Questions About GIA Publications
  • acanderson
    Posts: 1
    Hello all! I'm a newcomer here, but have loved the conversations and finally decided to join the blog.

    I'm not sure if this has been discussed here, but I've always wanted to know more about GIA Publications and the inner workings. I started playing in parishes when I was in middle school and have always been surrounded by GIA published music and hymnals, like Gather Comprehensive II and now Worship IV. But, I've never really known much about GIA besides their music.

    How are they structured? Who makes the decisions on what they publish? Who are the key people in the business? What else is interesting/intriguing about them? I know there are many people who devoutly use their products, and others who have major issues. For some reason, the company seems to keep their inner workings off the public radar, which I find interesting since GIA has really transformed the music in the mainstream church.

    I suppose I'm asking a lot of questions, but it's just out of curiosity. It seems like everybody here is much more well equipped to answer my questions!
  • ClemensRomanusClemensRomanus
    Posts: 1,023
    Fr. Krisman and Fr. Chipponis might be able to help.
  • Liam
    Posts: 4,945
    All of the major publishers for Catholic liturgical music in the USA (GIA Publications - formerly, the Gregorian Institute of America, OCP - Oregon Catholic Press, The Liturgical Press - St John's Abbey, WLP - World Library Publications of JS Paluch Company) are privately owned and similarly opaque, because like most private companies they like to keep their trade secrets to themselves. (Moreover, as their employees have a civil law duty of loyalty to their employers, they are unlikely to share any information that could become fodder for criticism of their employer. So don't expect too much....)
  • ronkrisman
    Posts: 1,388
    It seems like everybody here is much more well equipped to answer my questions!

    I doubt that. More likely everybody here, or almost everybody, has the same questions you do.

    If you want to know about the "inner workings" of GIA, write to them. No one here works for them, so why should they be answering such questions?
  • matthewmerzmatthewmerz
    Posts: 10
    @acanderson,

    You are more than welcome to email me at mattm@giamusic.com for questions regarding GIA or any other needs. I'm glad to see you're using Worship IV!

    All my best,

    Matthew Merz
    Marketing Associate
    GIA Publications, Inc.
    mattm@giamusic.com
    Thanked by 2ronkrisman Choirparts
  • noel jones, aagonoel jones, aago
    Posts: 6,605
    No one here works for them

    they are unlikely to share any information that could become fodder for criticism of their employer. So don't expect too much....)

    A bit of an assumption, no? There's a wealth of information available in this group but unfortunately many have chosen to stop posting for various reasons...
    Thanked by 1ronkrisman
  • SeasonPsaltSeasonPsalt
    Posts: 78
    any other needs


    Matt, I'd love to have digital downloads of some of your stuff.
    Even if it's flagged "For private use only, for liturgical use order GIA publication 1234567x" in the copyright block or something.
    I purchase downloads from OCP and I can play a song I like instantly.
    When I order from GIA, I pay for shipping, and wait...
    They do arrive in a timely fashion, but really I only use the songs for personal enjoyment with my wife and family. I am not a church musician.
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,160
    Some of the major publishers are non-profit organizations, and therefore file annual reports with the IRS (form 990). These are public records and can be viewed on guidestar.org.
  • matthewmerzmatthewmerz
    Posts: 10
    @SeasonPsalt,

    You are welcome to email me at mattm@giamusic.com and we can discuss details and see what's possible to do.


    All my best,


    Matt
    Thanked by 7Choirparts noel jones, aago bhcordova Kathy BruceL CHGiffen janetgorbitz
  • RoborgelmeisterRoborgelmeister
    Posts: 139
    Oregon Catholic Press (OCP) is part of the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon.
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