MPSE
MPSE is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional membership organization founded in 1953 serving sound editing professionals across film, television, and gaming through the annual Golden Reel Awards, four-tier membership programs, the Wavelength quarterly magazine, and scholarship/mentorship initiatives spanning 40+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1953
- HeadquartersToluca Lake, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What MPSE does
Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional membership organization founded in 1953 and headquartered in the Los Angeles area (Granada Hills mailing address; Toluca Lake city listing). It serves sound editing professionals — including supervising sound editors, sound designers, dialogue editors, ADR editors, Foley artists, and music editors — working across feature film, television, documentary, and game audio production. Its global membership spans more than 40 countries across six continents.
MPSE's core offerings are the annual Golden Reel Awards (currently in its 73rd year, with the 74th and 75th — designated a "Diamond Celebration" — scheduled for March 2027 and February 2028 respectively), the quarterly Wavelength magazine, and four membership tiers: Active Domestic ($175/year), Active International ($135/year), Associate ($75 application), Affiliate ($100/year), and Student ($35/year). It also operates the Ethel Crutcher Scholarship Fund and mentorship programs aimed at cultivating next-generation sound talent. The membership, awards, and scholarship programs are managed through the Wild Apricot platform.
Revenue is generated primarily through annual membership dues, Golden Reel Awards submission fees, event and gala ticket sales, and merchandise (trophies, trophy plates, and nomination certificates priced at $275–$350 and $15–$25 respectively). The organization is supported by a roster of industry sponsors including Amazon Studios (presenting sponsor, 68th Annual), Netflix, Formosa Group, NBC Universal, Skywalker Sound, Dolby, and Warner Bros Post Production Creative Services. There is no proprietary technology product, no patents, no AI capabilities, and no disclosed revenue figures; the entity operates on a membership-supported non-profit model.
MPSE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MPSE
- Legal name
- Motion Picture Sound Editors
- Website
- https://mpse.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1953
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- MPSE is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional membership organization founded in 1953 serving sound editing professionals across film, television, and gaming through the annual Golden Reel Awards, four-tier membership programs, the Wavelength quarterly magazine, and scholarship/mentorship initiatives spanning 40+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MPSE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Membership Organization - Film/TV/Gaming Sound Editing Industry Association
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (81392), Other Sound Recording Industries (51229)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audio Mastering & Deliverables (Loudness/Compliance, Printmasters, Stems) (MPAHAEAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Audio Editing & Restoration (Cleanup, Noise Reduction) (MPAIAHAJ)
Keywords
Where MPSE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toluca Lake
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
MPSE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from Active, Associate, Affiliate, and Student members provide the primary revenue stream. Active Domestic membership is $175/year, International is $135/year, Affiliate is $100/year, and Student is $35/year. Application fees of $75 apply to new applicants.
- Golden Reel Awards Submissions: Entry fees for Golden Reel Awards submissions from studios, production companies, and individual sound editors seeking recognition for their work.
- Event Revenue: Ticket sales for the annual Golden Reel Awards Gala and other MPSE-sponsored events including the family picnic, MPSE Presents screenings, and Sounding Board events with CAS.
- Merchandise: Sale of Golden Reel Award trophies, trophy plates, and nomination certificates through the MPSE store.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Active Domestic Member - For qualified sound editors with 3+ years experience |
| Subscription | Annual | Active International Member - For qualified sound editors outside the US with 3+ years experience |
| Subscription | Annual | Associate Member - For emerging sound professionals not yet qualifying for Active status |
| Subscription | Annual | Affiliate Member - For professionals indirectly involved with sound editing |
| Subscription | Annual | Student Member - For students enrolled in accredited entertainment media programs |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Golden Reel Trophy and Plate |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Golden Reel Nomination Certificate |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
MPSE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MPSE is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional membership organization serving sound editing professionals in film, television, and gaming. Its primary offering is the annual Golden Reel Awards, peer-judged and recognized as the most prestigious accolade in sound editing. The organization also operates tiered membership programs, publishes the quarterly Wavelength Magazine, runs mentorship and scholarship programs, and sells award merchandise including trophies and nomination certificates.
Product overview
The Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) is a professional membership organization founded in 1953, dedicated to improving recognition of sound editing professionals worldwide. The organization operates the Golden Reel Awards as its flagship annual awards program recognizing excellence in sound editing across film, television, and gaming. Additional offerings include Wavelength Magazine (quarterly publication), membership programs at four levels (Active, Associate, Affiliate, Student), scholarship funds, mentorship programs, and award merchandise through the store. The organization spans 40+ countries across 6 continents.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Golden Reel Awards: The prestigious annual awards ceremony honoring outstanding achievements in sound editing, sound design, music editing, and foley artistry in film, television and gaming.
- Wavelength Magazine
- Ethel Crutcher Scholarship Fund
Products and services
- Golden Reel Awards Annual awards program recognizing outstanding achievements in sound editing, sound design, music editing, and foley artistry in film, television, and gaming. Recognized as one of the most prestigious accolades in sound editing, judged and presented by peers. Available to sound editing professionals and studios submitting qualifying works.
- Wavelength Magazine Official quarterly publication of the Motion Picture Sound Editors featuring stories about top professional sound artists, new technologies, techniques, and insights into all things sound. Written by and for sound editing professionals.
- MPSE Membership Programs Four levels of professional membership: Active (for experienced sound editors with 3+ years), Associate (for those building credentials), Affiliate (for indirectly involved professionals), and Student (for enrolled entertainment media students). Includes voting privileges, MPSE initials for credits, screeners, Blue Ribbon Panel eligibility, and event invitations.
- Golden Reel Trophy and Nomination Certificate Sales Sale of Golden Reel Award trophies ($350 regular / $275 member), personalized trophy plates, and nomination certificates ($25 regular / $15 member) to nominees and winners through the MPSE store.
Companies that use MPSE
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
MPSE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
MPSE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.
- Perception PR LLCminorPublic relations representation for the organization
- IngleDodd MediaminorMedia relations and communications support
- Amazon StudiosflagshipPresenting sponsor for the 68th Annual Golden Reel Awards, demonstrating significant industry support for the organization's recognition events
- NetflixcoreSilver sponsor for the 68th Annual Golden Reel Awards and sponsor for student awards
- Formosa GroupcoreBronze sponsor and after-party sponsor for Golden Reel Awards events
- NBC Universal OperationscoreBronze sponsor for Golden Reel Awards
- IATSE 700 Motion Picture Editors GuildcoreEvent sponsor representing solidarity between sound editing and picture editing professionals
- Warner Bros Post Production Creative ServicescoreEvent sponsor for Golden Reel Awards
- Skywalker SoundcoreUber Eats sponsor and supporter of Golden Reel Awards, representing leading sound post-production facility
- DolbycorePhoto booth sponsor for Golden Reel Awards events
- Below The LineminorMedia sponsor providing coverage of Golden Reel Awards
- XPERI Corp.minorStudent awards sponsor, supporting next generation of sound professionals
- Wilshire Ebell TheatreminorVenue host for the 74th and 75th Annual Golden Reel Awards ceremonies in Los Angeles
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights2 records
MPSE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Television Academy: Professional organization behind the Emmy Awards, representing the television industry's creative and technical community. Operates the same peer-judged awards, tiered membership, and recognition-platform model as MPSE, but on a far larger scale across all TV disciplines.
- British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA): UK-headquartered but globally recognized arts charity that runs the BAFTA Film and Television Awards. Operates on a comparable non-profit membership-and-awards model and competes with MPSE's Golden Reel Awards for prestige in the sound categories of major film/TV honors.
- National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS): The Emmy-administering body for daytime, sports, news, and documentary television. Closely comparable awards-and-membership operating model, with overlapping membership demographics on the television side of MPSE's membership base.
- Audio Engineering Society (AES): The largest international professional society dedicated to audio engineering, covering recording, broadcast, and production sound broadly. Comparable membership-organization model (dues, peer-reviewed conventions, awards, publications) but with a much wider technical and scientific scope than MPSE's editorial craft focus.
- The Recording Academy: Professional membership organization for the music industry, best known for the Grammy Awards. Directly comparable in operating model (peer-judged awards, tiered membership, advocacy, published member resources), with a significantly larger scale and budget than MPSE.
Direct peers
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees - Local 700: IATSE Local 700 (Motion Picture Editors Guild) represents picture editors and is documented in MPSE's own data as a Core strategic partner. Directly comparable industry body organizing post-production editorial professionals, with overlapping membership demographics and shared event sponsorship.
- Cinema Audio Society: Professional organization for motion picture sound mixers, MPSE's closest peer: a peer-driven society running its own annual awards (CAS Awards) for the sound mixing counterpart to MPSE's sound editing recognition. MPSE's data explicitly references co-sponsored 'Sounding Board' events with CAS.
- Society of Camera Operators: Professional society for camera operators running a peer-judged awards program and tiered membership. Operates the same community-and-recognition model as MPSE, serving another adjacent below-the-line craft within the same film/TV production ecosystem.
- American Cinema Editors (ACE): The sister professional society for picture editors, running the ACE Eddie Awards. Directly comparable organizational model: peer-judged awards, membership tiers, mentorship, and a long-running annual ceremony serving the post-production editing craft adjacent to MPSE's sound editing domain.
Regional players
- Association of Motion Picture Sound (AMPS): UK-based professional society for motion picture sound with a comparable awards program and membership structure. Operates as MPSE's principal geographic counterpart in the British film/TV industry, offering the same peer recognition and community model for non-US sound professionals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
MPSE social profiles
Digital presenceMPSE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MPSE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
MPSE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MPSE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MPSE
What does MPSE do?
MPSE is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional membership organization serving sound editing professionals in film, television, and gaming. Its primary offering is the annual Golden Reel Awards, peer-judged and recognized as the most prestigious accolade in sound editing. The organization also operates tiered membership programs, publishes the quarterly Wavelength Magazine, runs mentorship and scholarship programs, and sells award merchandise including trophies and nomination certificates.
Is MPSE a public or private company?
MPSE is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was MPSE founded?
MPSE was founded in 1953. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is MPSE based?
MPSE is headquartered in Toluca Lake, United States, in the North America region.
How does MPSE make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are golden Reel Awards Submissions, event Revenue and merchandise.
Who are MPSE's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Television Academy, British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), Audio Engineering Society (AES) and The Recording Academy. Direct peers are International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees - Local 700, Cinema Audio Society, Society of Camera Operators and American Cinema Editors (ACE). Association of Motion Picture Sound (AMPS) is listed as a regional player.
Does MPSE have an API?
No public API is recorded for MPSE.
What industry is MPSE in?
MPSE's product category is Professional Membership Organization - Film/TV/Gaming Sound Editing Industry Association. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHAEAL, Audio Mastering & Deliverables (Loudness/Compliance, Printmasters, Stems), with a secondary code of MPAIAHAJ, Audio Editing & Restoration (Cleanup, Noise Reduction). Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8600.