16 - Edward P. Murphy: Interview with Peter Dickinson, New York City, May 12, 1981

Summary

Edward P. Murphy (1939–) is the former president and chief executive officer of the National Music Publishers Association, Inc., representing more than nine hundred American music publishers and the global protection of their music copyrights. He joined NMPA as executive vice president in 1983, was elected president of the Harry Fox Agency—its licensing subsidiary representing more than twenty-seven thousand music publishers—the following year, and became president and chief executive officer of NMPA and the Harry Fox Agency in 1985. Previously, he served as president of G. Schirmer, Inc., the firm with which he was associated for most of his working life.

Murphy serves on the board of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the National Music Council, and the New York University masters program in music business and technology; he also runs Harmony Media LLC. Murphy has represented his profession on the ASCAP1 board, the Music Publishers Association, the International Federation of Popular Music Publishers, and the Bureau international des sociétés gérant les droits d’enregistrement et de reproduction mécanique. He founded the International Copyright Commission and has been regularly called upon by the U.S. Copyright Office and other government entities to provide guidance on music industry and copyright issues.

A few of Murphy's many honors include the President's Award, given by the Songwriters Guild of America (1999); the Indie Award (2001) from the New York chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers; and the Abe Olman Publisher Award (2002) from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Interview

By Permission of Edward P. Murphy

EMI first met Sam in 1975. We would meet for lunch once every month or two and discuss his music, the industry, new composers and new music, and what he thought of current activities. I found him to be humorous and meticulous about things, demanding in many ways. His music reflects that attitude—he was a real professional. In dealing with him, one had to be as much of a professional as he was.

I think John Corigliano was the only composer Sam brought to our house—he had great respect for his work. Sam was a member of ASCAP and interested in activities involving serious music.

Sam was with Schirmer's from the very beginning of his career. We published his first work. Another aspect of Sam's personality was his extreme loyalty to our house, and we were loyal to him.