SUMMER 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Features

Alf Clausen's Life & Work, In His Own Words

What a season it's been for Alf Clausen! Just a few short weeks after The Simpsons scorer was honored with the prestigious Golden Note Award at the 2011 ASCAP Film & Television Awards, Clausen was nominated for his unprecedented 30th primetime Emmy - the most nominations earned by a single music creator in the history of the Emmys.

Sun Sets on Sunset Junction 2011

It’s been a weirdo week in the world and in music, to put it mildly.

ASCAP Lesson: Susan Sandberg's Do’s and Don’ts for Songwriters on a Movie Set

So, you’ve been writing songs for film and television long enough that you have collaborated with some of the funniest directors in Hollywood—including the Farrelly Brothers, who have asked you to audition for their latest movie.

How Music Helps Us Choose Our Friends

Of all the things we might possibly have in common with others, music turns out to be the most accurate way of getting to know someone new.

Quirky Nashville Duo Channing & Quinn Tour the East Coast by Train

As we board a train in the dead of night, headed for unknown adventures across the country, we can't help but feel like we are claiming our piece of the great American romanticism that is the railways.

Jordan Beckett and Sam Jaeger on Take Me Home's Creative Carpooling

ASCAP member Jordan Beckett was writing songs mostly for himself until his pal Sam Jaeger, an actor/director known for his roles in the TV series Parenthood and Eli Stone, called him in to write music for his new film, Take Me Home.

Extreme DIY: Custom Instruments from ASCAP Members

In an imaginative post earlier today on NPR's classical music blog Deceptive Cadences, blog editor Tom Huizenga writes about his recurring, music-themed dreams.

Telling the Right Story: Trevor Morris on Scoring Historical Dramas

Looking back on my career thus far, I’m struck by the number of historical dramas I’ve written and continue to write music for.

The Beas Knees: Jazz Pianist John Beasley Checks In

The definition of versatility, pianist/composer/arranger John Beasley has accompanied Miles Davis, scored major TV series and taken the MD helm for Steely Dan and Carly Simon. We had a wide-ranging chat with Beas soon after his ninth album Positootly! earned a Grammy nomination.

I Still Want My MTV

It was the summer of love. Well, the summer of my first love. I remember it like it was yesterday. Our first date was on July 10th, and we were joined at the hip from the moment our eyes locked.

Digital vs. Physical: Towards a New Album Format

Earlier this week, Music Think Tank published this article listing seven ways to improve digital music by applying lessons learned from the physical album experience.

Live at ASCAP: Adam Levy

As much grace as Adam Levy's guitar work added to Norah Jones and the Handsome Band's low key, jazz-inflected sound, we here at ASCAP are happy that Levy's been writing and performing his own music over the last few years.

Carney Show: L.A. Rock Band Carney Swings from Spiderman to U2 and Beyond

Once the toast of the L.A. live circuit, Carney is now the house band in Spiderman: Turn off the Dark musical, and frontman Reeve Carney has the lead role. Next up: opening for U2 in Canada. We talked to the band about its meteoric rise.

"Good Music Is Its Own Promotion" and Other Pearls of Wisdom from John Mayer

Bob Lefsetz is the author of The Lefsetz Letter, an e-newsletter that arrives rather frequently in the email boxes of his followers and mainly focuses on music and entertainment industry issues.

Hot New Music Site Turntable.fm Is Licensed by ASCAP

New websites and mobile apps that give people new ways to listen to music are popping up daily. Every so often, one of them explodes out of the gate with exponential user growth.

Getting to Know The Great Unknown

This week, Philadelphia-based ASCAP band The Great Unknown officially releases Other Voices, Other Rooms.

ASCAP's Top 10 Albums, etc. of 2010

Stuck in The Middle with Joey Newman

ASCAP composer Joey Newman belongs to arguably the most famous dynasty in Film/TV music.

Why Worry? Here Are Some Tips for Getting a Grammy, Wikipedia Page and iTunes Distribution

It's a DIY world, and the barriers between music makers and consumers get thinner and thinner every day.

Songs Are Like Tattoos: Scott Kelly of Neurosis

Welcome to Songs Are Like Tattoos, wherein we explore the connections between music and tattoos in the words of ASCAP members who have committed to both. This time around we talk to Scott Kelly, founding member of Neurosis, Shrinebuilder, Tribes of Neurot and Blood and Time.

You Might Not Expect It, But Mid-Year Album Sales are Up!

For all the talk of crumbling record sales, it is refreshing to hear that the impact of digital music sales looks to be making up for some of the decline in album sales.

Simple Steps to Getting Placed: Advice from Music Supervisor John Houlihan

At a recent event held by the National Association of Record Industry Professionals (NARIP), top music supervisor John Houlihan (Mortal Kombat, Love Guru, Fame, The Defenders) spoke to NARIP members, listened to songs and gave feedback. This was the 6th in NARIP’s 7-part Music Supervisor Sessions series.

Behind the Song: Travis Howard on "Heart Like Mine"

ASCAP Nashville recently celebrated the songwriting success of member Travis Howard for co-writing Miranda Lambert’s #1 song “Heart Like Mine.”

Suspect Behavior: Marc Fantini, Steffan Fantini and Scott Gordon On Composing

Last week, ASCAP composers Steffan Fantini, Marc Fantini and Scott Gordon received their sixth consecutive set of ASCAP Film/TV Awards for Criminal Minds and their fourth in a row for Army Wives.

Gathering Moss: Lelia Broussard's Quest for the Rolling Stone Cover

Music makers have dreamed of Rolling Stone cover status since long before Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show recorded "The Cover of the Rolling Stone" in 1973.

Bring Out Your Dead: The Coroner Interview

It's been three weeks since I caught Coroner's set at the 2011 Maryland Death Fest, and I still can't quite believe that I was actually there.

Moya Nkruma's ASCAP Debut

Hi everybody! I am the new Membership Coordinator for the Rhythm & Soul department in the L.A. office. I also assist our Senior Director Jay Sloan and Associate Director Brandon Kitchen.

Help Kenny Foster Rebuild Joplin, MO

It was a typical Nashville Sunday night. I was on the couch watching a movie with my wife, lamenting the end of another weekend. We were doing our best to ignore the few hours of daylight we had left on that glorious cicada-droning evening. The light was waning. Our eyes were getting heavy. And then my phone started to ring.

Sondre Lerche on Sondre Lerche

On June 7th, Sondre Lerche delivers to the world his brand new album Sondre Lerche, which was recorded in his recently-embraced home of Brooklyn, NY.

Songs Are Like Tattoos: Jason Reeves

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Songs are Like Tattoos, wherein we explore the connections between music and tattoos in the words of ASCAP members who've committed to both.

Halatrax Lays It Down

It's not a common story: Florida band dude moves to L.A., signs with huge writer/producer, then starts pumping out one infectious pop hit after another.

Paul Leonard-Morgan on Being Limitless

So as I’ve just finished the score to Limitless, the wonderful people at ASCAP have asked me to write a bit on the “limits” I’ve found in my career as a composer and a producer.

About the Blog

Morton Subotnick on the Creation and Legacy of Silver Apples of the Moon

Live at ASCAP: Graham Stookey

Singer/songwriter/budding guitar god Graham Stookey stopped by the ASCAP L.A. offices to tell us about his whirlwind success story. Graham was in town for a series of co-writing sessions, just weeks after the surprise success of a bedroom YouTube performance landed him a spot on Oprah with one of his guitar idols, Lenny Kravitz.

Catching Up With…Francesca Battistelli

Over the past three years, a lot of life has happened to Francesca Battistelli.

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Faces and Places

Brandon Heath Unveils Music Video for "The Light In Me"

Two-time GMA Male Vocalist of the Year and multiple GRAMMY Award nominee Brandon Heath rolled out his latest music video, "The Light In Me," on August 17. This is Heath’s second single from his chart-topping third studio project, Leaving Eden.

Gospel Music Association Appoints Executive Director

Music industry veteran Jackie Patillo has been appointed to the newly created position of GMA Executive Director. Patillo will report to the GMA Board of Directors, facilitating day to day operations, as well as working to ensure the organization's mission and strategies continue to grow.

Katy Perry Becomes First Woman to Score Five #1 Singles From The Same Album

Her Young Heart: Daughter is All Grown Up

North London newcomer Daughter has a self-released EP, His Young Heart, and a lot of upward momentum.

Jaya Turns Dreams Into Reality

Combining the rich cultural history of her Indian roots with the excitement of electropop and R&B music, Jaya shows how the future is at work now.

Horrid Henry Gets a Beautiful Score Courtesy of Michael Price

Composer Michael Price scores an Emmy nomination for his work on BBC series Sherlock, crafts the music for the popular children's book-turned-film Horrid Henry and shows no sign of taking a break in 2011.

Hit Songwriters Put Some Nashville In Napa

ASCAP Latino Presenta… Anatomía de Una Canción

ASCAP Toasts Team Behind Rascal Flatts #1 "I Won't Let Go"

Mandisa's #1 Hit "Stronger" Celebrated

ASCAP celebrated the writers and publishers of "Stronger," Mandisa's No.1 hit on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart, with a reception in Franklin, Tenn. Written by Ben Glover, David Garcia and Chris Stevens, the song marks Glover's 11th trip to the top of the charts and Garcia's first. Publishers Brentwood-Benson Publishing and EMI CMG Publishing were also honored.

Annie Gosfield Receives Berlin Prize Fellowship

American composer Annie Gosfield has been chosen as a recipient of a Spring 2012 Berlin Prize fellowship by the American Academy in Berlin. Gosfield is the only composer chosen by the Academy's selection committee to "pursue independent studies and engage with German counterparts as well as the larger academic, cultural and political life of Berlin."

Limits? Jazz Percussionist Darren Lyons Doesn't Know the Meaning of the Word

For Darren Lyons, exploration of the world of jazz is as much a personal journey as it is a journey for the art itself. The drummer and percussionist describes himself as an artist who can stay true to the roots of jazz while still pushing the boundaries of genre. He has been in the vanguard of New York City jazz for 15 years.

Chris Thile Featured on WNYC's Soundcheck Series

MTV and Extreme Music Joining Forces with Independent Musicians? Believe the Hype

MTV and Extreme Music team up to create a hybrid music licensing and production tool to cultivate and market emerging independent talent, and ASCAP members are a natural fit.

Actor/Director Sam Jaeger & NaFF Award Winner Jordan Beckett Visit ASCAP

British Beauty Lydia Baylis And Her "Starman"

The singer-songwriter is currently collaborating with some heavy hitters. Baylis recently made waves by donating to charity the proceeds from her a single about a hero.

Jay James Picton Wants to Fly, And He May Have Found a Way

Stockholm Syndrome: Ulrick Munther Converts the World to His Version

Talent Show: Four ASCAP Members Face Off in the Finale of The Voice

ASCAP's Wine & Cheese @ Guitars Boutique

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Nominees Announced

Derek Bermel Co-Scores the Award-Winning Battle for Brooklyn

ASCAP Symphonic & Concert Committee member and composer Derek Bermel recently co-scored the documentary Battle for Brooklyn. The film has won Best Documentary and top prize, the Grand Chameleon Award, at the Brooklyn Film Festival.

The Reckless Abandon of The King Blues

ASCAP President and Chairman of the Board Paul Williams Performs with The Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Ben Glover & Britt Nicole's "The Lost Get Found"

We sat down with award-winning ASCAP songwriter Ben Glover and artist Britt Nicole in advance of this year's ASCAP Christian Music Awards. Check out the exclusive interview and a beautiful acoustic rendition of their song "The Lost Get Found" here.

The Bonfires Burn Their Way Around the World

Jamie Scott’s Two Worlds of Songwriting

International Songwriter Sara Cruz Gets Back To Basics with New Album

ASCAP Inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame

ASCAP was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame during a ceremony held May 12 at the Juilliard School in New York City. Other inductees for this year included composer and ASCAP member Philip Glass, President of the Juilliard School Joseph Polisi, and the Emerson Quartet.

Timbaland: The Origins of a Hit Machine

ASCAP Members Nominated for JJA Jazz Awards

Admiral Fallow, Thomas J Speight and James Flannigan and Alex Vargas Perform at the Missing Synch

Electric Young Songwriter Eliza Doolittle Proves She's More Than Just a Fair Lady

Musgraves Shine a Bright Light with Infectious Folk Pop

Raphael Saadiq Rolls into Town

ASCAP Members Selected for American Composers Orchestra Underwood New Music Readings

Just Enough Cooks in the Kitchen

Diane Wittry Named Artistic Director of the International Cultural Exchange Program for Classical Musicians with the Sarajevo Philharmonic

Young Singer-Songwriter Misty Miller Won't Soon Be Forgotten

The Afters "Light Up the Sky" Goes #1

ASCAP recently celebrated the team behind Christian rock band The Afters' No. 1 hit, "Light Up the Sky." Co-written by The Afters' Josh Havens, Matt Fuqua and 2011 ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year Dan Muckala (who also produced the track), the song marks the band's first trip to top of the charts.

ASCAP's Alexandra Lioutikoff Named one of Billboard's Latin Power Players

ASCAP & El Grupo Duelo: La Fiesta Más Chida del Valle

ASCAP Music Directors Shine at Shaping the Sound of Television Panel

Michael Bearden Goes Back to School with Education Through Music - Los Angeles

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Field Recording

Green Room

Patagonia Launches Music Collective

Patagonia, the outdoor clothing and apparel company, has long been a world leader in sustainable business and environmental advocacy. Now it has launched the Patagonia Music Collective, a powerful platform that allows artists to easily support environmental causes.

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Legacy

Still Marching

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New Members

Notebook

Presidents Letter

Radar Report

Play it Cool, a Hot New Musical, Brings 1950's Jazz-Inspired Tunes to Off-Broadway

Mark Winkler, a past participant of the ASCAP Foundation/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop, and Phillip Swann bring their new musical, Play it Cool, inspired by the jazz music of the 1950's, to New York City's Off-Broadway theatre, The Acorn Theatre, for its opening night on September 9th.

The World From A Different Angle

Noel Gourdin Takes a Fresh Approach to R&B

Cameron Ernst Sends the Message of Love Loud and Clear

Mountain Time

The Wanderer

Wars Zone

The Big Bang

Jimmy Lloyd is Ready For Prime Time

Malik Yusef Brings Chicago's Diversity to His Mix of Mediums

Art Imitating Life, Redefined: No Imitation Necessary

Tim Anderson is More Than Just an Intelligent Machine

Singer-songwriter Phoebe Snow Dies at 60

The Daily Ukulele Author Jim Beloff Believes, And Many Agree, That Uke Can Change the World

Once relegated to comedy acts (like Tiny Tim) and Hawaiian folk music, ukulele is making a big comeback. From George Harrison to Train, Jim Beloff explains the ukulele's newfound pop and rock uses, and the joy inherent in the tiny, four-stringed instrument.

Three Hundred Sixty-Five Days of Ace Reporter

Pen Queen Cri$tyle Steps Out With Her Solo Debut

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Sparks

The Door and the Void

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Stepping Out

The ASCAP Foundation

Bart Howard Provides a Musical Gift

The ASCAP Foundation is pleased to announce that composer, lyricist, pianist and ASCAP member Bart Howard (1915-2004) named The ASCAP Foundation as a major beneficiary of all royalties and copyrights from his musical compositions.

Celebrating David Rose

In honor of David Rose's Centennial one year ago, the family of the television and film-scoring great has created two special awards to be presented in 2011. The ASCAP Foundation David Rose Centennial Award will be presented – one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast – to participants in ASCAP's Television & Film Scoring workshops.

Karen Sherry Receives Arts Education Advocacy Award

Kaufman Center presented its first Arts Education Advocacy Award to ASCAP Foundation Executive Director Karen Sherry on March 8th, 2011 in New York City. Living legend, singer-songwriterrecording artist and friend, Judy Collins, presented Karen with the award.

The ASCAP Foundation Children Will Listen Program Brings 120 NYC Students to See Wicked

120 students from P.S. 212, the Midtown West Elementary School in Manhattan, received free orchestra level tickets to the Broadway matinee performance of Wicked as part of The ASCAP Foundation Children Will Listen program.

Patrice Rushen Addresses Students at First "ASCAP Day" @ Berklee College of Music

Billy Taylor's Legacy Lives On at The Kennedy Center Through The ASCAP Foundation Songwriters: The Next Generation Program

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The Creators Tool Box

Recording Acoustics

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Action

ASCAP's Rhythm & Soul Team Honors Nominees at a Pre-VMA Bowling Night Hosted by The-Dream

Songwriter Ray De Niro talks to "On the Come Up" about his money-making strategy for the music industry.

Nick Ashford, of the Legendary Songwriting Duo Ashford & Simpson, Dies at 70

Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) Announces Establishment of New Chapter in Nashville

Mercury Prize Shortlist Names Announced

Five ASCAP/PRS members landed on the shortlist for the 2011 Barclaycard Mercury Prize, the UK's most prestigious music award, including PJ Harvey, Elbow, Everything Everything, Jon Hopkins and James Blake.

Martha Wainwright's Surprise Show at Annie O's

ASCAP Joins k.d. lang for Her Show at the Beacon Theater in New York

ASCAP Members Garner Majority of 2011 Primetime Emmy Nominations

Songwriter Cassius D. Kalb shows “On the Come Up” why your lens should be focused on him.

Producer J.O.N talks to “On the Come Up” about making soundwaves in the music industry.

Songwriter Kam Parker shows “On the Come Up” why your lens should be focused on him.

ASCAP Members Help Joplin Recover

Gomez Gives Birth to New Album, New Life

Oh, What a Day!

Playback Field Recording -
Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion

Parlours Takes ASCAP's Pop Quiz, Dreams of Chicago

We Govern We Take ASCAP's Pop Quiz, Take Notes on Toilet Paper

Trey Parker and Matt Stone's Book of Mormon Dominates Tony Award Wins

We Write the Songs 2011

The ASCAP Foundation and the Library of Congress jointly celebrated the third anniversary of the ASCAP Collection at the Library of Congress – the gift by The ASCAP Foundation of original manuscripts, photos, lyric sheets and other materials.

Children's Library

ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams hosted an educational presentation and concert at the Library of Congress featuring three-time Grammy-winning children's and folk music performer Tom Chapin.

Bruno Mars Grabs Multiple Nods, Leads ASCAP Member Nominations for the 2011 BET Awards

ASCAP's Shawn LeMone Welcomes Guild of Music Supervisors at CCC Meeting

PROTECT IP Act and S. 978

On May 26, 2011, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved unanimously by a voicevote, "The Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act" (PROTECT IP Act), S. 968. The legislation was introduced on May 12 focuses on new measures by which to address rogue websites that facilitate infringing activity and counterfeit products.

Maps & Atlases: Live at ASCAP

California Copyright Conference and Guild of Music Supervisors Meet in LA

Defining The Times: ASCAP Members Top Billboard's Hot 100 Songwriters List

ASCAP Congratulates Americana Music Awards Nominees

John Rich Earns $1.3M for Charity on Celebrity Apprentice

Plan B, Muse, Stephen Sondheim Win Big at the 2011 Ivor Novello Awards in London

Sonhdeim won the PRS for Music Special International Award as the UK music industry gathered to honour the songs and their writers that made 2010 an amazing musical year.

ASCAP Seizes the Day

ASCAP Members Take Top Honors at 42nd Annual Dove Awards

In Memoriam: Morty Jacobs, 1917 - 2011

ASCAP at the MUSEXPO

ASCAP Musical Theatre Elite Packs 2011 Tony Nominations

ASCAP/PRS Members collect the majority of the nominations at this years Ivor Novello Awards

“On the Come Up” chats with songwriter Lyrica Anderson about being the real deal in the music industry.

ASCAP Gets Teed Off at Golf Outing

Songwriter Prissy Polet talks to “On the Come Up” about her musical style that’s far from prim and proper.

Producer Triza explains to “On the Come Up” why he can’t be stopped.

The California Copyright Conference Goes Global

ASCAP Composer Zhou Long Wins Pulitzer Prize for Music

ASCAP composer Zhou Long has been awarded the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Music for his opera, Madame White Snake, which was premiered by the Boston Opera in February of last year. This was Zhou's first opera and tells the story of a snake demon that chooses to take on a human form to experience love, rather than maintain its immortality.

In Memoriam