Songwriters Invade Key West

The 14th Annual Key West Songwriters Festival boasted a record number of songwriters, as anchor-sponsor BMI arrived in the Florida hotspot with more than 150 troubadours in tow. Presented by Better Angels Music and benefiting the Muzak Heart & Soul Foundation, the festival started in style on Wednesday 4/29), with BMI’s kick-off party at La Concha Hotel.

Front row (l-r)  BMI’s Beth Mason and Bradley Collins; writers James Slater and Tim Nichols. Middle row (l-r_  GAC’s Storme Warren; BMI’s Perry Howard; Copyright Exchange’s Chip Petree; BMI’s Mark Mason; This Music’s Rusty Gaston; writer Luke Laird. Back row (l-r) writer Jimmy Yeary; Copyright Exchange’s Richard Orga; Better Angels Music’s Rob Rappaport; Copyright Exchange’s Dwight Wiles; writer Marty Dodson; Karen Williams; BMI’s Jody Williams; writers Chuck Cannon and David Lee; BMI’s Clay Bradley; writers Dave Pahanish and Wynn Varble. (Photo by Brian Tipton)

Between songwriter showcases and other gatherings, ASCAP hosted its 4th Annual ASCAP/ole Key West Songwriters Festival Fishing Tournament. This year’s winner was Major Bob Publishing’s Jesse Frasure, and the fish he caught was truly a whopper.

Pictured back on dry land are (l-r) ole CCO Gilles Godard; ASCAP’s Ralph Murphy; ole Chairman & CEO Robert Ott; winner of the Biggest Fish Award and Major Bob Director of A&R Jesse Frasure; ASCAP’s Mike Sistad and Jesse Willoughby. (Photo: Alan Mayor)

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LB Cantrell

LB Cantrell is Editor/Director of Operations at MusicRow magazine, where she oversees, manages and executes all company operations. LB oversees all MusicRow-related content, including the publication’s six annual print issues and online news. She is a Georgia native and a graduate of the Recording Industry Management program at Middle Tennessee State University.

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