Local Organizations
My links to many local folk clubs and organizations across the country.

ASCAP (Amer. Soc. of Composers and Publishers)
Performing rights organization - collects and distributes royalties to members for radio, tv, cable, net, and live performances. Awards for members receiving <$15,000/yr in royalties. Searchable database.

AFIM (Association for Independent Musicians)
Group represents business/artistic concerns of indie labels and musicians. Hosts the "Indies" awards in May.

BMI (Broadcast Music International)
Performing rights organization that collects and distributes royalties to members. Limited to broadcast performances, but with more breadth of sampling than ASCAP. Searchable database.

Folk Alliance Australia
This organization's site is a resource linking to artists, venues, festivals and more around the continent.

Folk Alliance: National
National organization for performers, promoters, media folks and other parties interested in promoting folk music commercially and artistically. Annual Feb. conference; regional affiliates.

Hardanger Fiddle Association of America
HFAA preserves and promotes traditional Norwegian folk music and dance. Claims to be the first web site devoted to the hardingfele (Hardanger fiddle), Norway's very unique "national instrument." Surprise surprise....

Indiegrrl
Formed in 1998, this "forum for information, networking and conversation about independent music from a female perspective" provides support via online sales and collaborative tours.

International Shanty and Seasongs Society
Your choice of four languages, boasts a complete index of "known shanties."

Library of Congress
Here's the main information page. Here's a page that links to copyright forms for various types of works. Songwriters want the "Form PA." Here's the page explaining copyrights for musical compositions.

Folk Alliance: Midwest Region
Midwestern chapter of the National Folk Alliance, with its own annual conference.

Folk Alliance: Northeast Chapter (NEFA)
Highly active regional affiliate of the national Folk Alliance. A more intimate group with annual conferences each November at Lake Harmony, PA.

National Hobo Association
This tribe of modern rod-riders maintains a dying tradition, hitching rides as a way to live off the grid and experience the wandering life. Member Utah Phillips hosts "Loafer's Glory," a weekly radio show on Pacifica billed as a "hobo jungle of the mind."