The Music Publishers Association of the United States presented the award
EXTON, PA – On June 14, 2023, the Music Publishers Association of the United States (MPA) named Kathy Fernandes, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at J.W. Pepper, this year’s winner of the Arnold Broido Award for Copyright Advocacy. The award recognizes an outstanding level of advocacy and dedication to the music publishing industry.
“From his tenure as chairman of the Theodore Presser Company to serving on the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers’ (ASCAP) Board of Directors, Arnold Broido made a major impact on the fields of music education and music publishing, and I had the privilege of seeing him in action earlier in my career,” says Kathy Fernandes. “Being named the winner of his namesake award is so meaningful. It’s a full-circle moment.”
For nearly 20 years, Fernandes has been an instrumental part of the MPA’s work. Her many accomplishments include chairing the Copyright Curriculum Committee, supporting establishment of the Copyright Awareness Scholarship, disseminating free teacher resources to teachers and school administrators, and moderating panels and focus groups on behalf of the MPA. Fernandes collaborated with the National Music Council to create the educational video I Made It, I Own It, Don’t Steal It, which won a 2013 Communicator Award from the International Academy of Visual Arts and a 2013 Telly Award in the local TV commercial category. “The goal,” she says, “is to keep copyright and proper use of music in the forefront of directors’ minds, so respecting the rights of music creators becomes as natural as picking up the baton.”
MPA presented the Arnold Broido Award at their Annual Meeting & Awards Lunch in New York City on June 14, 2023. At the luncheon, MPA also honored Deirdre Chadwick of Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) with their first-ever Award for Composer Advocacy, and legal counsel discussed the latest developments in the world of music publishing and copyright.
Founded in 1876, J.W. Pepper is the largest online sheet music retailer in the world with over one million titles in stock. We offer sheet music, as well as music equipment, accessories, and software to support the musical journeys of educators and performers alike. J.W. Pepper’s online resources offer the convenience of previewing music before buying, and our digital sheet music service, ePrint, allows teachers to download and print their sheet music purchases. J.W. Pepper is an advocate for music education, proudly supporting national music organizations including the National Association for Music Education, the American String Teachers’ Association, and the American Choral Directors’ Association.
