Electronic Distribution of Music is a Hot Topic at the 2000 MOLA Conference

Electronic Distribution of Music was a hot topic at the 2000 Conference of the Major Orchestra Librarians' Association at New York City's Crowne Plaza Hotel on April 15, 16 and 17, 2000.

In the plenary session on Sunday, April 16th, "The Rental/Hire Library in the Electronic Age," representatives from the rental libraries of Boosey & Hawkes, G. Schirmer, Inc., the Theodore Presser Company, the Rodgers and Hammerstein Concert Library, squared off with orchestra librarians in a detailed discussion of the mechanics of securing materials for performances. Future CD-Rom and Internet dissemination of materials was discussed as both beneficial and as something that could result in even more problems.

Monday's session "Music Publishing and Distribution into the 21st Century," moderated by the American Music Center's executive director Richard Kessler, began with a history of music publishing by George Sturm, executive director of Music Associates of America, followed by an update on recent developments in electronic publishing by Bill Holab, director of publications at G. Schirmer, Inc. James Kendrick, of Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP, discussed the complex legal issues involved with Internet dissemination of printed music scores and audio/video recordings, and there was a short video presentation of MOODS, Music Object Oriented Distributed System (Project Coordinator: Paolo Nesi), an integrated system of computer-based music stands/lecterns which can be used for the cooperative editing and visualization of music.

The Major Orchestra Librarians' Association was founded in 1983 primarily to help improve communication among orchestra librarians. The Association's other objectives include educating and assisting librarians, presenting a unified voice in publisher relations and providing education, support, and information to performing arts and other music service organizations. Today MOLA is an international organization with a membership of 137 libraries, including those of orchestras, opera and ballet companies, military bands and music conservatories. Membership includes musical organizations in North America, Europe, the Mideast, Asia and Australia. The 2000 Conference was co-hosted by the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera Association.