An unimaginable number of people across the country dream of a life in the music business. One only has to look at the droves of people who line up for the "American Idol" tryouts each year to see the public's excitement and interest in the music industry. Whether it's the soundtrack for a Hollywood movie, a workout or a night on the town, music is engrained in all aspects of American culture and is both an exciting and rewarding industry. But how often do most people stop to think about who is actually behind the music?
Many of today's best-known musical artists write and perform their own songs. But thousands of other music creators will rarely appear onstage. Most people associate a hit song with the person who sang it, while the composer or lyricist who wrote the music or lyrics stays behind the scenes. So, though Clay Aiken probably comes to mind whenever "Invisible" is played, few know that a songwriter named Desmond Child wrote the song and is one of the music industry's most prolific and creative forces.
Now, budding and established music creators have a chance to learn how to forge a successful career in today's marketplace and hear from some of the most successful music creators in the business. For the past two years, hit songwriters, composers and producers such as Desmond Child, "Dude, Looks Like a Lady"; Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, "No More Drama"; Linda Perry, "Beautiful"; John Rich, "Redneck Woman"; and Michael Giacchino, "Ratatouille" have participated in the ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO, where they have shared invaluable insights about the music creation process.
In 2008, ASCAP, the leading American performing rights organization, will host its third annual "I Create Music" EXPO. As the only national conference dedicated to songwriting and composing, this event will bring together the world's leading songwriters, composers, publishers and industry professionals with emerging music creators for networking and educational opportunities.
The three-day event, slated to begin on April 10 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, will cover all genres of music and will provide panels, workshops, master classes, keynotes, one-on-one sessions, song critiquing, product displays, technology demonstrations and even performances for attendees.
With some of the biggest names in music scheduled to show, this truly will be a place where music creators can come together and take their careers to the next level. For more information about the EXPO, visit www.ascap.com/expo.
(NewsUSA)
