Happenings

Published on April 30th, 2016 | by Dr. Jerry Doby

Photo Recap: Day 1 of The 11th Annual ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO

Melissa Etheridge, OMI, Rob Thomas, Charles Kelley,
Suzanne Vega, And Others Join ASCAP President Paul Williams
and CEO Elizabeth Matthews at Day 1 of

The 11th Annual ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO

The 11th Annual ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles opened with ASCAP’s Annual Membership Meeting, but with an introductory performance by OMI singing his chart-topping hit, “Cheerleader, it was clear this year’s meeting was out to impress. President and award-winning songwriter Paul Williams spoke passionately about being a songwriter and ASCAP’s unflagging work to improve songwriters’ livelihoods through Capitol Hill advocacy.

ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews shared the news of ASCAP’s second year in-a-row of $1 billion-plus revenues, and EVP Membership John Titta detailed how ASCAP educates and supports its writer members. He then hosted two performances and short discussions — first with the songwriting power trio of Chris DeStefano, Brett Jamesand Priscilla Renea performing their hit “Somethin’ Bad” (Miranda Lambert & Carrie Underwood), written at an ASCAP SongCamp; and with Melissa Etheridge who shared personal advice and an acoustic version of”Come to My Window.”

The We Create Music session in front of a packed Dolby Ballroom featured Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, OMI, multi-platinum songwriter, solo artist and Matchbox Twenty frontman 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.

Here are a few looks from the event:

The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP
The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO Photos by: Getty Images for ASCAP

About ASCAP

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a professional membership organization of songwriters, composers and music publishers of every kind of music. ASCAP’s mission is to license and promote the music of its members and foreign affiliates, obtain fair compensation for the public performance of their works and to distribute the royalties that it collects based upon those performances. ASCAP members write the world’s best-loved music and ASCAP has pioneered the efficient licensing of that music to hundreds of thousands of enterprises who use it to add value to their business – from bars, restaurants and retail, to radio, TV and cable, to Internet, mobile services and more. The ASCAP license offers an efficient solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while respecting the right of songwriters and composers to be paid fairly. With 560,000 members representing more than 10 million copyrighted works, ASCAP is the worldwide leader in performance royalties, service and advocacy for songwriters and composers, and the only American performing rights organization (PRO) owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. Learn more and stay in touch at www.ascap.com, on Twitter and Instagram@ASCAP and on Facebook.

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About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.