"I Create Music Week"
Hits High Note
ASCAP's Film and Television Music Awards, Pop Music Awards, the "I Create Music" EXPO and an educational school assembly program make for an incredible week in Los Angeles
On April 13th, the Los Angeles City Council issued a proclamation declaring the week of April 15 - 21, 2007 as "ASCAP I Create Music Week" in Los Angeles, California. It was a fitting honor as ASCAP launched an unprecedented week of activities to educate, showcase, connect and ultimately celebrate the voice of the music creator.
"ASCAP I Create Music Week" included an exciting roster of events. The 22nd annual ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards was held on April 17th at the prestigious Kodak Theater. In addition to honoring the composers of the top box office film music and the most performed television music of 2006, ASCAP presented Marc Shaiman with the ASCAP Henry Mancini Award for Career Achievement. Billy Crystal, Rob Reiner and Marissa Jaret Winokur (
Hairspray) participated in a special tribute to Shaiman.
On April 18th, the ASCAP Pop Music Awards, also held at the Kodak Theater, honored the songwriters and publishers of the most performed pop songs of 2006. Melissa Etheridge was honored with the ASCAP Founders Award for her pioneering contributions to music. In addition, Johntá Austin, Kelly Clarkson and Jermaine Dupri all received special recognition. The All-American Rejects, who were presented with the ASCAP Vanguard Award in recognition of the impact of musical genres that help shape the future of American music, performed, as did The Fray, Nick Lachey, Anna Nalick, and Darrell Brown, Ty Lacy & Dennis Matkosky.
ASCAP's "I Create Music" EXPO, held on April 19-21 at L.A.'s Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, was a success in every way possible. More than 2,300 music creators, panelists, industry professionals and exhibitors convened for the only national conference devoted to songwriting and composing. From the opening inspirational keynote address by ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman to the closing "Wizards of Song" superpanel featuring songwriter-producers Glen Ballard, Mark Hudson, Don Was and Jerry Harrison jamming together on stage, the EXPO was an extraordinary opportunity for emerging and established music creators to develop their craft and connect with their community. The 2007 EXPO was expanded to include more panels, performances and attendee participation than the year before. Highlights included an interview with Academy Award-winning songwriter/composer Randy Newman, who gave a unique peek inside his creative process by performing songs from throughout his five-decade career.
In addition, through a partnership with i- SAFE Inc., the worldwide leader in Internet safety education, ASCAP developed an interactive school assembly program titled "The Donny the Downloader Experience." This special program is aimed at educating middle school students on what it means to be a music creator - and the real cost of music piracy. Special "Donny the Downloader" assemblies, held at John Muir Middle School in Los Angeles on April 16 and Prentice School in Santa Ana on April 17, rounded out the week's exciting activities.
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