The SEM Newsletter is published in an electronic format four times a year (January, March, June, and September) and is distributed to all individual and institutional members of the Society. The newsletter contains articles on diverse topics related to ethnomusicology, notes about SEM members, information about the SEM Annual Meeting, announcements concerning music conferences and other opportunities, and a conferences calendar. Members may also submit letters to the editor and short articles.

The Bulletin of the International Council for Traditional Music carries news from the world of traditional music and dance, a calendar of upcoming events, and reports from ICTM Study Groups and ICTM National and Regional Representatives. The Bulletin of the ICTM was established in 1948 as the Bulletin of the International Folk Music Council. Until its April 2011 issue (Vol. 118), the Bulletin was printed and posted to all members and subscribers in good standing. Starting with its October 2011 issue (Vol. 119), the Bulletin became an electronic-only publication. The Bulletin of the ICTM is made available through the ICTM's website in January, April, and October each year. It can be downloaded free of charge, and all are encouraged to redistribute it in accordance with the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 Unported License which protects it.