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The non-profit Production Music Association (PMA,) the leading advocate and voice of the production music community, has announced its first Annual ®Mark Awards® for Excellence in Production Music. The inaugural event will take place from 7-9 PM on September 9, 2015, at the Directors Guild of America headquarters in Los Angeles. The PMA is comprised of over 675 members, including music publishers, composers, and industry professionals. The announcement was made today by PMA Executive Director Hunter Williams.

Named in honor of the late Andy Mark, who was a music library owner and a founding member of the PMA, the Mark Awards will recognize the very best in production music in 17 categories. Entries for submissions for the first annual Mark Awards are open to both PMA and non-PMA members. For details on the submissions process, visit: http://pmamusic.com/themarkawards/

The PMA has assembled an independent group of industry professionals, culled from executives working within TV networks, ad agencies, promo departments, trailer companies, and licensing organizations, to facilitate the submissions, judging, and final selection of Mark Awards winners.

Regarding Hollywood®s newest awards event, Mr. Williams said, ®Production music has long been the sonic lifeblood of so many audiovisual productions, ranging from television programs to promotional campaigns to major theatrical releases. With its proliferation across the gamut of media productions and distribution channels, companies responsible for the contribution of production music to the creative process have never before had their own awards event. These people and companies are truly worthy of long-overdue recognition ® thus the establishment of the Mark Awards.®

The first Mark Awards event will be held concurrently with the PMA®s Second Annual Production Music Conference (PMC,) which will also be held on Sept. 9th at the Directors Guild of America headquarters in Los Angeles. That event runs from 8 AM to 7PM. For more information about the PMC, please visit: http://pmamusic.com/pmc-schedule-announced/

The Categories for the First Annual ®Mark Awards® Are:

** Best Production Music Track

Defined as an original or arranged track released for licensing in the respective genre for which relevance is ascribed by keywords and/or meta-tags containing that genre name. Awards will be given to the best track in each of the following categories:

Best Ambient Track
Best Dance Track
Best Electronic Track
Best Hip Hop Track
Best Jazz Track
Best Orchestral Track
Best Rock Track
Best Vocal Track
Best World Track

** Best Use of Production Music

Defined as the uniquely effective use of an original or arranged library track that compellingly enhances the visual storytelling of the respective production type.
Awards will be given to the best track in each of the following production categories:

Best Use of Production Music In Commercial Advertisement
Best Use of Production Music In Full-Length Theatrical Film
Best Use of Production Music In On-Air Promo
Best Use of Production Music In Theatrical Film Trailer
Best Use of Production Music As Theme Song In TV Program
Best Use of Production Music As Underscore In TV Program

** The Hall of Fame Award

The first Hall of Fame Mark Award will be given to an individual of a current or pre-existing production music library whose work has made significant contributions towards the advancement of the production music industry.

** The Ambassador Award

The first Ambassador Mark Award will be given to an individual from any field who has devoted exceptional service towards ensuring a thriving and sustainable production music industry.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION MUSIC ASSOCIATION:

Founded in l997, the Production Music Association (PMA) is the leading advocate and voice of the production music community. A non-profit organization with over 675 members, including music publishers, composers, and industry professionals, the mission of the PMA is to elevate the unique value of production music and to ensure the viability of the production music industry.

Headquartered in both Los Angeles and Nashville, the PMA strives to fulfill its mission by:

**Working with performing rights organizations, legislators, legal counsel and broadcasters in the aim of improving the reporting, monitoring, collection and distribution of performance fees and royalties for PMA members;

**Providing its members with a forum in which issues of common concern and interest can be discussed and decisions made;

**Educating its members and the marketplace about music rights and other issues affecting the production music community; and

** Enhancing the value of PMA members® music through research, education and public relations.

For more information about The Mark Awards, please contact: markawards@pma.com And® For more information about the PMA, please visit: http://pmamusic.com/