Top Local Bands Singled Out For Major Music Industry Showcases Across The Country:
San Francisco, Philadelphia, Memphis, Orlando And Raleigh

Ampt Awards To Be Presented To Key Industry Players Of The Local Music Scene

ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and Heineken USA announced plans today to take its highly successful ASCAP Presents… Heineken Ampt Music Series to some of the most happening music scenes across the country. Three top bands (both signed and unsigned) from each region will be selected to perform for music industry professionals and the public at high-profile showcases, in line with ASCAP's longstanding commitment to developing new musical talent and Heineken USA’s efforts to support performing arts.

The Heineken Ampt/ASCAP Recognition Award will be presented at each showcase to a key music industry player, calling attention to their contributions to the local music scene.

The schedule for the 2002 ASCAP Presents… Heineken Ampt Music Series is:

SAN FRANCISCO:	Tuesday, October 22 Bottom of the Hill, 1233 17th St., San Francisco, CA
PHILADELPHIA:	Thursday, November 14 Grape Street Pub, 105 Grape St., Philadelphia, PA
MEMPHIS:	Friday, November 15 The Lounge, 145 Lt. George W. Lee Ave., Memphis, TN
ORLANDO:	Sunday, November 17 CityWalk Plaza Stage, Universal CityWalk, 6000 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, FL
RALEIGH:	Thursday, November 21 Lincoln Theatre, 126 E. Cabarrus St., Raleigh, NC

The ASCAP Presents… Heineken Ampt Music Series, initiated by ASCAP and Heineken USA, debuted in the Fall of 2000. Since its inception, this unique music series has featured some of the best local bands from Austin, Miami, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Portland (OR), New Orleans and Nashville. Special promotional CDs, in the ASCAP EAR CD compilation series, were produced to support this unique program and were distributed to key music industry professionals. Heineken Ampt/ASCAP Recognition Awards were presented at each showcase calling attention to the contributions of a key player in the music community in each of the cities. Honorees have ranged from record executives to music magazine publishers.

"We are delighted that Heineken USA has teamed with us once again to help focus attention on these deserving artists," said Todd Brabec, ASCAP Executive Vice President Membership Group. "America’s greatest music takes root in all parts of the country and, through these showcases, ASCAP is able to continue its commitment to nurturing and developing new musical talent."

Heineken USA, Inc., the nation's largest beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken N.V. (Netherlands), which is the world's second-largest brewer. Brands imported into the U.S. include: Heineken Lager, the world's most international beer brand; Heineken Special Dark, Amstel Light, the largest-selling imported light beer brand; Murphy's Irish Stout; Murphy's Irish Amber, the only authentically Irish amber imported to the U.S., and Buckler non-alcoholic brew.

Established in 1914, ASCAP is the world’s largest performing-right organization, with over 140,000 active composer, lyricist and music publisher members. ASCAP is committed to protecting the rights of its members by licensing and collecting royalties for the public performance of their copyrighted works, and then distributing these fees to the Society’s members based on performances. ASCAP’s repertory spans the entire spectrum of music - from pop to symphonic, rock to gospel, Latin to country to jazz, rhythm and blues, theater, film and television music. ASCAP’s Board of Directors is made up solely of writers and publishers, elected by the membership.