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The 11th ANNUAL ASCAP “I CREATE MUSIC” EXPO


Songwriters Hrishikesh Hirway, Dave Bassett, Sam Hook, Brett James, Jacob "JKash" Kasher and Poo Bear speak onstage during the 'When the Hits Hit the Fans' panel, part of the 2016 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO on April 28, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP. Content: Courtesy of Simone Smalls PR)

The 11th Annual ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO kicked off its three-day weekend event at the Loews Hollywood Hotel, in Los Angeles, CA. The EXPO was jam-packed with inspiring and informative sessions for music creators of all levels, as well as top performances. The lineup included Timbaland, Melissa Etheridge, Actress Rachel Bloom, Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, fun.’s Nate Ruess, Brian McKnight, Rob Thomas, James Fauntleroy and many more.

Day one of the Expo opened with an introductory performance by OMI singing his chart-topping hit, “Cheerleader.” Paul Williams, ASCAP President and award-winning songwriter, spoke passionately about being a songwriter and ASCAP’s unflagging work to improve songwriters’ livelihoods through Capitol Hill advocacy. Elizabeth Matthews, ASCAP CEO, shared the news of ASCAP’s second year in-a-row $1 billion-plus revenues, and John Titta, EVP Membership, gave details on how ASCAP educates and supports its writer members. The We Create Music session featured Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, OMI, multi-platinum songwriter, Rob Thomas, “King of Reality TV” composer David Vanacore and Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, musician, producer and visual artist Dan Wilson (Chris Stapleton, Adele, The Dixie Chicks). Billboard moderator Shirley Halperin led a lively discussion on their craft, filled with personal anecdotes and diverse takes on the songwriting process. ASCAP EXPO attendees flocked to a range of panels including Master Sessions with TV/ film composer Bear McCreary, Greg Kurstin, gospel hitmakers Erica and Warryn Campbell and Ariel Rechtshaid.

ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO Day One wrapped up Thursday night with “I Create Music” Center Stage at nearby Ohm Nightclub, hosted by superstar songwriter/producer and ASCAP Board member Desmond Child. The audience was treated to in-the-round performances by top songwriters, who told the stories behind some of their biggest hits, including Brett James, Kevin Kadish, and multi-platinum R&B/soul songwriter and artist Brian McKnight, Rob Thomas and folk singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega.

Songwriter Augie Ray, attorney Gary Greenberg, Matrix Artists President Jennifer Horton, ASCAP Associate Director, Rhythm & Soul Membership, Jennifer Goicoechea, moderator Moya Nkruma, Disney Music Group A&R Director Brandon Kitchen and songwriter Jintae Ko of TRiON pose with the #StandWithSongwriters guitar during the 'Building Your Team' panel, part of the 2016 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO on April 28, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images for ASCAP)

Day two was highlighted by a keynote conversation, via videoconference from Miami, with renowned producer Timbaland. The five-time ASCAP Songwriter of the Year and Executive Music Producer for the hit FOX TV series Empire enlightened the audience to his thoughts on what makes a hit song, his chemistry with Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z. The day included a lively audience Q&A, moderated by ASCAP’s Senior Vice President of Membership Nicole George Middleton, which resulted in some impromptu auditions and “only at EXPO” moments. Grammy-winning songwriter/producer Darrell Brown packed the Hollywood Ballroom, as he offered in-the-moment, constructive song critiques and suggestions to EXPO audience members, sure to result in some wonderful music in the future. Also featured were Master Sessions with three-time ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley and Grammy-winning classical composer, conductor and sought-after speaker Eric Whitacre. James Fauntleroy, the Grammy-winning co-writer on Rihanna’s ANTI, presented an unusual live music master session that had his 1500 or Nothin’ crew playing a groove and working on a song in real-time, and shared his personal philosophies on how to be more creative.

Songwriter/producer Jacob "JKash" Kasher greets EXPO attendees during the 2016 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO on April 28, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)

Day three of the ASCAP EXPO featured Your Music, Your Rights: Building a Sustainable Future for Music. US Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA), ASCAP President Paul Williams, songwriter Kevin Kadish and ASCAP General Counsel Clara Kim discussed the challenges of reforming the music licensing regulations that disadvantage songwriters in the free market. They issued a call to action to songwriters to make their voices heard in the fight. Hit songwriter and artist advocate Priscilla Renea delivered a TED-talk style master session designed to motivate aspiring songwriters and urging them to remember they are the CEO of their own business. Later, multi-platinum recording artists and songwriters Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo shared generous advice from their experiences in music and gave the EXPO audience an impromptu performance of a few verses of “We Belong,” with Neil on piano. , the EXPO audience received an unusual glimpse of the intricacies of creating music for the hit CW comedy series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Golden Globe-winning actress Rachel Bloom, along with her songwriting partners Jack Dolgen and Adam Schlesinger, Grammy/Emmy-winning member of Fountains of Wayne and Ivy, played a few tracks as they discussed their music career.

Record producer Warryn Campbell and musician Erica Campbell speak onstage during the iWrite:Master Session during the 2016 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO on April 28, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for ASCAP)

The ASCAP' “I Create Music” EXPO closed on Saturday afternoon with The Writers Jam, featuring LaShawn Daniels (Lady Gaga’s “Telephone;” Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name”), Chris DeStefano (Luke Bryan’s "That's My Kind of Night"), Audra Mae (Kelly Clarkson’s “Heartbeat Song,” Miranda Lambert’s “Little Red Wagon”) and Priscilla Renea (Pitbull & Kesha’s “Timber”) telling stories and performing some of their own songs.

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