14 Reasons to Join the MMF

1. Giving Managers The Status They Deserve
In the early days of the sixties and seventies when managers first played a significant role in the music business they suffered a bad press, which in some cases was entirely justified. The press perceived managers as Mafioso style rogues and charlatans who were exploiting musicians. Throughout the eighties and nineties the manager's role became more and more sophisticated and professional to the point where now there are many degree courses in Artist Management. The MMF is dedicated to giving modern managers the status they deserve alongside accountants, lawyers and record company executives for the crucial role they hold within the music industry.

2. Worldwide Networking and Info Gathering
There are active MMF organisations in the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, South Africa, Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Belgium and Finland. The International Music Managers' Forum (IMMF) is working toward developing affiliates in emerging countries of significance such as China. Australian artists continue to have an increasing impact in international territories and the IMMF will continue to interface with the music business in those territories.

3. National Forum Series
This is one of a number of key areas of the MMF's work. The MMF's forums are aimed at enlightening and informing members of the latest developments on a wide variety of music related issues. They are run monthly in each of our State Branches including New South Wales and Victoria. Apart from being very lively, informative and fun, they provide a great opportunity to network and catch up on the industry latest gossip.

4. Discounts and Special Offers
Various key industry companies support and sponsor the MMF. Some of these companies are able to offer special deals and discounts to MMF members in areas such as airfares, travel and logistics, industry directory listings, studio hire, equipment and vehicle rental and backline.

5. Regular Newsletter
The MMF newsletter, Trust Me!, is regarded as an invaluable update, not only in regard to MMF matters but also on general industry issues. The MMF is a dynamic proactive organisation and is usually to be found on the cutting edge of all controversial music industry issues. The reason for this is that managers are the only group within the industry who have to deal with every aspect of the industry on a daily basis and are therefore uniquely placed positioned in this respect. The MMF newsletter reflects this and the MMF is constantly striving to improve and expand its presentation.

6. Access to a Fully Operational Website
As part of the MMF's efforts to help managers from all over Australia build on their knowledge and networks this website is an increasingly useful tool for keeping in touch with the news and events that we bring to you. The "members only" section contains up to the minute industry information, member news and a discussion forum.

7. Lobbying Government and Industry
The MMF is recognised inside and out of the industry as an important representative body for music managers and the artists that they represent. The MMF works toward the development of a fairer "playing field" with organisations such as the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) and industry bodies such as APRA, AMCOS and ARIA.

8. Short Courses and Master-classes
The MMF hold many short courses and masterclasses on varying topics. The short courses held in different cities introduces the delegates to the music industry in a concise, informative manner giving the delegate many of the tools required to survive in the music industry. The master-classes are limited to a restircted number of attendees who have the opportunity to be educated by many of the people that work in their specilised field. Master-classes run to date include the Audio master-class and the Marketing and Promotion Master-class.

9. Discounts for International Music Business Conferences
The MMF is constantly securing significant discounts to music industry conferences such as Midem (France), Popkom (Germany), In The City (UK), SXSW (USA) and NXNE (Canada). These reductions alone will easily earn you back the cost of membership within one or two conferences.

10. Simplifying and Reforming Music Business Agreements
The MMF is constantly monitoring other music business agreements such as recording and publishing contracts for new clauses which may not be in artist's and therefore manager's interests. The MMF is also concerned to reform various industry norms such as issues like assignment of copyright and packaging deductions in recording contracts as well as a host of other old-fashioned and blatantly unfair conditions.

11. Pursuing Payment From Hidden Income Streams
This is an area being constantly monitored by the MMF and gave rise to an enormous amount of work by the MMF UK affiliate following the 1996 UK Copyright legislation amending the 1998 Copyright Act. This legislation became law as the result of a EU Directive concerning public performance income from recordings. As a direct result of this new legislation a new collection society was formed under the name of the Association of United Recording Artists (AURA) which will not only monitor and collect UK income but for the first time will be able to access public performance income from many foreign countries. AURA campaigns specifically for the rights of contracted featured artists and seeks to ensure that they are paid in keeping with their status and the contributions they make to recordings.

12. New Technology - Protecting Artist's and Manager's Rights
The MMF continues to monitor new developments in technology particularly in regard to the Internet (such as, digital distribution, digital rights and income derived from digital usage of music) and new sound carriers, etc.

13. Publication of the Manager's Manual
The MMF Managers Manual has become the defining text on music management in Australia and around the world. Compiled after exhaustive research and interviews with managers actively involved in the industry, the manual will cover everything from recording and publishing contracts, to merchandising deals, to accounting and taxation obligations, to touring and much, much more.

14. Setting Standards
The MMF represents and promotes high ethical standards in music management to which MMF members are expected to adhere.