Wow. That is the first thing that I want to say about the past three days. Wow.
I flew in to Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon and enjoyed my first Japanese BBQ experience with a few friends - the food was great and the company was even better.
On Thursday morning I was up and out early to head to the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel which is right smack in the middle of all of the hubbub of Hollywood. I picked up a bagel and a hot tea and headed to registration.
The mezzanine level of the hotel was lined with tables full of instruments, recording gear, etc. People were milling around but it didn't seem to be as busy as I expected (but I was there right at the beginning) which was nice because I had the chance to mill around and figure out where everything was happening before being inundated with people.
Which, of course, is what happened next!
The hotel was quickly filled with music creators and industry professionals, all mingling and getting ready to head to the Grand Ballroom for the annual ASCAP member meeting. I suppose I should tell you what ASCAP is....
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers - basically it is a performing rights organization that keeps track of the ways that it's member's songs/music are used and makes sure that the creators of the works get paid!
The introductory speech was given by Paul Williams, President and Chairman of ASCAP (not to mention Grammy, Oscar and Emmy award winning songwriter.)
Mr. Williams is best known for penning the songs "Rainbow Connection," "Rainy Days and Mondays" and "Theme to the Love Boat," among others.
After the meeting we were off to a whirlwind of panel discussions, product demonstrations and general networking.
That afternoon was the "We Create Music" panel with the following speakers:
Paul Williams
Jason Mraz (Songwriter, Performer - "I'm Yours," "Make it Mine," "The Remedy"
Tricky Stewart (Songwriter, Producer - "Singe Ladies (Put a Ring On It)," "Umbrella"
Brian Tyler (Composer - "Eagle Eye," "Rambo," "Fast and Furious")
Phil Vassar (Songwriter, Performer - "Bye Bye," "Just Another Day in Paradise," "Six Pack Summer," "That's When I Love You"
After the session I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Phil Vassar (I love his work!) - he was gracious and great to talk to!
Next up was the interview of the night with the especially candid John Mayer!
Immediately following was the opening night reception followed by a songwriter's circle at the Highlands.
The performer lineup included:
Don Was (Songwriter, Producer - "Walk the Dinosaur"
Stephen Bishop (Songwriter, Performer - "On and On," "Separate Lives," "Save it for a Rainy Day," Film "Animal House
Natasha Beddingfield (Songwriter, Performer - "Unwritten," "Pocket Full of Sunshine")
John Forte (Songwriter, Producer, Performer - "Cowboys," "Family Business," Ply Sci, The Score
Lenny Kaye (Songwriter, Producer, Performer - "Redondo Beach," "Free Money," "Southern Cross"
Phil Vassar (Songwriter, Performer - "Bye Bye," "Just Another Day in Paradise," "Six Pack Summer," "That's When I Love You"
What I found consistently interesting over the three days was listening to songwriters talk about or perform the songs that they themselves did not make famous and just how different some of them started out vs what they ended up.
FRIDAY:
Friday was another early morning, starting off with panel discussions about music licensing, digital distribution, coutry and pop song critiques, etc. I wish I was able to split myself into four to be able to attend all that was offered!
On of the sessions I did attend was a master class held by Linda Perry. She has written a number of extremely successful and popular songs like "Beautiful" (recorded by Christina Aguilera), "Get This Party Started" (Pink) as well as songs sung by Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani and more. I found it extremely inspiring to hear her take on writing - the idea that it doesn't matter what they are looking for on the radio, write what YOU write, write what YOU feel. The music business is changing and they are looking for something authentic and real.
Here is a picture from a panel discussion with Jason Silberman, Ethan Allen, David Basset and Jessi Alexander (with mic - best know for her song "The Climb," recorded by Miley Cyrus)
After a while there was SO much information and so much going on I just needed to get out and go for a walk. As I mentioned before I was smack in the middle of everything so I walked down to the Kodak Theatre, past the Walk of Stars and to the Chinese Graumans Theatre.
"My <3 Belongs to Mary"
My hands are the same size as the amazing Meryl Streep!
After my escape to the outdoors I returned for the interview of the night - Quincy Jones interviewed by Ludacris!
They were very strict about no pictures at this event, unfortunately, so I don't have any to show.
It was amazing to hear about Quincy Jones' career and all of the amazing things he's worked on and performer's he's worked with. To list them all right here would be impossible, but to give you an idea...Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Oprah...
"There's only 12 notes - you can't write any new ones."
"Not one drop of my self worth depends on your acceptance of me."
- Quincy Jones
"There are two things you can be in life - either scared or prepared!" - Ludacris
That night's show at the Highlands featured Chantal Keviazuk, Allison Iraheta, Raul Midon and Gordie Sampson.
SATURDAY:
Saturday started with a talk about copyright laws and how songwriters are having a difficult time gaining the right to protect their work due to the overwhelming growth of companies and people who demand to use and acquire music for free. There really are a lot of issues that need to be addressed and dealt with when it comes to song stealing.
ASCAP is currently in court with 9 major companies about misuse of songs with copyrights by ASCAP members. Go ASCAP!
Have you ever seen a flight friendly guitar?! I hadn't until this weekend! This is the Voyage Air Travel Guitar - made specifically for the ease of putting your guitar in the overhead compartment on an airplane - awesome!
Saturday's interview was between Bill Withers and Justin Timberlake!
I found Bill Wither's comments to be the most inspiring of the conference - he spoke about how his song "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone" was addressed by labels and publishers to be all wrong - the wrong song structure, the wrong feel....and how "Lean On Me" was turned down by almost everyone before someone finally decided it was a great song.
"If you love music, don't let the complications of this and that and the music business make you fall out of love with music."
"Sometimes people don't get it. You'll play something for a friend or a relative and they just won't get it. I'd hate to hold someone responsible for something they just don't get."
"If you like polkas, just because it's not on MTV that doesn't mean it's not valid. Write polkas."
After Bill Withers and Justin Timberlake, it was time for the last session of the conference. And it was awesome.
Steve Diamond (Songwriter, Producer, Performer - "I Can Love You Like That," "I've Got a Rock n Roll Heart," "Consider Me Gone," "According To You"
Larry John McNally (Songwriter, Performer - "Nobody's Girl," "The Mowtown Song"
Robert Ellis Orrall (Songwriter, Producer, Performer - "What's it to You," "Dancing in Circles"
Billy Steinberg (Songwriter, Performer - "Like a Virgin," "True Colors," "Eternal Flame," "I'll Stand By You"
There was something just so interesting about hearing the songs performed as they were originally written - by the songwriters themselves in the original genre. For instance "I Can Love You Like That," made famous by the R&B group "All 4 One" was written for acoustic guitar - in a genre very similar to my own.
After everything was said and done, it was time for a nice Italian dinner and dancing with a few songwriter friends I made!
This is with John and Jesse from "Get Behind the Mic," Houston, TX.
We went back to the Highlands to go dancing and had the plesent surprise of seeing the DJ from "Black Eyed Peas" spin as well as Apl.De.Ap c who came out and performed!
Of course we ended the night with a few pics in front of the Chinese Grauman's Theatre - what an amazing weekend!
