(HOLLYWOOD, CA) "Without an organization like this, the fate of [composers'] work is uncertain," says Christopher Young, president of the Film Music Society (FMS), the leading organization for film and television music preservation in the world. After several years of functioning as an informal ad-hoc "save-the-scores" committee, the Film Music Society was formally established in 1982 as a corporation dedicated to preserving film music. Members in 18 countries now devote themselves to supporting, promoting and celebrating the past, present and future of film and television music. The non-profit organization strives to increase awareness of the artistic, historical and commercial value of film and television music.

Through the Oral History Project, this music-saving operation works hard to document the facts, opinions and vibrant stories of Hollywood's past as told first-hand by those who pioneered the fields of film and television music. The Film Music Society has diligently preserved the music collections of both CBS and Paramount Studios along with the music of Miklos Rozsa, Max Steiner and Victor Young that has been delicately sealed on acetate master discs. The Society's conferences on preservation, Career Achievement Award dinners and special public events continue to grow in visibility and importance and the FMS aims to make the public more aware of the importance of film and television music.

The Film Music Society proudly announces the formation and development of the Film Music Center-a facility devoted to the continued preservation of film and television music. In conjunction with the Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL), a professional organization whose members are the top composers and lyricists working in film and television today, the FMS has, within its own main offices, established a place for research, screenings, conferences and even small concerts. Most importantly, the two prominent associations - the FMS and the SCL - have formed a diverse alliance toward a common goal of music preservation. It has taken much planning and dreaming to reach this exceptional point and the two groups will continue to promote the memories of historical film and television music as they cultivate new musical memories.

For more information on the Film Music Society, call (818) 789-6404, or visit www.filmmusicsociety.org