DIY Aims to Educate the Independent Songwriter/Publisher Community

Earlier this year, "The DIY Convention: Do It Yourself in Film, Music & Books" hosted a series of panels and workshops focused on teaching musicians, filmmakers, authors and entrepreneurs how to create, promote, protect and distribute independent film, music and books. The convention was part of a three-day package of events that included the DIY Film Festival and DIY Music Festival. Among the events, ASCAP's Mike Todd hosted "A Conversation with Music Supervisor PJ Bloom," answering questions about getting music into films, television and soundtracks. Bloom and Todd are pictured on the right.

Newman and NARAS

The Los Angeles Chapter of NARAS presented the 2003 Recording Academy Membership Awards on June 19 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. ASCAP was one of four Diamond Sponsors and hosted a table. This year's honorees were ASCAP members Randy Newman and Lional Richie, along with legendary recording industry executive Clarence Avant. Fellow composer James Newton Howard presented Newman's award, Board member Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis made the presentation to Avant, and Richie received his award from another music icon, Dick Clark. Pictured (l-r) are Randy Newman, ASCAP's Nancy Knutsen and Kevin Coogan, Newman's manager Cathy Kerr, and James Newton Howard.