AN EXPO ENCORE!

The 2007 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO brings together an unprecedented number of music creators in Hollywood

In its second year, ASCAP's "I Create Music" EXPO was a success in every way possible. More than 2,300 music creators, panelists, industry professionals and exhibitors convened for three days in April at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel in Los Angeles for the only national conference devoted to songwriting and composing.

From the opening inspirational keynote address by ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman to the closing "Wizards of Song" superpanel featuring songwriter-producers Glen Ballard, Mark Hudson, Don Was and Jerry Harrison jamming together on stage, the EXPO was an extraordinary opportunity for emerging and established music creators to develop their craft and connect with their community.

The 2007 EXPO was expanded to include more panels, performances and attendee participation than the year before. Highlights included an interview with Academy Award-winning songwriter/composer Randy Newman, who gave a unique peek inside his creative process by performing songs from throughout his five-decade career; an "American Songbook" panel featuring songwriting heavyweights Hal David, J.D. Souther and Bill Withers; a "Comedy Music" panel featuring Alf Clausen, Tim & Eric, Seth MacFarlane and Kevin McDonald; a "Making it in Hip-Hop" panel featuring Bun B, Chamillionaire, Timothy "Attitude" Clayton, Chuck Creekmur, Shondrae "Mr. Bangladesh" Crawford, Just Blaze, and Chadron "Nitti" Moore; a "Hitmakers" panel featuring some of today's chart-topping writer-producers, including Kandi Burruss, Mike Elizondo, Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald, Matt Serletic and Damon Thomas & Harvey Mason Jr. (The Underdogs); and numerous other panels exploring the music and business of pop, country, film and TV, Latin, gospel, jazz, symphony and concert and rhythm and soul, all featuring some of the top writers, composers and experts in the industry. Other panels examined audio production, digital rights, legal issues and online marketing. Delving even deeper into the craft of music creating, special master sessions featured Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, John Corigliano, Holly Knight, Rick Nowels, Desmond Child and Johnny Mandel with his Big Band.

Each evening during the EXPO offered attendees an opportunity to experience musical masters performing their material. Gibson Pure sponsored four showcases: "Center Stage" featured Jimmy Webb, John Rich, J.D. Souther and Michelle Shocked; "Nashville in L.A." featured Dennis Matkosky, John Rich, Dave Berg and Brett James; "Rhythm and Soul Café" featured Rock City, Harlem, Keite Young and LeMarvin; and "Quiet on the Set" featured Rhett Miller, Matt Scannell, Jimmy Webb, Marshall Crenshaw and Sam Phillips. A special showcase, featuring attendees who auditioned for a chance at peforming at the EXPO, was sponsored by Pump Audio.

Recognizing the opportunity to reach the most career-driven and serious music creators in America, more than 44 exhibitors and sponsors participated in this year's EXPO. Special sponsor sessions presented by Gibson, Apple, Pump Audio, NOTION, Roland and Cakewalk gave attendees a chance to discover the latest music technology up close and personal. During the conference, EXPO exhibitor Indie911 announced a new partnership with APM Music to provide television networks, film studios, trailer houses, video game companies and other producers with direct access to independent music for licensing opportunities. Now, artists on Indie911 – the online social network, artist service provider, and music store – can submit music for consideration to APM, the EMI/BMG co-venture production music library that supplies material to thousands of TV shows, films, commercials and internet-based media every year. Revenue earned by the licensing of music through the APM Music/Indie911 partnership will be divided between the two entities. Indie911 will make payment directly to the artists.

The increase in attendance and participation at the 2007 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO was a testament to its value and relevance in the music community. The creative energy, spirited discussion and heartfelt camaraderie generated at the event was palpable and infectious. If the success of this year's event is any indication, the future of music is in good hands.

The ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO is the first and only national conference dedicated to songwriting and composing. Building on the extraordinary, sold-out success of the 2006 EXPO, ASCAP presented an even larger, more comprehensive event for music creators in 2007.