ASCAP, also known as the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, is a not-for-profit performance rights organization that protects the rights of its members by licensing and distributing royalties for the nondramatic public performances. It is a membership association of more than 350,000 composers, songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers. The organization represents pop, rock, alternative, country, rap, Latin, folk, jazz, gospel, Christian, dance, electronic, symphonic and concert music. ASCAP also serves music creators from throughout the world. The organization represents artists, such as Dave Matthews, George Gershwin, Stevie Wonder, Leonard Bernstein, Beyonc , Marc Anthony, Alan Jackson, Henry Mancini and Howard Shore.