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Los Angeles, CA, April 20, 2006: ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman welcomed over 1,000 songwriters, composers and music industry professionals to the first day of the ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO, the only major entertainment industry conference dedicated to songwriting and composing. The sold out conference, sponsored by Gibson Guitar, the world’s premier musical instrument manufacturer, is taking place from April 20-22 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
“The EXPO is an unprecedented opportunity to come together as a community, examine the challenges that we face, discover new technology, share knowledge and experience, develop new skills, inspire one another and celebrate our craft, said Marilyn Bergman. “I sincerely thank the remarkable range of music creators and music industry representatives who have so generously agreed to share their expertise, and all the registrants for attending. Your participation has turned ASCAP’s first EXPO into a true landmark event.”
The EXPO kicked off with ASCAP’s General Annual Membership Meeting, which included reports by Marilyn Bergman, ASCAP CEO John A. LoFrumento and Executive Vice President & Director of Membership Todd Brabec covering the state of the industry, legislation, ASCAP operations and member accomplishments. This year’s meeting also featured a special legislative panel about the public policy issues that impact the rights of songwriters and composers. The panel, moderated by Bergman, featured members of Congress Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-CA) and Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Jon W. Dudas.
ASCAP is the only U.S. performing rights organization to hold annual membership meetings during which members learn, ask questions and voice concerns. In an effort to reach the Society’s more than 230,000 members, wherever they reside, the meeting is being Webcast live via The ASCAP Network -- a multifaceted listening experience for music industry professionals and music creators. The audio webcast will be streamed live on ASCAP Radio while simultaneously displaying the PowerPoint slides being presented at the meeting. The webcast will be archived to allow for future viewing. For more details, go to www.ascap.com.
Immediately following the General Annual Membership Meeting, a super panel of songwriters and composers got the EXPO rolling with a lively discussion of what it means to create music as a career. Moderated by ASCAP Executive VP/Director of Membership Todd Brabec, the panel featured Michael Giacchino (The Incredibles, TV: Alias, Lost ), Jimmy Jam ("No More Drama," "That's the Way Love Goes," "Escapade"), Linda Perry ("Beautiful," "Get the Party Started," "What's Up") and John Rich ("Come Cryin' To Me," "Redneck Woman").
The first-day of the ASCAP EXPO culminated with "I Create Music" Center Stage featuring acoustic performances by Obie Bermudez ("Antes," "Me Canse De Ti"), John Rich ("Come Cryin' To Me," "Redneck Woman") and Heart's Ann & Nancy Wilson (Heart): "Barracuda," "Magic Man." The show was emceed by Don Was of Was (Not Was).
The EXPO is the latest incarnation of a long-standing ASCAP tradition: to bring together top songwriters and composers with those members who are just starting out to help educate, guide and inspire them. Some of the biggest names in music have signed on for what is the most important conference ever developed for music creators, including Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Glen Ballard, Eric Bazilian, Obie Bermúdez, Gary Burr, Bruce Broughton, Sean Callery, Deana Carter, Gordon Chambers, Desmond Child, John Debney, George Duke, Barry Eastmond, Mike Elizondo, David Frazier, Phil Galdston, Michael Giacchino, Denis Hannigan, Lalah Hathaway, Wayland Holyfield, Jimmy Jam, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, John King (Dust Brothers), Russ Landau, Ledisi, MC Lyte, Johnny Mandel, Harvey Mason, Jr. and Damon Thomas (The Underdogs), Lori McKenna, Rick Nowels, Rudy Perez, Linda Perry, Tom Petty, Glen Phillips, John Powell, DJ Quik, John Rich, Jeff Rona, Stephen Schwartz, Jill Scott, Jill Sobule, Jaci Velasquez, Jimmy Webb, Yolanda "Yo-Yo" Whitaker, Paul Williams, Heart's Ann & Nancy Wilson, and many more.
During the “I Create Music” Keynote Address on Friday, April 21st at 9:15 a.m., Bergman, a three-time Academy Award-winning lyricist, will speak to attendees on what it means to be a music creator in the modern world. On Saturday, April 22nd at 9:30 a.m., John A. LoFrumento will discuss his vision of the future and the many great opportunities available to writers and composers at the Your Choices, Your Career, Your Success panel. Programming also includes master classes, dynamic panel sessions, genre-specific workshops, song listening sessions, product displays, state-of-the-art technology demonstrations, exclusive performances, networking events, a special film screening of American Dreamz, and much more.
For more details about the ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO, go to www.ascap.com/expo.
Sponsors/Exhibitors: Gibson Guitar, AKG Acoustics,Boss, Broadjam.com, Cakewalk, City National Bank, DiscMakers, Groove House Records, Harry Fox Agency, indie911, Intel, MasterWriter, Mediaguide, Microsoft, T he Music Business Registry, Inc., MusicPro Insurance, NARAS: The Recording Academy, Nimbit, Notion Music, Pump Audio, Roland, SXSW, TAXI, US Alliance, and Wildcat Indie Productions.
Partner Organizations: American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), American Composers Forum, American Music Center, Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP), Berklee College of Music, California Copyright Conference, The Harry Fox Agency, Inc., International Songwriting Competition (ISC), Meet the Composer, The National Association for Music Education (MENC), Music Publishers Association (MPA), NARAS: The Recording Academy, National Music Publishers’ Association, Inc. (NMPA), Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), The Philadelphia Songwriters Project, The Society of Composers & Lyricists, Songwriter’s Guild of America (SGA), Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF), TAXI, and West Coast Songwriters.
Media Sponsors: AllHipHop.com, American Songwriter Magazine, Bass Player Magazine, Billboard, CMJ Magazine, EQ Magazine, Guitar Player Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Keyboard Magazine, Music Connection Magazine, Performing Songwriter Magazine, and Westwood One.
Travel Partners: American Airlines, Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, and ECOLIMO LLC.
About Gibson
Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins and banjos. Gibson’s digital guitar represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in more than 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Mich., and headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.’s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Valley Arts, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Maestro, Baldwin, Chickering, Hamilton and Wurlitzer. For more information about MaGIC please visit www.gibsonmagic.com. High-res images: www.gibson.com/press.
About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 230,000 composer, lyricist and music publisher members. ASCAP also represents the repertories created by the international affiliates of 70 foreign performing rights organizations. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American Performing Rights Organization owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com
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