Legal/Licensing

Articles

A Chorus Guide to Getting the Right Permissions

Matthew Sigman | Government/Policy, Legal/Licensing, Technique/Tool

Securing the rights to perform, commission, record, or distribute music gets more complicated with every technological advance—here are basic guidelines to keep your chorus on the right side of legal. Read more

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Important Rights and Permission Resources

Chorus America Staff | Legal/Licensing, Technique/Tool

A list of websites and resources to use to ensure that your chorus stays on the right side of legal. Read more

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CD or Not CD

Matthew Sigman | Legal/Licensing, Marketing/Public Relations

On the internet all choruses are equal: Even the smallest ensemble with limited resources can now establish a global presence using digital technology to spread its sound. Here we offer some advice on how to decide which sound format is best for your chorus. Read more

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The 10 Commandments for Recording Your Chorus

Brad Spencer | Impact/Value, Legal/Licensing, Management/Leadership, Marketing/Public Relations, Technique/Tool

Professionally produced recordings are still one of the best ways you can enhance the quality, image, reputation, and morale of your chorus. Read more

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A New Ethics Environment

Michael G. Daig... | Governance, Legal/Licensing, Management/Leadership, Operations

You may think that choruses are immune from the transformations that will result from the business and ethics crises that beset politicians and corporations. Far from it. Ethics touches every element of a modern chorus—including board, management, artists, and audience. Read more

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7 Critical Questions to Help Your Chorus Develop an Ethics Program

Michael G. Daig... | Governance, Legal/Licensing, Management/Leadership, Operations

Ask these seven questions to start laying the foundation for an ethics program for your chorus, as recommended in "A New Ethics Environment" by Michael Daigneault, Esq. Read more

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The Board's Fiduciary Responsibility

Enron Provides a Cautionary Tale

Nancy R. Axelrod | Governance, Legal/Licensing, Management/Leadership, Operations

Aggressive accounting practices used to inflate profits and hide debt, and fuzzy disclosure policies have been identified as major reasons for the breakdown in financial reporting standards at Enron. But this subterfuge raises the deeper question of how well the average board member can rely on any institutional financial statement. Read more

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Resources

Nonprofit Chorus Self-Evaluation Tool

Chorus America Staff | Evaluation, Governance, Legal/Licensing, Operations, Strategic Planning, Technique/Tool

A comprehensive evaluation tool for choruses that addresses nine areas: organizational purpose, programs & evaluation, governance, planning, fundraising, financial stability & transparency, marketing & public relations, human resources, and operations & facilities. Each section's questions are organized from legal minimums to best practices. Read more

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Soloist Contract

Chorus America Staff | Legal/Licensing, Operations, Performance, Sample/Template

Use this basic sample letter of agreement to hire vocal or instrumental soloists (or a guest ensemble). Read more

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Orchestra Contract

Chorus America Staff | Legal/Licensing, Operations, Performance, Sample/Template

Use this basic sample contract when your chorus is retained to perform by an orchestra. Read more

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Conflict of Interest Policy

Chorus America Staff | Governance, Legal/Licensing, Management/Leadership, Sample/Template

Use this policy template to ensure that your chorus is in compliance with tax requirements. Read more

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Choral-Orchestral Engagements

Survey Results and Best Practices

Chorus America Staff | Community Outreach, Legal/Licensing, Operations, Performance, Research/Data, Sample/Template, Symphonic, Technique/Tool

This 2004 whitepaper provides practical guidance on the unique issues choruses face in working with orchestras for concert engagements. Based on data gathered from Chorus America's symphonic chorus members, it also provides a sample contract and budget to use when negotiating your engagement. Read more