Press Release

HFA Signs Representation Agreement with Music Copyright Society of China.
New York, NY -- The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. (HFA), wholly owned licensing subsidiary of the National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA), has signed a reciprocal representation agreement with the Music Copyright Society of China (MCSC) for administration of mechanical rights in China on behalf of HFA publisher principals who have not made their own arrangements for representation in this territory. The agreement will be administered by HFA's subsidiary the Fox Agency International (FAI), which has offices in Singapore and Taiwan.

This is the first agreement the MCSC has signed with a Western Hemisphere country for mechanical rights, and is a new activity for the Society. Therefore, in addition to representation, HFA/FAI will be helping MCSC to establish licensing procedures by offering guidance, education and assistance.

Several delegates from the MCSC came to New York for the formal signing of the agreement: Mr. Chang Cheng, Director General of the MCSC and Executive Director of the China Society of Intellectual Property Rights; Mr. Qu Jingming, Standing Deputy Director and; Madame Gu Jianfen, a well-know composer and senior congresswoman, and a board member of MCSC.

At the signing, Edward P. Murphy, NMPA President & CEO said, "We are very pleased to enter into this new agreement with the Music Copyright Society of China, which gives HFA/FAI the opportunity to represent our publishers in this developing market, and work with the MCSC at an important time in its evolution."

The MCSC was established December 17, 1992 and was initiated by the Chinese Musicians' Association and the National Copyright Administration of China. It is the only officially recognized, non-profit social organization of collective administration of music copyright in China.

NMPA, founded in 1917, works to protect and advance the interests of the music publishing industry. With more than 600 members, NMPA represents the most important and influential music publishing firms throughout the United States. HFA, founded in 1927, represents more than 17,000 music publishers and serves as an information source, clearing house and monitoring service for licensing music copyrights.