LOS ANGELES (ASCAP/ www.ascap.com) - ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman welcomed over 1,000 songwriters, composers and music industry professionals to the first day of the ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO, the only major entertainment industry conference dedicated to songwriting and composing. The sold out conference, sponsored by Gibson Guitar, the world's premier musical instrument manufacturer, is taking place from April 20-22 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
"The EXPO is an unprecedented opportunity to come together as a community, examine the challenges that we face, discover new technology, share knowledge and experience, develop new skills, inspire one another and celebrate our craft, said Marilyn Bergman. "I sincerely thank the remarkable range of music creators and music industry representatives who have so generously agreed to share their expertise, and all the registrants for attending. Your participation has turned ASCAP's first EXPO into a true landmark event."
The EXPO kicked off with ASCAP's General Annual Membership Meeting, which included reports by Marilyn Bergman, ASCAP CEO John A. LoFrumento and Executive Vice President &
Director of Membership Todd Brabec covering the state of the industry, legislation, ASCAP operations and member accomplishments. This year's meeting also featured a special legislative panel about the public policy issues that impact the rights of songwriters and composers. The panel, moderated by Bergman, featured members of Congress Rep.
Howard Berman (DCA), Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-CA) and Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and
Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Jon W. Dudas.
ASCAP is the only U.S. performing rights organization to hold annual membership meetings during which members learn, ask questions and voice concerns. In an effort to reach the Society's more than 230,000 members, wherever they reside, the meeting is being Webcast live via The ASCAP Network - a multifaceted listening experience for music industry professionals and music creators. The audio webcast will be streamed live on ASCAP
Radio while simultaneously displaying the PowerPoint slides being presented at the meeting. The webcast will be archived to allow for future viewing. For more details, go to https://www.ascap.com/.
The EXPO is the latest incarnation of a long-standing ASCAP tradition: to bring together top songwriters and composers with those members who are just starting out to help educate, guide and inspire them. Some of the biggest names in music have signed on for what is the most important conference ever developed for music creators, including Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Glen Ballard, Eric Bazilian, Obie Berm?dez, Gary Burr, Bruce Broughton, Sean Callery, Deana Carter,
Gordon Chambers, Desmond Child, John Debney,
George Duke, Barry Eastmond, Mike Elizondo,
David Frazier, Phil Galdston, Michael Giacchino, Denis Hannigan, Lalah Hathaway, Wayland Holyfield, Jimmy Jam, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, John King (Dust Brothers), Russ Landau, Ledisi, MC Lyte, Johnny Mandel,
Harvey Mason, Jr. and Damon
Thomas (The Underdogs), Lori McKenna, Rick Nowels, Rudy Perez,
Linda Perry, Tom Petty, Glen Phillips, John Powell, DJ Quik, John Rich, Jeff Rona, Stephen Schwartz, Jill Scott, Jill Sobule, Jaci Velasquez, Jimmy Webb, Yolanda "
Yo-Yo" Whitaker, Paul Williams, Heart's Ann & Nancy Wilson, and many more.
During the "I Create Music" Keynote Address on Saturday, April 21st at 9:15 a.m., Bergman, a three-time Academy Award-winning lyricist, will speak to attendees on what it means to be a music creator in the modern world. On Sunday, April 22nd at 9:30 a.m., John A. LoFrumento will discuss his vision of the future and the many great opportunities available to writers and composers at the Your Choices, Your Career, Your Success panel. Programming also includes master classes, dynamic panel sessions, genre-specific workshops, song listening sessions, product displays, state-of-the-art technology demonstrations, exclusive performances, networking events, a special film screening of American Dreamz, and much more.
