ASCAP at the Newport Folk Festival

Josh Ritter and Ron Sexsmith at the Hotel Viking Ballroom

ASCAP returned to the historic Newport Folk Festival this year as a sponsor of the Borders Stage. The Friday night kickoff event, at the Hotel Viking ballroom, featured ASCAP's Josh Ritter and Ron Sexsmith. Pictured before showtime (l-r) are WFUV-FM's Music Director Rita Houston, Josh Ritter, ASCAP's Brendan Okrent, Ron Sexsmith, ASCAP's Sue Devine and Festival Production's Nalini Jones.

Rocky Mountain Folks Fest

ASCAP marked its tenth year as a sponsor of the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest and Song School in Lyons, Colorado. This year's main stage artists included Joan Baez, Peter Himmelman, Ray Lamontagne, Catie Curtis, Steve Seskin, Paul Reisler, Greg Brown and Joan Osborne. As part of the week-long event, ASCAP's Brendan Okrent led an elective class called, "Your Songs, Your Money and the Music Business." ASCAP also provided prizes for the finalists of the Songwriters Showcase. This year's top five finalists were: Mieka Pauley (Boston), Katherine Shorr ( Los Angeles), Tim Burlingame (Los Angeles) Dayna River (Boulder) and Natlia Zuckerman (New York City).

Pictured (l-r) are first place winner Mieka Pauley, ASCAP's Brendan Okrent and second place winner Katherine Shorr.

Save the Music Foundation

The VH1 Save the Music Foundation recently presented a Songwriter in the Round event to raise funds. Pictured (l-r) are songwriter/producer Desmond Childs, VP/Executive Vice President of VH1 Save the Music Foundation Paul Cothran, songwriter Rob Thomas and ASCAP's Karen Sherry.¾¾

Summerstage Songwriters
New York City's Central Park Summerstage is one of the best outdoor concert series in the country. In July, Martin Sexton performed with The Finn Brothers. On hand to check out the show was Amy Correia, who recently signed with Nettwerk Records. Her album, Lakeville, is being released this fall.
Pictured (l-r) are WFUV-FM/NY's Rita Houston, Martin Sexton, ASCAP's Sue Devine and Georgeanne and WFUV's Laura Fedele. Houston, Devine, Correia and Nettwerk America's Maura Duval.

Akiko at ASCAP

Born in Tokyo, raised in Japan and currently living in New York City, singer/songwriter, pianist and new ASCAP member Akiko Yano was once described by New York Times music writer Jon Pareles as a Japanese Carole King. A notable pop star in many parts of the world, Akiko is beginning to raise her profile here in the United States. She recently stopped by the Society's New York office to meet with ASCAP reps.
Pictured (l-r) are ASCAP's Harry Poloner, Fran Richard, Akiko and ASCAP's Loretta Munoz.