RECAP: ASCAP Employees Give Back to Communities Worldwide During Annual ASCAP 'Notes the Cause' Company-Wide Volunteer Day

Volunteers Supported Local Schools, Parks, Seniors and Community Organizations Across 9 Service Projects in NYC

NEW YORK, July 29, 2026 - On Thursday, July 23, ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, held its annual company-wide ASCAP "Notes the Cause" Volunteer Day, bringing together hundreds of employees across its offices in the US, London and remote workforce to support local communities through service projects. ASCAP first launched its volunteer program in 2016.

In New York City, ASCAP Chief Executive Officer and Billboard 2026 Women in Music "Executive of the Year" Elizabeth Matthews joined the organization's NYC-based employees at Theodore Roosevelt Park on the Upper West Side, Manhattan, where volunteers promoted environmental sustainability by planting, mulching, constructing garden beds and assisting with park cleanup efforts.

"ASCAP is built on the idea of doing right by our collective of songwriters and composers, so volunteering is a natural extension of who we are," said Matthews. "We are laser-focused on the greater good of our members by delivering the highest royalty distributions with the lowest overhead, and we also believe in working for the communities we live in. It is inspiring to see hundreds of our employees step away from their desks to join ASCAP 'Notes the Cause' and give their time and energy to the schools, parks and organizations that make our communities stronger."

Across New York, ASCAP employees participated in nine volunteer initiatives addressing environmental stewardship, education, senior engagement and community well-being. Volunteers led elementary school students in recreational and fitness activities during a field day at P.S. 020 Anna Silver on the Lower East Side and supported school revitalization efforts at P.S. 145 on the Upper West Side through painting and gardening.

Other volunteers spent time with senior community members through healthy eating workshops and arts-and-crafts activities at JASA and VISIONS Center on Aging. At the New York Cares office, employees created floral arrangements and seed pods for a local senior center.

ASCAP "Notes the Cause" projects also took place at ASCAP's New York, Los Angeles, Nashville and London offices. Employees prepared envelopes for The ASCAP Foundation's fall fundraising appeal, painted character-shaped mural pieces to be donated to P.S. 161 in West Harlem, wrote Letters For Elders, collaborated on Missing Maps for humanitarian organizations; assembled gift packages with Project Glimmer to help under-resourced young women; and assembled materials for people with severe or profound and multiple learning disabilities for Bag Books and for underserved, homeless and foster care youth for the Assistance League of Los Angeles.

The annual global ASCAP "Notes the Cause" volunteer day reflects the same values that guide the organization's work on behalf of songwriters and composers. With nearly $2 billion in revenue in 2025, and delivering 90 cents of every dollar collected back to its members as royalties, ASCAP is member-driven and community-oriented. "Notes the Cause" gives employees the opportunity to step away from their daily roles serving creatives for one day to contribute directly to organizations meeting a range of local needs. The annual volunteer day joins programs and initiatives including company jam sessions, a monthly songwriter performance and interview series and other in-office events aimed at fostering a strong sense of community across ASCAP.

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a membership association of more than 1.1 million songwriters, composers and music publishers, and represents some of the world's most talented music creators. In 2024, ASCAP reported record-high financial results of $1.835 billion in revenues and $1.696 billion available in royalty distribution monies to its members. Over the last nine years, ASCAP has delivered a 7% compound annual growth rate for total revenues, and an 8% compound annual growth rate for total royalty distributions to members. Founded and governed by songwriters, composers and publishers, it returns nearly 90 cents of every dollar collected to its members as royalties and has the lowest overhead rate of any U.S. PRO. ASCAP licenses a repertory of over 20 million musical works to hundreds of thousands of businesses that use music, including streaming services, cable television, radio and satellite radio and brick and mortar businesses such as retail stores, hotels, clubs, restaurants and bars. ASCAP collects the licensing fees, and identifies, matches, processes and pays royalties to its members for trillions of performances every year. The ASCAP blanket license offers an efficient solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while respecting the right of songwriters and composers to be paid fairly. ASCAP puts music creators first, advocating for their rights and the value of music on Capitol Hill, driving innovation that moves the industry forward, building community and providing the resources and support that creators need to succeed in their careers. Learn more and stay in touch at www.ascap.com, on X and Instagram @ASCAP and on Facebook.

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CONTACT:

Hannah Schwartz, Shore Fire for ASCAP

[email protected]