Nashvillians Head West To ASCAP Pop Awards and Expo

The 2015 ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO is going on through May 2 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, featuring many prominent members of Nashville’s music community among the nearly 200 panelists and performers. The conference is dedicated to the craft and business of songwriting, composing and producing.

The Straight Talk and Feedback from Country Music Pros panel featured Marc Beeson, Marc Driskill, Carla Wallace and moderator Michael Martin. Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Mike Reid led a Master Session.

Hit songwriter-producer Darrell Brown will give advice and feedback to attendees during song critique sessions. Ashley Gorley will be among the star songwriters performing at the event’s closing session, The Writers Jam.

ASCAP’s Elizabeth Matthews, Song of the Year writer Toby Gad, and ASCAP’s John Titta.

Additionally, the 32nd annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards were held April 29 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles.

ASCAP Pop Awards winners included:
● Songwriter of the Year: Max Martin
● Song of the Year: “All of Me,” written by Toby Gad, performed by John Legend
● Publisher of the Year: Sony/ATV Tunes, LLC
● Independent Publisher of the Year: Prescription Songs LLC

Dave Grohl presented the ASCAP Founders Award to rock ‘n’ roll icons KISS. Patrick Simmons and Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers accepted the ASCAP Voice of Music Award from ASCAP Asst. VP, Creative Services Loretta Muñoz. And St. Vincent earned ASCAP’s Vanguard Award.

An exclusive, invitation-only crowd was on hand as the organization recognized the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP’s most performed pop songs of 2014, including these winners with Nashville ties: