Production Music Association (PMA)

What Production Music Association (PMA) does

The Production Music Association (PMA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association founded in 1997 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It represents the U.S. production music community — music publishers, libraries, composers, and aligned technology providers — collectively controlling over 2.5 million copyrights whose music accounts for 46%+ of broadcast/cable TV music usage and 57% of commercial/promo/advertising performances in the U.S. The organization was formed when member companies united to defeat a PRO-proposed royalty cap, and its core mission is collective advocacy, education, and standards-setting for the production music ecosystem. PMA is staffed by two full-time employees and governed by a volunteer Board composed of representatives from member music libraries, with no traditional equity or capital structure.

PMA's core offerings are the annual Production Music Conference (PMC) in Los Angeles, the Mark Awards ceremony, the PMA Academy webinar series, the Digital Demo Derby feedback program, monthly virtual networking, and tiered membership (Student $50/yr, Composer $99/yr, Library/Publisher $300+/yr). Revenue is generated from membership dues, conference tickets and sponsorships, Mark Awards entry fees, and corporate sponsorships (presenting sponsor Orfium in prior years; ~15 sponsors listed for PMC 2026). Distribution is primarily direct via the pmamusic.com website, with PMC ticketing through Accelevents and on-demand content via the PMA YouTube channel. The organization also partners with performing rights organizations (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC), the Mechanical Licensing Collective, and the International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP) for global advocacy.

Strategically, PMA's positioning has evolved from purely defensive royalty advocacy toward proactive industry convening — establishing itself as the data authority (via the BMAT study), the thought leader on AI-era rights (AI training license guidance), and the global hub connecting U.S. members to 80+ countries of PMC attendees and ICMP-aligned international bodies. Its competitive position rests on regulatory advocacy, brand longevity, and structural entrenchment via member-employed board representation rather than any proprietary technology.

Name

Production Music Association (PMA)

Legal name

Production Music Association

Website

https://pmamusic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Production Music Association (PMA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association founded in 1997 that represents 800+ U.S. music publishers, composers, and technology providers controlling 2.5M+ copyrights, delivering advocacy, education, and the annual Production Music Conference and Mark Awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Industry Trade Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Music Publishers (51223), Music Publishers (512230)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Production Music Libraries (Library Music, Trailer Music, Stock Cues) (MPAIABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Production Music Libraries (Catalogs) (MPAIALAC), Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) & Public Performance Licensing (MPAIAKAA), Production Management & Studio Support Services (Studio Managers, Techs) (MPAIAHAO)

Keywords

• Music industry trade association
• Production music licensing
• Music publishing advocacy
• Music industry conferences
• Music royalty collection

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from three tiers: Student ($50/year), Composer ($99/year), and Library (starting at $300/year). This is the primary revenue stream for the nonprofit organization.
2. Production Music Conference (PMC): Annual conference ticket sales and sponsorship revenue. The PMC is held in Los Angeles and attracts attendees from 80+ countries.
3. Mark Awards: Entry fees for the annual awards ceremony. PMA members receive discounted rates and free entries with minimum submissions.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for the PMC event and other organizational activities, including presenting sponsors like Orfium.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Production Music Association (PMA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association that advocates for the production music community, representing over 800 music publishers, composers, and technology service members across 80+ countries. Its core offerings include tiered membership programs (Student, Composer, Library/Publisher), the annual Production Music Conference (PMC), the Mark Awards ceremony, the PMA Academy webinar series, and the Digital Demo Derby feedback program. The organization also produces educational resources such as industry FAQ pages, a glossary of terms, and database references for catalog and member prefixes.

Product overview

The Production Music Association (PMA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit industry organization, not a product company. It provides advocacy, community support, and educational resources for the production music industry. The organization's primary offerings include the annual Production Music Conference (PMC), the Mark Awards ceremony, the PMA Academy webinar series, the Digital Demo Derby feedback program, and membership services at various tiers. Supporting resources include industry databases (Music Catalog Prefix Database, Member Prefix Database), educational FAQs for composers and publishers, and a comprehensive Glossary of Terms. These offerings work together to advance the unique value of production music and create a better future for the community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Production Music Conference (PMC) Annual international gathering for the production music community held in Los Angeles, featuring networking, educational sessions, and panel programming for publishers, composers, technology partners, and industry professionals. Tickets sold via Accelevents platform with live-streamed virtual access.
• Mark Awards Annual awards ceremony honoring excellence in production music across multiple categories including Track of the Year, Best Use categories, and Special Achievement Awards such as Hall of Fame and Ambassador Award. Submissions open to members and non-members with fee-based entries.
• PMA Academy Webinar Series Free virtual webinar series providing educational content for composers and industry professionals on topics including UGC strategy, big data, production music composition, sound design, legal issues, and global market focus. Replays available on the PMA YouTube channel.
• Digital Demo Derby Quarterly submission opportunity providing composers with quality feedback from industry experts, including live review sessions hosted by the PMA Composer Advisory Committee. Available to Composer-level members.
• PMA Membership Tiered annual membership program for composers, publishers, and technology service members offering networking, education, advocacy, and member benefits. Three tiers: Student ($50/year), Composer ($99/year), and Library/Publisher (starting at $300/year).

Quantifiable outcome

• Production music represents over 46% of all music used on broadcast and cable TV in the US
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RDB Music GroupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 October 2026RDB Music Group is the sponsor for networking meals during PMC 2026 - including the Publisher Breakfast, Wednesday Networking Lunch, and Thursday Networking Lunch.
• allVerifiedcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 October 2026allVerified is sponsoring the September 2026 virtual networking coffee hour and a panel session at PMC 2026. They provide verification services for the production music industry.
• TMD (Trailer Music Blog)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 October 2026Listed as a special thanks sponsor for PMC 2026.
• Music BedminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 October 2026Listed as a special thanks sponsor for PMC 2026.
• True Ranker MusicminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 October 2026Listed as a special thanks sponsor for PMC 2026.
• AIMS (Audiovisual Industry Music Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 October 2026Listed as a bronze sponsor for PMC 2026.
• LevelUPminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 October 2026Mark Awards sponsor for PMC 2026.
• Syncmusic RocksminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 October 2026Mark Awards sponsor for PMC 2026.
• MD RadiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 October 2026Mark Awards sponsor for PMC 2026.
• Sounds of Red BullminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 October 2026Listed as a supporting sponsor for PMC 2026.
• Pro Sound EffectsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 October 2026Listed as a supporting sponsor for PMC 2026.
• BMAT Music InnovatorscoreTechnology or Integration · 16 August 2022BMAT Music Innovators conducted a major industry study with the PMA showing that over 46% of all music played on broadcast and cable TV is production music. BMAT provides audio fingerprinting technology that tracks music usage across 7000+ radio and TV channels globally.
• OrfiumcoreTechnology or Integration · 28 June 2022Orfium served as presenting sponsor for the 2022 and 2023 Production Music Conference. Provides AI-powered technology for catalog management, automated license management, and revenue collection through their Synctracker product for UGC platform monetization.
• ASCAPcoreOthersPerforming Rights Organization partner. ASCAP is one of the PROs that collects and distributes performance royalties for songwriters and publishers in the US.
• BMIcoreOthersPerforming Rights Organization partner. BMI represents over 1.1 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers in the US.
• SESACcoreOthersPerforming Rights Organization partner. SESAC is a performance rights organization in the US.
• ICMP (International Confederation of Music Publishers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal music publishers organization. The PMA partners with ICMP's European Production Music Committee for global outreach initiatives.
• The MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective)minorOthersNonprofit organization designated by the U.S. Copyright Office to administer blanket mechanical licenses to streaming services under the Music Modernization Act of 2018.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• BMI: A major U.S. PRO representing over 1.1 million songwriters, composers, and publishers, and a Core PMA partner. An ecosystem peer that PMA regularly engages on performance royalty policy and reporting standards.
• ASCAP: One of the four U.S. performing rights organizations and a Core PMA partner. While ASCAP is a PRO (not a trade association), it is a key counterpart for PMA's advocacy on royalty collection and distribution, making it an ecosystem peer rather than direct competitor.
• Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC): Nonprofit designated by the U.S. Copyright Office to administer blanket mechanical licenses under the Music Modernization Act. A regulatory counterpart/partner rather than competitor, but operates on similar nonprofit principles to PMA.

Broad incumbents

• IFPI: Global trade body representing the recording industry. Comparable as a peer trade association but operates at the broader recorded-music level, while PMA specializes in production music for sync.
• National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA): The largest U.S. trade association representing music publishers and songwriters. Comparable as a peer trade body advocating on rights, royalties, and legislation, but NMPA operates at the broader songwriter/publisher level rather than the production music niche PMA serves.
• RIAA: U.S. trade body for the recording industry. Comparable as a peer trade association advocating on copyright and licensing, but RIAA focuses on recorded-music labels rather than production music libraries.

Emerging players

• Audiovisual Industry Music Association (AIMS): A bronze sponsor of PMC 2026, AIMS is an emerging trade association serving the music-for-visual-media sector. Comparable as a newer association addressing overlapping membership and concerns, particularly around music supervision and licensing in film/TV.

Direct peers

• Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP): U.S.-based nonprofit trade association representing independent music publishers. Directly comparable as a peer trade body advocating on royalty, licensing, and legislative issues for music publishers, though AIMP focuses on independent publishers broadly while PMA is niche to production music libraries.
• International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP): Global trade body for music publishers, with a dedicated European Production Music Committee that PMA partners with for global outreach. Directly comparable as a peer trade association representing music publishers internationally.

Regional players

• Music Publishers Association (UK MPA): U.K.-based trade association for music publishers. Comparable peer trade body in a different geography, focused on British publishing interests and operating within U.K. and EU regulatory frameworks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thepmamusic
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrp0NdmJeZi5N0nmvgCpZZA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Production-Music-Association-PMA-134125206695757
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thepmamusic
• Instagraminstagram.com/thepmamusic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Production Music Association (PMA)