ASCAP Expo Welcomes Hit Writers, Publishers
Desmond Child and John Stamos on April 26, 2014 in Hollywood.
Photos by PictureGroup
The ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO was held April 24-26 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel. The conference for songwriters, composers and producers of all genres of music, hosted speakers including Jimmy Jam, Dr. Luke and ASCAP’s Paul Williams. Master Sessions featured Jermaine Dupri, Amy Grant and more.
Desmond Child, who has hits by Katy Perry, Meatloaf, Bon Jovi, KISS and many others, was interviewed by John Stamos on the Brought In for Questioning panel. Child’s advice to those in the audience: “Understand what it means to be an artist, and try to find what you can give before you can get.”
Country Feedback panelists Joe Fisher, Jimmy Robbins and Michael Knox
SONGS Music Publishing’s Tom DeSavia moderated the Getting Creative: How Publishers and Writers Work Together panel featuring Sony/ATV’s Jennifer Knoepfle, Combustion Music’s Chris Farren, BMG’s Andrew Gould, Universal Music Publishing’s Jessica Rivera and Warner/Chappell’s Greg Sowders. The session addressed the changing role of the publisher, the importance of writing songs that listeners find relatable, and songwriters staying focused.
LeAnn Phelan, the Senior Director of ASCAP in Nashville, led a Country Feedback panel featuring UMG Nashville A&R exec Joe Fisher, producer Michael Knox and hit writer Jimmy Robbins.
Backstage at the Getting Creative panel (l-r): Greg Sowders, Jessica Rivera, Chris Farren, Jennifer Knoepfle, Tom DeSavia, Andrew Gould
ASCAP Nashville songwriter Shane McAnally also took part in the Expo’s closing “The Writers Jam” performance panel.
Pictured (L-R): Beth Orton, Shane McAnally, Julie Frost, Crystal Nicole and Desmond Child.
The Music Business Association has partnered with the Country Music Association to program the 2014 Country Music Meetup, to be held May 8 during the Music Biz 2014 conference at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
The classic music industry book Hit Men: Power Brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business is being re-released as a newly expanded edition on May 5, with a new chapter including events that occurred since it first debuted in 1990. The new edition includes the tale of music industry stalwart Steve Popovich‘s battle with Sony over royalties from Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell album, which Billboard 
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BMI President Del Bryant will receive the Visionary Leadership Award at the upcoming 45th Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner in New York City. The event is slated for Thursday, June 12 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel.
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