Ask ACF

What happened to my ACF membership?

In 2020, ACF switched from a membership-based model to a subscription-based model that provides all services to the public with no cost. If you were a member when the change happened, it’s likely that your annual membership payments were switched to recurring donations. If you would like to change or remove this recurring donation, or change your address in ACF’s system, contact Dell Paulsen at dpaulsen@composersforum.org. If you would like to donate to ACF, you can do so here.

I seem to be missing a tax acknowledgment letter for a donation I gave to support ACF’s work. How can I get a copy for my tax purposes?

Send us an email at development@composersforum.org requesting and we will get you a .PDF file copy of the tax acknowledgment letter which details the donation amount, date, and includes language verifying that the gift is tax deductible.

How can I join American Composers Forum? How does someone become a member?

Welcome to ACF! While ACF used to be a membership organization, as part of an exciting 5 year strategic plan our Board of Directors and Executive Director decided to make some changes. In April of 2020 ACF removed the paywalls to our membership resources as part of our response to COVID-19 and in order to help transition from a space of exclusivity to a space of inclusivity by offering our services to all who need them. Later in the year we decided to make this change permanent, which means that payment is no longer a requirement for access to all of our services and resources! This also means ACF is no longer a membership organization and is primarily a service and resource organization for any artist making music today.

All you need to do to be a part of ACF is engage and show up—just by being here we already consider you part of ACF! If you haven’t yet, please check out our message on belonging to ACF to learn more about how we want to approach relationships with folks in our community.

We do invite you to consider supporting our programs and services that can benefit you and other artists via our donate page at whatever amount seems appropriate. Whether a monthly or annual gift, whatever is financially possible, it will be a tax-deductible donation. Thank you!

If you haven’t already, please feel free to use this link to sign up to receive our newsletter which contains regular updates as well as information for opportunities for work, chances to connect, and announcements. Our mission remains the same: supporting artists in various aspects of their creative lives. Thanks for being part of ACF!

How do I apply to release an album on innova?

Go to https://www.innova.mu/apply-0

When will your next call be announced?

We do not have plans for any calls in the immediate future at this time.

How many projects do you typically accept in a given cycle?

It can range, but typically between 6-8 projects.

What kinds of projects do you support?

Recording projects of all shapes and sizes! The more standard offerings from singles, to EPs, to albums, to newer formats like recorded installations, operatic podcasts, and 

All musical approaches are welcomed, at any stage of the process – from creation and ideation to finished, mastered audio. 

I am brand new to composing. How do I learn?

ACF’s website contains a list of educational resources that provide a good starting point for anyone who wants to learn to make music, including free online music theory lessons, free notation software, free digital audio workstations, and educational apps.

Can ACF give me advice or feedback on my music?

ACF’s staff is unable to provide advice or feedback on your music. Please do not send your scores to Ask ACF in PDF or physical form. This being said, we are happy to help direct you to composition instruction, in your local area or online.

How do I get a composition career started?

We recommend you connect with composers in your local scene, develop an online presence, and apply to opportunities. If you have not done so already, we encourage you to look at ACF’s Opportunities Listings to find calls for work, grants, and more. This list is curated to only include calls for work that either accept work you’ve already composed, or will fairly compensate you for the creation of new work. We also recommend you sign up for our Artist Support Email Newsletter and our general newsletter. These newsletters provide monthly updates on opportunities inside and outside ACF, as well as highlighting online opportunities to learn more about composing as a career, such as these past events, and webinars from organizations such as the American Composers Orchestra and Springboard for the Arts.

How do I get commissions and performances of my work?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. In our experience, what organizations are looking for varies greatly depending on the opportunity. We recommend researching what sort of work has been presented by a given organization in the past. Many opportunities will list their evaluation criteria, though these are often subjective. Grants and commissioning opportunities will often make the identities of their panel members public, in which case you can research those individuals and get a sense of their interests, though they will not always select work with similar aesthetics to their own. ACF and its partner organizations also have a number of online resources with advice on application processes, including this Application Tips document.

I am hoping to commission a composer. What sort of information typically goes into a commissioning agreement?

We recommend reading Anatomy of a Commission, a digital resource that aims to increase transparency about the commissioning process, created by ACF and several partner organizations. We also recommend New Music USA’s Commissioning Fees Guide.

We’re still working on the answers to some of your questions, but we’ll get back to you as soon as we know more. In the meantime, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• We’re committed to providing you with the best possible product or service, and that means taking the time to get things right.
• We’re always learning and growing, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to develop.
• If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help!

How do I pitch my album or concert for a review on ICIYL?

All pitches should be emailed to ICIYL editor Amanda Cook at editor@icareifyoulisten.com. Please include a short description of the project, the album release date or performance date, and links to relevant EPKs or event landing pages. In order to be considered for coverage, inquiries should be sent four weeks prior to the album street date or performance date. 

Do you accept physical CDs for reviews?

We no longer accept physical copies of albums for reviews. Instead, please email a download code, private stream, or shared folder with the album tracks to editor@icareifyoulisten.com. 

I don’t have an album or concert to promote, but I’d like to be featured in one of your interviews. How do I get in touch?

We would love to connect with you to learn more about you and your music! Please introduce yourself to ICIYL editor Amanda Cook at editor@icareifyoulisten.com, share some of your recent projects, and let us know what topics you’d potentially like to discuss in an interview.

How do I pitch a guest essay to ICIYL?We are always open to receiving ideas for guest essays on ICIYL. Our essays are 1,500 words and often focus on the bigger and broader aspects of our creative ecosystem. To pitch an essay idea, email ICIYL editor Amanda Cook at editor@icareifyoulisten.com.

What happened to my ACF membership?

In 2020, ACF ended our membership-based model to make our programs and resources more accessible. Thanks to donor support, all of ACF’s content is free for everyone. If you were a member when the change happened, it’s likely that your annual membership payments were switched to recurring donations. If you would like to change or remove this recurring donation, or change your address in ACF’s system, contact our development team at development@composersforum.org. If you would like to donate to ACF, you can do so here.

What are ACF’s mission, values, goals and work on equity?

ACF’s Statement of Commitment is a great place to start to understand ACF’s mission, values, goals and work on equity. Our Racial Equity Report Card is how we measure what we do.

Can ACF fund my project?

The American Composers Forum operates programs that award grants on an annual basis to select members of a competitive pool of applicants: ACF | connect, ACF | create, Composing Inclusion, McKnight Composer Fellowships, McKnight Visiting Composer Residencies and innova Recordings’ national calls. We do not provide direct financial support independently of our programs.

My organization is running a call for scores. Can ACF share it on their opportunities listings? Can I receive feedback on it?

To submit an opportunity to our public listings, please fill out this form. ACF staff reserve the right not to post an opportunity if we feel it does not meet our values. If you would like detailed feedback on your call for scores, or would like help creating a call for scores, contact opportunities@composersforum.org.

We’re still working on the answers to some of your questions, but we’ll get back to you as soon as we know more. In the meantime, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• We’re committed to providing you with the best possible product or service, and that means taking the time to get things right.
• We’re always learning and growing, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to develop.
• If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help!

How can I log in to my former member account to make updates/changes or cancel my subscription?

Our former artist member profiles were sunset at the same time as our membership model and there is unfortunately no longer a way to log in or access your account details on our website, so changes need to be made by a staff member, which we are more than happy to help with! If you would like to change or remove this recurring donation, or change your address in ACF’s system, contact our development team at development@composersforum.org.

I am selling a service for composers. Can ACF advertise it?

If you would like to run an ad in ACF’s partner publication I Care If You Listen or ACF’s newsletters, you can find more information on rates here. Contact advertising@icareifyoulisten.com to inquire about running an ad.