Welcome to the ASCAP EXPO schedule and panelist/attendee directory! You will find the full EXPO schedule and panelist bios here.
As the world's leading performing rights organization and strongest advocate for music creators, ASCAP is at the center of the sweeping changes affecting the music industry. You don't want to miss this opening session, in which ASCAP's President and Chairman Paul Williams, ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento and ASCAP Executive Vice President of Membership Randy Grimmett will provide an update on the "state of the union" of ASCAP, the choices you have for future career success and making the most of your EXPO experience. You’ll get a deeper understanding of what ASCAP is doing on your behalf, and how ASCAP’s role fits into the wider music industry climate.
Great production is as essential to a song’s success as a great lyric and melody, but the role of a producer is often shrouded in mystery. This panel of top producers from across the genre spectrum will explain how they help turn a song into a recording that’s more than the sum of its parts. You’ll end up with a solid understanding of how your favorite music transitioned from ideas to finished products, and the skillset you need to be a professional producer.
The world fell in love with Katy Perry in 2008, the year she released the multi-platinum One of the Boys, and topped the charts with its first single “I Kissed a Girl." She has since set sales and chart records with her album, Teenage Dream, earning dozens of industry accolades including Billboard’s Woman of the Year. While Katy has blossomed into one of today’s biggest and boldest pop stars, her success has been hard-won. In the ten years leading up to her major label debut on Capitol, Katy was signed to three record labels, yet remained true to her artistic vision throughout the process. Katy Perry is no manufactured pop princess - she wrote or co-wrote her songs every step of the way, including the record-breaking six #1 singles from Teenage Dream. Katy’s story is one of both talent and perseverance, and she’ll share the ups and downs of the journey in this keynote interview.
From his early work with Hollertronix to his recent collaborations with Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars and No Doubt, 2013 ASCAP Vanguard Award-winning DJ-producer Diplo is consistently one of the most creative producers working in pop music. He’s renowned for mixing in sounds from around the world, creating quirky backdrops that highlight the personalities of the many artists he works with. Diplo will be joined by rising hip-hop star Big Sean, a two-time Grammy nominee and one of the first signings to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music roster. After several acclaimed mixtapes and guest raps, Big Sean’s debut album Finally Famous hit #1 on the US Rap charts, propelling him to mainstream success and a 2012 Best New Artist award from BET. The two will talk about their lives and their art in this wide-ranging discussion. It promises to be an inspiring conversation between two music creators at the top of their game.
Through ingenious combinations of pop, hip-hop and R&B, the Grammy-winning songwriting-production team Stargate, composed of Norwegians Mikkel Eriksen and Tor Hermansen, has crafted massive hits for some of today’s biggest artists. Stargate is a constant fixture on the charts, responsible for a wide range of unstoppable songs including Katy Perry's “Firework,” Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow” and Rihanna's “Only Girl (in the World),” “S&M,” “What’s My Name” and “Diamonds” as well as songs for Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Ne-Yo, Lionel Richie and Shakira. Both Tor and Mikkel are experienced instrumentalists, and the solid musical core they bring to every production is the key to the durability of their music. In addition to their killer beats and great melodies, Stargate’s skills shine brightest in their ability to collaborate with other gifted artists, such as Ne-Yo, with whom they have created some powerful songs, including Ne-Yo’s “Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)” and Rihanna dance-pop hit “Take a Bow.” Ne-Yo, who has risen to become one of modern music’s most talented and prolific artists. is a Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, composer and producer, and in less than five years, he’s produced three #1 albums featuring such popular hits as “So Sick,” “Sexy Love,” “Miss Independent,” “Closer” and more, sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and collaborated with everyone from Michael Jackson to Tim McGraw. His fifth album, R.E.D., was released last fall. In this very special session, Mikkel, Tor and Ne-Yo will provide a valuable look into the art of collaboration, the creative process and how they’ve created some of today’s most popular music.
Traditional media like film and TV have historically been the focus of song placements, and even served vital roles in breaking new artists. But with music supervisors boldly entering the digital world, there are more opportunities than ever to getting your music heard. This panel of next generation music supes will explore new avenues for syncing your music to picture and making some money in the process.
R&B, hip-hop, soul, dance, rap. Call these styles what you want, they are popular. The creators of today’s urban music draw from a rich array of sounds and sources to create some of modern music’s biggest hits. Learn how some of today’s most successful songwriters and producers got their foot in the door and continue to set the creative bar for everyone else trying to make it in urban music. They’ll explain how, with the right combination of innovation, skills and the ability to collaborate, you can begin your own journey up the charts.
As performers, women have long dominated the world’s musical stage. But today more than ever they are also some of the most successful songwriters, executives and entrepreneurs in music. This panel of gifted women will share their experiences in navigating the music industry - the challenges they encountered, the lessons they learned and both the mistakes and smart choices they made - on their way to achieving career success.
Success has taken many shapes for the renowned ASCAP members on this panel. Yet whether they made their name by writing smash pop singles, platinum-selling R&B hits or innovative film scores, they have all faced and overcome creative and professional challenges on the way to their current positions as leaders in their genres. You’ll gain valuable insight and inspiration from each of these artists, who will share what it’s like to build an enduring life in music.
You’ve got the talent. You’ve got the drive. But what you really need to make it in today’s music business is a firm grasp of the “business.” Navigating today’s choppy industry waters takes an understanding of how the music business operates, from record deals and publishing to the many different areas that generate income and the deals associated with them to the growing opportunities in the digital world. Here’s your chance to ask questions of a panel of industry experts (a publisher, an attorney and a manager), who can give you a broad overview of what you need to know now.
We're raffling off gear, products and services from our generous EXPO sponsors! To enter the drawing, just drop your card at sponsor tables, the ASCAP EXPO Boutique or The ASCAP Room. Remember, you must be in the Dolby Ballroom when we call your name if you want to win - don't miss your chance to walk away with some great prizes!
The ability for songwriters, composers and music publishers to be compensated fairly for their work is being challenged on more than one front. From international digital piracy to emerging business models that devalue music, the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of working music professionals are at stake. Don’t miss this important discussion of the key legislative and copyright issues that impact music creators. Learn how the music creator community can make its best case to members of Congress, how you can become more involved in the legislative process and why it is so important that you do.
ASCAP composer Nathan Johnson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have worked on many of the same projects over the years, including the acclaimed indie film Brick, the Morgan M. Morgansen short films and the 2012 time travel thriller Looper. But they’ve never collaborated so closely as they did on the upcoming Don Jon, Gordon-Levitt’s directorial debut. Johnson’s scores often involve found sounds and non-traditional recording techniques, and you can hear his passion for visual art in his music. Gordon-Levitt is just as multi-faceted - he’s already a successful actor, and proven his musical chops with his innovative hitRECord production company. With Don Jon, he shows that he’s also a brilliant writer and director. In this lively panel, Johnson and Gordon-Levitt will detail their collaboration on Don Jon, and discuss the rewards and pitfalls of following your own path to creative fulfillment.
We're raffling off gear, products and services from our generous EXPO sponsors! To enter the drawing, just drop your registration bag ticket into the box at the ASCAP EXPO Boutique or The ASCAP Room. Remember, you must be in the Dolby Ballroom when we call your name if you want to win - don't miss your chance to walk away with some great prizes!
This group represents some of modern music’s most successful songs from across the musical spectrum. These songwriters will share the fascinating stories behind the creation of their best-loved songs, and perform them live in a low-key, in-the-round setting. It’s the perfect way to end the 2013 ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO. Feel free to sing along!
