ASCAP Headlines

"On the Come Up" May Edition

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:29:00 -0400

Songwriter Gizzle dishes on her rise to the top

Usher to Receive ASCAP Golden Note Award at 26th Annual Rhythm and Soul Music Awards

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:27:00 -0400

ASCAP will honor eight-time Grammy Award-winner Usher with the prestigious ASCAP Golden Note Award during its 26th annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. The invitation-only event will take place on June 27th at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, and will also celebrate the songwriters and publishers of the most performed ASCAP songs on the 2012 R&B/hip-hop, rap and gospel charts.

14th Annual Concert Music Awards to Honor Tania Leon, Jon Deak, Steve Smith and Morton Gould

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:35:00 -0400

The ASCAP Concert Music Awards will recognize the achievements of our 2013 honorees, who represent the diverse aesthetic spectrum of the concert music world. Composer, musician and author Peter Schickele will host the event.

Film Music Friday: Craig Armstrong on The Great Gatsby

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:54:00 -0400

When director Baz Luhrmann decided to bring about his screen adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, he turned to his longtime collaborator, ASCAP composer Craig Armstrong. ASCAP's Jeff Jernigan spoke with Armstrong about his involvement with the ambitious project.

Watch Paul Williams Open Up About Working with Daft Punk

Fri, 10 May 2013 14:55:00 -0400

French electronica gods Daft Punk hand-picked ASCAP President Paul Williams to collaborate on their new album, Random Access Memories. Watch this incredible video for an intimate window into Paul’s unique relationship with Daft Punk, and details about "Touch," the song they wrote together.

David Lang and Miya Masaoka Named 2013 Doris Duke Artists

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:07:00 -0400

The two ASCAP composers have been granted this prestigious title as part of a nationwide initiative to expand artistic and personal freedom for creative leaders in the fields of jazz, contemporary dance and theatre.

ASCAP Audio Portrait: JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound's Howl

Wed, 08 May 2013 11:37:00 -0400

JCBUS's third album is a leap for the Chicago-based, Bloodshot Records band, featuring more personal songwriting and a wider sonic palette than in earlier efforts, resulting in old school soul/funk grooves with lyrics that reveal the complexities of modern relationships. Howl will be released on May 21st; preview it here now.

Youssou N'Dour and Kaija Saariaho Awarded 2013 Polar Music Prize

Wed, 08 May 2013 10:59:00 -0400

The Polar Music Prize is awarded to individuals, groups or institutions in recognition of exceptional achievements in the creation and advancement of music. The two ASCAP affiliates will receive the international music prize at a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden on August 27th, 2013.

The ASCAP "We Create Music" Series

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:07:50 -0400

The May edition of the ASCAP "We Create Music" showcase series was held on Wed., May 15th and featured songwriters Helene Cronin, Andrea Davidson, Daphne Willis, Brent Anderson and Zac Maloy, as well as Nashville-based sister trio Michaelis.

Film Music Friday: Michael Giacchino on Star Trek: Into Darkness

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:54:25 -0400

ASCAP composer Michael Giacchino could have relied on Trekkie nostalgia for his score to Star Trek: Into Darkness. Instead, he did what he's always done: he wrote the right music for the story. Before the film's release, Giacchino told us how he did it.

Saving Important Grammy Categories from Extinction

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:46:34 -0400

If you were paying close attention to Grammy nominations this past year, you may have noticed something a bit unusual about the Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album category – there were only three nominees. The reason? Well, here’s a simplified lesson in how The Recording Academy selects nominees.

Recording Academy and Warner Bros. Host Gatsby Screening

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:22:04 -0400

The Great Gatsby enjoyed one of the year's biggest opening weekends at the box office so far. The Monday after Gatsby debuted in theaters, the Recording Academy and Warner Bros. Pictures co-presented a screening and panel discussion with ASCAP writer-producer Rick Nowels and music executives Darren Higman and Tony Seyler, all of whom contributed to the film's ambitious soundtrack.

New Music Tuesday: The Dillinger Escape Plan on One of Us Is the Killer

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:56:55 -0400

The indescribable extreme music quintet The Dillinger Escape Plan make such combustible, anarchic music that it's amazing they've lasted for 16 years. On the eve of the release of their fifth album One of Us Is the Killer, we spoke with DEP's guitarist Ben Weinman about the method behind the madness.

LA Women in Music Host Film and TV Panel

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:28:10 -0400

On April 29th, Los Angeles Women in Music presented a panel on film and television music, featuring ASCAP composer Sharon Farber and ASCAP singer-songwriter Kari Kimmel, among others. The panel covered the difference between underscore and source music, the composer/director relationship, the music supervisor/director relationship and much more.

The ASCAP Daily Brief for Monday, May 13

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:21:21 -0400

The Constitutional Foundations of Intellectual Property, Tech Guru Jaron Lanier Prophesies a Chilling Virtual Reality, Why E-Mail Newsletters Won't Die and more!

The ASCAP Daily Brief for Friday, May 10

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:46:09 -0400

Sign the "Give Fans the Credit" Petition; Kickstarter Brings Old Tech Back to Life; Soundrop's New Listening Rooms...and more

Composer Zhou Long Awarded 2012 2013 Elise L. Stoeger Prize

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:11:21 -0400

The ASCAP member and Pulitzer Prize-winning Chinese composer has been awarded the $25,000 cash prize. The largest prize of its kind, the Stoeger Prize is given every two years in recognition of significant contributions to the field of chamber music composition.

The ASCAP Daily Brief for Thursday, May 9

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:57:05 -0400

The UK's Copyright Landgrab; Rhapsody Adds Liner Notes; Attack of the Kickstarter Clones...and more

Twitter Q and A with Planet VI aka Rock City

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:01:09 -0400

On May 7th, hip-hop/R&B songwriter-producer duo Planet VI (aka Rock City) took over ASCAP's Twitter account to answer your questions. The Q&A was co-hosted with Universal. Click through to see how it all went down!

The ASCAP Daily Brief for Wednesday, May 8

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:39:31 -0400

What to Expect from Paid YouTube Channels; Metadata's "Toothbrush Syndrome"; The Future of Artist-Branded Apps...and more