History

· In 1995 The Association of Professional Composers (APC), formed 1976, The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA), formed 1947 and the Composers Guild of Great Britain (CGGB), formed 1944, first met to discuss the merits of amalgamating into a single composer/songwriter organisation.

· Over a three year period the three guilds began to work more closely together through the Alliance of Composer Organisations (ACO)

· In February 1997, Chris Green was appointed as a consultant to develop an amalgamation proposal and business plan for the new organisation.

· In November 1997 the Guilds' representatives serving on ACO and their respective Boards reached agreement on an amalgamation proposal and during the early months of 1998 members of all three guilds voted overwhelmingly (99 per cent) in favour of the proposal.  The three guilds were subsequently disbanded on 31st December.

· In July 1998 the Performing Right Society (PRS) agreed to provide financial support for the new Academy equivalent to five years previous funding for the three guilds over a three year period on a reducing scale.

· On the 1st September 1998 The British Academy of Composers & Songwriters was legally incorporated, an interim board having been appointed.

· At the first board meeting of the new Academy, Guy Fletcher and David Stoll were appointed as joint chairs and Chris Green was appointed as Chief Executive.

· From 1st January 1999 the new Academy was formally established as the largest composer/songwriter organisation in Europe.  The amalgamation brought together writers of all genres, thus creating a single powerful voice on behalf of music writers in the UK.