A GENUINE SENSE OF COMMUNITY

Marilyn Bergman, President and Chairman of the Board

Like a great song, ASCAP's recent "I Create Music" EXPO contained many of the same elements. It was well-crafted. It had substance. It resonated on an emotional level. It established a genuine sense of community. And based on the incredibly positive feedback we've received from all participants, the EXPO made many people want to come back to it. The synergy of top ASCAP members such as legendary songwriters and composers Johnny Mandel, Mike Leiber and Jerry Stoller and today's top hitmakers such as Jimmy Jam, Linda Perry and John Rich sharing their experience and wisdom with up and coming music creators from around the world was truly inspirational. For the more than 1,800 participants, it was a valuable and rewarding opportunity to focus on the craft and business of music creation. For ASCAP, it was a bold and significant new way to serve our ever-growing membership. We have already begun planning for next year's EXPO and I hope to see you there. I promise you an extraordinary experience.

At award shows in the past few months, ASCAP honored the success of our writer and publisher members in the genres of Latin, pop, film and television music, concert and Christian music. Complete coverage of these events are featured in this issue of Playback. It is a real honor to lead an organization whose members create the music that is embraced and loved by so many around the world. I would like to congratulate all of this year's winners on their well-deserved recognition.

I hope you are having a wonderful, summer, relaxing, energizing � maybe productive!

My best,