Pop/Rock

ASCAP's 2013 General Annual Membership Meeting was held on Thursday, April 18th at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. The meeting kicked off the 2013 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO, the annual three-day conference for music creators featuring educational and inspiring panels, networking opportunities and exhibits.

Cinderella frontman Tom Keifer walked a long, hard road on the way to his debut solo album The Way Life Goes. He endured challenges both professional and personal, including a paralyzed vocal cord. All that living has resulted in an honest record of both heartbreak and joy, and a 14-song set of the blues-centric rock that Keifer does so well. We spoke with Keifer about his creative journey.

Cathy Heller is an LA-based singer-songwriter and graduate of the ASCAP Foundation Lester Sill Songwriters Workshop. Her brand new album Breaking Free pairs Cathy's vulnerable yet optimistic lyrics with a set of sweet pop melodies. Cathy tells us why it's the most "her" album she's released.

While the afterglow of this year’s eighth annual ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO still burns, here’s a look back at some of the highlights, from lessons learned to great photo and video moments from the heart of it all in Hollywood.

The Sundance Film Festival visited London for its second consecutive year, featuring a Music Café presented by ASCAP. Hosted at The Hub at The O2, the Sundance ASCAP Music Café included three days of programming from April 25th - 28th, featuring performances from Wolf Alice, Mary Epworth, Josef Salvat and more.

ASCAP Vanguard Award winner Diplo's gracious acceptance speech, Dr. Luke's thoughts on ASCAP's important role in fighting on behalf of songwriters and Priscilla's appreciation of ASCAP's transparency are featured in these video highlights.

LA-based band Black Belt KARATE high-kicked into gear when ASCAP members Ryan Hanifl and Jason Mezilis felt the need to kick out some jams live. Fast forward a few months and they had assembled a band, recorded a handful of punchy hard rock songs and developed a freewheeling stage show. Hanifl tells us the sordid tale in his own words.

The special day provided both Film Scoring and Songwriting students an opportunity to talk to singer-songwriter Patty Larkin, as well as ASCAP staff, about current trends in the music industry. Two students also received tuition-based scholarships recognizing talent, professionalism, musical ability and career potential in film scoring and songwriting.

Josh Ritter has never released songs that are as personal and autobiographical as those that appear on his seventh studio effort, The Beast In Its Tracks. Propelled by a marriage that fell apart, his self-proclaimed "break-up record" is intimate and at times both angry and joyful, expressing hope through the pain of heartbreak.

ASCAP singer-songwriter Cameron Ernst brings a message of positivity and empowerment on his new Always Always EP. It's a collection of songs related to the journey Ernst embarked on with his Love on the Road tour, which has taken him to schools across the country to teach kids about the transforming power of love.

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler joined ASCAP for a Google+ Hangout, during which he was interviewed by entertainment journalist Roger Friedman. Tyler also answered select questions Tweeted to @ASCAPEXPO, using the hashtag #AskSteven.

There’s great intimacy in the music of ASCAP folk duo The Milk Carton Kids. Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan duet in close harmony like they’re bonded at the atomic level, with acoustic guitars swirling around each other and taking flight. But there’s also great strength in that intimacy. We asked the Kids about their new record, The Ash & Clay.