PMA:
Founded in 1997, the Production Music Association (PMA) is the leading advocacy group of the production music community. A non-profit organization with over 650 composer and publisher members, the mission of the PMA is to elevate the unique value of production music and to ensure the long term viability of the production music industry. For more information about the PMA, please visit: http://pmamusic.com/

About the Mark Awards:
The Mark Awards honor and celebrate the achievements of the production music community. Named in honor of the late Andy Mark, who was a library owner and founding member of the PMA, the “Mark Awards” recognizes the very best in production music in 30 categories. Production music is the sonic lifeblood of so many audiovisual productions, from television programs to promotional campaigns to major theatrical releases. With its proliferation across the gamut of media productions and distribution channels, companies responsible for its contribution to the creative process are worthy of recognition.