December 18, 2023—Louisville, CO
MakeMusic is honored to announce that they have signed an exclusive agreement with RWS Music Company.
The agreements are twofold and will be effective starting March 1, 2024. The RWS Music Company catalog will be exclusively available for interactive practice on MakeMusic Cloud, formerly SmartMusic, the reference online platform for music practice from MakeMusic. Secondly, the RWS Music Company catalog will also be exclusively distributed by Alfred Music in both print and digital forms.
“RWS Music is thrilled to partner with Alfred Music and MakeMusic Cloud as our exclusive distributor,” said Susan L. Smith, President/CEO RWS Music Publishing. “Robert’s vision was to empower young writers and to make their music available to a wide audience of music educators. Alfred’s long history in the music publishing world coupled with the worldwide accessibility of Make Music are a perfect way to bring his vision to fruition.”
Brian Balmages, Director of MakeMusic Publications for Alfred Music and Digital Education for MakeMusic, offered the following: “A majority of the music education community knows that I have been extremely close to Robert and the Smith family for decades. I owe my start in the publishing industry to Robert, and we often spoke about having the opportunity to collaborate. Always with an eye on the future, he was eager to have his catalog available digitally and also explore the very phygital approach that is central to Alfred and MakeMusic. Robert’s music has always been engaging, and now it will engage folks in a completely new interactive way. I am thrilled to work with RWS Music and help continue his legacy for generations to come.”
ABOUT MAKEMUSIC
MakeMusic®, Inc. is a world leader in music technology whose mission is to develop and market solutions that transform how music is composed, taught, learned, and performed. MakeMusic Cloud, formerly SmartMusic, is an interactive music learning software that transforms the way students practice. With an online library of thousands of band, orchestra, and vocal pieces, students practice with background accompaniment and receive immediate feedback on their performance. Teachers leverage MakeMusic Cloud to individualize instruction and document the progress of every student. For more than 25 years, Finale® has been the industry standard in music notation software, enabling musicians worldwide to create, edit, audition, print, and publish musical scores. MakeMusic is also the creator of Garritan® sound libraries, providing state-of-the-art virtual instruments with the playback quality of a live performance, and MusicXML™, the internet-friendly way to publish musical scores, distribute interactive sheet music, and share music notation with a wide variety of software programs. Additional information can be found at makemusic.com.
ABOUT RWS MUSIC COMPANY
Founded in 2015 by Robert W. Smith, The RWS Music Company is dedicated to producing music of impeccable artistic and educational value that connects with both musician and audience. Through the RWS Music Company, Robert was dedicated to nurturing aspiring composers to launch and develop their careers.
Robert W. Smith (1958-2023) inspired musicians and audiences across the globe with over 600 publications in print. A champion of music education, many of his educational compositions have become standards for developing bands. From professional ensembles such as the United States Navy Band, United States Air Force Band, Boston Pops and the Atlanta Symphony to school bands and orchestras throughout the world, his music speaks to audiences in any concert setting. Robert’s music has also received extensive airplay on major network television as well as inclusion in multiple motion pictures.
Following Robert W. Smith’s passing in 2023, the RWS Music Company is now under the leadership of Robert’s wife Susan, and his daughters Savannah and Madison. The company is committed to the continued success of the RWS composers and the preservation of the legacy of Robert W. Smith.