ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO cranks it up in L.A.
Three amazing days in Los Angeles with songwriters and creators from every musical genre, freely sharing their knowledge, their experience and their love. And best of all, sharing their music.
Despite the bleary-eyed early morning start from Nashville, when we pulled back the curtains on our hotel room and saw that famous HOLLYWOOD sign through the L.A. haze, we felt a rush of energy. We knew we were in for an unforgettable three days, and we were right.
After so many years of doom and gloom and dire predictions about the music industry, it was a shot in the arm to hear ASCAP President Paul Williams remind us of the good news from Washington. Legislators and the music industry are working together to pass the long awaited Music Modernization Act. And music sales are on the rise again.
“This is the most amazing collection of Musoids on the planet!” – Paul Williams, President of ASCAP, starting his EXPO kickoff speech
Meghan Trainor proves you can make it
Songwriters can feel disheartened, particularly when their careers seem to stall. If any needed some encouragement and inspiration, they found it in Meghan Trainor who first attended the EXPO as a young unknown songwriter.
This year, she was back, but this time she was on stage with the credentials of being a hit writer and performer. Meghan and songwriter J Kash took part in the Keynote Conversation on Day 3, and Meghan’s family were in the audience to share in the success that her perseverance had created.
Songwriter credit must add up to 100%!
Perhaps one of the funniest (and very important) presentations came from Desmond Child who really does have world music in his blood, care of his Hungarian father and Cuban songwriter mother. He has writing credits on mega-hits for Aerosmith, Michael Bolton, Bon Jovi, Cher, Kiss, Clay Aiken and many more across multiple genres. Not surprisingly, Child is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Child found a memorable way to emphasize a problem that often plagues writers in a co-write situation. For example, if three writers co-write a song, all too often they assign the ‘split’ as 33% to each writer. But three times 33% adds up to 99%. As Child pointed out, if it doesn’t add up to 100%, the writing credit is incomplete and nobody gets paid (or at least it’ll take a lot of extra work)!
Child brought 99 ‘volunteers’ up on stage and each held up a large sign that simply said “1%” on the front. On the back were the lyrics to a short earworm jingle. In part, the lyrics read:
‘Not dealing with splits can cause a feud / when 33 and 33 and 33 turns out to be 99, you’re screwed / You’re in Splitsville so welcome to Splitsville USA / If the numbers you claim don’t add up, nobody’s getting paid.’
And judging by their singing, maybe most of the ‘volunteers’ should stick to songwriting!
It takes a village
A session titled ‘It Takes a Village to Raise a Songwriter – Find Your Champions!’ focused on the importance of teambuilding. A case in point: Adam Sanders, a singer/songwriter from Lake City, Florida, who came to Nashville in 2009. He said he found “a lot of song publishers waiting to say No” to him, but one who said ‘Yes’ to him was Carla Wallace at Big Yellow Dog Music. Still, he was working construction jobs around Nashville as he developed his skills and experience as a writer.
He soon found success with Number One writing credits on songs such as Cole Swindell’s ‘Ain’t Worth the Whiskey’ and Dustin Lynch’s ‘Hell of a Night.’ He was also getting cuts on Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley and Tyler Farr, among others.
Sanders then focused on his career as an artist, quickly building an enthusiastic fanbase, racking up over 30 million Spotify streams. He has released an EP and a single from the EP, ‘Thankful For.’ The EP also includes a song titled, ‘Alan Jackson,’ who was an early influence for Sanders. “My debut album came out after nine years in Nashville,” noted Sanders who proves that hard work and determination – and teamwork – triumphs over everything.
Memorable moments
There were so many memorable moments that filled these three days, such as hearing Cassadee Pope talking about her experience as the first female winner of The Voice, before she sang her new single, ‘Take You Home.’ Cassadee was part of the ASCAP writers’ jam session that rounded out the evening.
So much music, so much creativity, all brought together in one place. I’m sure everyone went home inspired, encouraged and determined to make 2018 a great year.
“I love being president of ASCAP because I come face to face with the beginnings of careers and all that fire, and you know you were put on this earth to make music and nothing is going to stand in your way.” – Paul Williams, President of ASCAP, during the annual membership wrap-up meeting
Preshias Harrisis a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com