Guild of Music Supervisors

What Guild of Music Supervisors does

The Guild of Music Supervisors is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional organization founded in 2010 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, that serves as the primary trade body for music supervisors working across film, television, video games, advertising, trailers, and emerging media. It was established by fifteen founding members including Alexandra Patsavas, PJ Bloom, and Dave Jordan, and operates with a small team of approximately 11 staff under an elected board led by President Jonathan Leahy. The organization provides membership tiers (Freelance at $150/year, Corporate at $100/year, Associate at $100/year, Legacy at $100/year, and Friends of the Guild at $100/year, with a $50 student/military discount), awards recognition through the annual GMS Awards (16th Annual in February 2026), the annual State of Music in Media GMS Conference (12th Annual in August 2026), and the more recent Member Summit (3rd Annual in May 2026).

The Guild's product surface is centered on membership services, events, and community resources rather than proprietary technology. Core infrastructure relies on third-party platforms: a Wix-hosted website, Wild Apricot for membership management, Submittable for award submissions, and Humanitix for event ticketing. There is no proprietary software, no mobile app, no public API, and no AI/ML components. The organization also operates a branded merchandise catalog (beanies, hats, sweatshirts, t-shirts, water bottles, tote bags, bomber jackets priced $10-$70) and publishes a monthly newsletter restricted to dues-paying members. Marketing channels include Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, email, and the website, with educational content delivered through webinars and panels (e.g., GMS 101 sessions drawing 500-900+ registered attendees).

Revenue is generated from four streams: recurring membership dues ($50-$150/year), corporate sponsorship tiers (Diamond, Platinum, Gold Partners), event ticket and admissions revenue, and merchandise sales. The organization has maintained active chapters in New York City, Canada, and the United Kingdom, hosts 6-10 social events per year in Los Angeles, and coordinates peer relationships with over ten industry guilds and rights organizations including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and PRS. Annual revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the operation runs at modest scale consistent with a small membership-based non-profit trade association.

Name

Guild of Music Supervisors

Legal name

Guild of Music Supervisors

Website

https://guildofmusicsupervisors.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Guild of Music Supervisors is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional membership organization founded in 2010 that serves music supervisors across film, television, games, advertising, and trailers, offering membership tiers, annual awards, conferences, and education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Industry Professional Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Supervision Services (MPAIALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional & Certification Expos Organizers (THAHABAD)

Keywords

• Music supervision services
• Professional trade organization
• Music industry networking
• Industry awards programs
• Music education conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from Freelance Members ($150/year), Corporate Members ($100/year), Associate Members ($100/year), Legacy Members ($100/year), and Friends of the Guild ($100/year). Student/Military discount available at $50/year.
2. Sponsorships: The Guild relies on sponsorships from Diamond Partners, Platinum Partners, and Gold Partners. Annual Partner and event sponsorships support the GMS Awards (February), GMS Conference (August), and year-round operations.
3. Event Tickets and Admissions: Revenue from GMS Awards tickets, GMS Conference tickets, Member Summit tickets, and educational events. Associate Members can purchase up to 2 discounted tickets to the GMS Awards.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including embroidered beanies ($17), bucket hats ($21.50), embroidered patches ($10), snapback hats ($25.50), unisex sweatshirts ($21.50), t-shirts ($18-$19), water bottles ($24.95), bomber jackets ($70), and tote bags ($19.95).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The Guild of Music Supervisors is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional membership organization that promotes the craft of music supervision across film, television, games, advertising, trailers, and emerging media. It sells annual memberships across multiple tiers (Freelance, Corporate, Associate, Legacy, Friends of the Guild), hosts annual events including the GMS Awards, GMS Conference, and Member Summit, sells branded merchandise, and provides educational panels, newsletters, and advocacy resources.

Product overview

Guild of Music Supervisors is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional organization that promotes the craft of music supervision for the mutual benefit of all media stakeholders. The organization offers a core product of professional membership with multiple tiers (Freelance, Corporate, Associate, Legacy, and Friends of the Guild) providing networking, educational resources, industry advocacy, and community-building services. Key events include the annual GMS Awards (annual awards ceremony), GMS Conference (State of Music in Media Conference), and Member Summits. The organization also operates a merchandise store featuring branded apparel and accessories including embroidered beanies, hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, water bottles, and tote bags. A monthly newsletter subscription is provided to members for industry updates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GMS Awards: Annual awards ceremony celebrating excellence in music supervision across film, television, games, advertising, trailers, and emerging media.
• GMS Conference
• Member Summit
• Friends of the Guild (FOG)

Products and services

• Guild of Music Supervisors Membership Annual professional membership for music supervisors offering networking, voting rights in GMS Awards, educational events, profile hosting, committee participation, and industry advocacy across Freelance, Corporate, Associate, Legacy, Friends of the Guild, and Student/Military tiers.
• GMS Awards Annual ticketed awards ceremony (16th Annual on February 28, 2026) celebrating excellence in music supervision across all media fields. Includes categories such as Best Music Supervision for Advertising Synch.
• GMS Conference (State of Music in Media Conference) Annual ticketed educational conference (12th Annual on August 15, 2026) featuring educational sessions, panels, and networking for music supervisors and industry professionals in Los Angeles, CA.
• GMS Member Summit Annual members-exclusive half-day educational event (3rd Annual on May 16, 2026 in Burbank, CA) featuring panels, breakout sessions, networking, and professional development for working music supervisors.
• Embroidered Beanie Branded 60% cotton / 40% acrylic embroidered beanie sold at $17.00 through the Guild's online merchandise store.
• Bucket Hat 100% cotton twill bucket hat with sewn eyelets sold at $21.50 through the Guild's online merchandise store.
• Embroidered Patches 3-inch diameter embroidered patches sold at $10.00 with iron-on, sew-on, or safety pin attachment options.
• Dad Hat Low-profile unstructured 6-panel dad hat with adjustable strap and curved visor, made of 100% chino cotton twill, priced at $21.25.
• Snapback Hat Structured 6-panel high-profile snapback hat with flat brim and adjustable snap closure, priced at $25.50.
• Unisex Sweatshirt Classic fit pre-shrunk 50% cotton / 50% polyester unisex sweatshirt with air-jet spun yarn, priced at $21.50.
• Unisex Premium T-Shirt 100% combed cotton premium unisex t-shirt with soft luxurious feel, pre-shrunk with regular fit and crew neck, priced at $18.00.
• Women's Relaxed V-Neck T-Shirt Relaxed fit women's V-neck t-shirt priced at $19.00 with soft fabric, made of 52% airlume combed cotton and 48% polyester.
• Stainless Steel Water Bottle 17-ounce double-walled vacuum flask stainless steel water bottle with leak-proof cap keeping liquids hot or cold for 6 hours, priced at $24.95.
• Premium Recycled Bomber Jacket Relaxed fit unisex bomber jacket made of 100% recycled polyester with utility pocket and premium YKK zipper, priced at $70.00.
• Tote Bag 100% polyester tote bag (15" x 15") with dual cotton bull denim handles, 2.6 US gallon capacity, maximum 44lbs weight limit, priced at $19.95.
• GMS Monthly Newsletter Monthly electronic newsletter providing updates on GMS events, industry news, and member resources, available exclusively to GMS members and Friends of the Guild.
• Panels & Webinars Educational virtual and in-person panel discussions covering music supervision topics, distributed via YouTube, including GMS 101 orientation sessions.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Mondo.NYCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2025Co-presenting the 8th Annual NYC Education Event on October 16, 2025 in Brooklyn, NY. Mondo.NYC is a music business conference and artist showcase that partners with GMS for education-focused programming.
• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and SciencesminorOthersThe Guild aims to further understanding of music in media for professionals across related guilds and organizations including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which presents the Oscars.
• Academy of Television Arts and SciencesminorOthersThe Guild works with the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmys) to promote understanding of music in media across the television industry.
• Directors Guild of AmericaminorOthersThe Guild collaborates with Directors Guild of America to advance understanding of music in media among directorial professionals.
• Producers Guild Of AmericaminorOthersThe Guild coordinates with Producers Guild Of America on industry-wide initiatives and educational programming.
• National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammys)minorOthersThe Guild maintains relationship with the Recording Academy to support understanding of music in media across recording and sound industries.
• SAG-AFTRAminorOthersThe Guild collaborates with SAG-AFTRA on matters involving on-camera performers, musicians, and actors in music-related production.
• IATSEminorOthersThe Guild works with IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) on industry protocols and worker protections including COVID safety guidelines.
• American Federation of MusiciansminorOthersThe Guild coordinates with AFM on matters involving musicians, contractors, and recording sessions for on-camera performances.
• The Society of Composers & LyricistsminorOthersThe Guild collaborates with SCL on issues affecting composers, songwriters, and music creators working in media.
• ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, PRSminorOthersThe Guild maintains relationships with major performance rights organizations including ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and PRS for music licensing and clearance matters.
• The Editors GuildminorOthersThe Guild works with The Editors Guild on post-production matters involving music editing and editorial processes.
• HumanitixminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvent ticketing platform used for Member Summit registrations and other Guild events. Humanitix provides ticketing infrastructure and support services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Federation of Musicians (AFM): Major entertainment-industry union for musicians with which GMS coordinates on musicians, contractors and recording sessions. AFM is a labor union with collective-bargaining authority that GMS aspires to for music supervisors, making it a direct counterpart on the labor side.
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE): Entertainment-industry union covering technical and craft workers, with which GMS collaborates on COVID-safety protocols and industry coordination. IATSE is a likely structural model if music supervisors pursue collective bargaining.
• Directors Guild of America (DGA): Peer entertainment-industry guild representing directors that GMS works with to advance understanding of music in media. Operates on the same 501(c)(6) advocacy-plus-events-plus-awards structure that defines GMS's model.
• ASCAP: Performance rights organization (PRO) with which GMS maintains a working relationship on music licensing and clearance matters. ASCAP sits upstream in the music supervision value chain as a rights-administration counterparty rather than a direct competitor.
• BMI: Second major U.S. performance rights organization that GMS coordinates with on licensing and clearance. Like ASCAP, BMI is an ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor but shapes the operating environment for GMS members.
• SAG-AFTRA: Largest entertainment union for on-camera performers; GMS works with SAG-AFTRA on protocol and coordination affecting music-related production. As a potential home for music-supervisor unionization efforts, SAG-AFTRA is both a partner and a strategic counterparty.
• The Recording Academy (Grammys / National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences): Larger, more established 501(c)(6) music-industry professional organization with an annual awards franchise (Grammys). GMS cross-promotes with the Recording Academy and the two function as peer music-industry membership bodies, though the Recording Academy covers a much broader creator universe.
• Producers Guild of America (PGA): Peer entertainment-industry guild representing producers, coordinating with GMS on educational programming and industry initiatives. Shares the professional-guild operating model (membership, events, advocacy) at meaningfully larger scale.
• The Editors Guild (Motion Picture Editors Guild / IATSE Local 700): Post-production peer guild that GMS collaborates with on music editing and editorial matters. A useful structural comparable given its narrower remit within a broader entertainment labor ecosystem.

Direct peers

• The Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL): Closest analog to GMS — a 501(c)(6) professional guild serving music creators working in media (composers/lyricists). Both organizations pursue advocacy, education and peer recognition for music-in-media professionals, making SCL the structural twin of GMS across the music-for-screen value chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/guildofmusic
• YouTubeyoutube.com/guildofmusicsupervisors
• Facebookfacebook.com/guildofmusicsupervisors
• Instagraminstagram.com/guildofmusicsupervisors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/guildofmusicsupervisors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Guild of Music Supervisors