Day 1 recap of ASCAP’s 12th annual “I Create Music” EXPO, from the Loews Hotel in Hollywood
Linita Masters
Festivities kicked off with ASCAP’s Annual Membership Meeting, which included remarks from ASCAP President Paul Williams, CEO Elizabeth Matthews and EVP of Membership John Titta, as well as performances by five-time Grammy winner Michael McDonald, four-time ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley, Tom Higgenson of the Plain White T’s and Troye Sivan collaborator Brett McLaughlin.
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 13: Singer, Michael McDonald, performs onstage at the ASCAP Annual Membership Meeting and EXPO Kickoff during the 2017 ASCAP “I Can Create Music” EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)
Early panels included “Freshman Orientation” with Beyonce collaborator Vincent Berry, “Hit Producers Go Behind the Beats” with J.Cole / Rihanna producer Deputy and “You Should Be Here: A Peek into the Country Music Market,” which included a special honor for Ashley Gorley, commemorating his 30 #1 hits on the country music charts.
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 13: (L-R) Singer-songwriter Tom Higgenson, songwriter Ashley Gorley, singer Michael McDonald, Chief Executive Officer of ASCAP Elizabeth Matthews, President of ASCAP Paul Williams, singer-songwriter Brett McLaughlin, and composer Mateo Messina at the ASCAP Annual Membership.Meeting and EXPO Kickoff during the 2017 ASCAP “I Can Create Music” EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)
The afternoon included Billboard’s “We Create Music” panel (with Gorley and Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner), as well as a master session with Katy Perry and Keith Urban producer Greg Wells.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: (L-R) ASCAP Creative Manager Beth Brinker, songwriter/producer Zach Crowell, and songwriter Ashley Gorley speak onstage at 'You Should Be Here: A Peek into the Country Music Market' during the 2017 ASCAP "I Can Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: (L-R) Songwriter/singer/producer Dave Pirner, songwriter Ashley Gorley, and composer Jeff Cardoni speak onstage at 'We Create Music' presented by Billboard during the 2017 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Producer Deputy meets attendees at 'Hit Producers Go Behind the Beats' during the 2017 ASCAP "I Can Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Musician Darryl "D.M.C." Matthews McDaniels (L) and musician Alex Al attend the 2017 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Chief Executive Officer of ASCAP, Elizabeth Matthews, speaks onstage at the ASCAP Annual Membership.Meeting and EXPO Kickoff during the 2017 ASCAP "I Can Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Singer-songwriter James Fauntleroy speaks onstage at 'We Create Music' presented by Billboard during the 2017 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Jon Castelli speaks during the 2017 ASCAP "I Can Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: (L-R) Vice President of A&R at Warner-Chappell Music Katie Vinten, songwriter Ashley Gorley, ASCAP Publisher board member Jon Platt, and ASCAP President Paul Williams onstage at 'You Should Be Here: A Peek into the Country Music Market' during the 2017 ASCAP "I Can Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Songwriter Leah Palmer, songwriter Fran Hall, songwriter Rachel Assil, songwriter Vincent Berry musician Tia P. and producer J. Rhodes speaks onstage at 'ASCAP EXPO: Freshman Orientation' during the 2017 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: (L-R) President of Music and Soundtracks Mitchell Leib, Composer Geoff Zanelli, and senior director of film and television music Mike Todd speaks onstage at 'You Should Be Here: A Peek into the Country Music Market' during the 2017 ASCAP "I Can Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: President of ASCAP, Paul Williams speaks onstage at the ASCAP Annual Membership.Meeting and EXPO Kickoff during the 2017 ASCAP "I Can Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Singer-songwriter Rooty speaks onstage at 'Breaking Big on Digital Music Platforms' during the 2017 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Singer-songwriter Tom Higgenson (L) and songwriter Ashley Gorley at the ASCAP Annual Membership Meeting and EXPO Kickoff during the 2017 ASCAP "I Can Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Singer-songwriter Tom Higgenson (L) and ASCAP EVP of Membership John Ttta speak onstage at the ASCAP Annual Membership Meeting and EXPO Kickoff during the 2017 ASCAP "I Can Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: (L-R) Producer Tommy Brown, producer Deputy, and producer/composer/writer Brian Kennedy speak onstage at 'Hit Producers Go Behind the Beats' during the 2017 ASCAP "I Can Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: (L-R) Composers Tom Salta, Gordy Haab, Jack Wall, and Austin Wintory speak onstage at 'Next Level: Scoring for Video Games' during the 2017 ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: (L-R) President of ASCAP, Paul Williams, singer Michael McDonald, and Chief Executive Officer of ASCAP, Elizabeth Matthews at the ASCAP Annual Membership.Meeting and EXPO Kickoff during the 2017 ASCAP "I Can Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Attendee tests microphone during session at the 2017 ASCAP "I Can Create Music" EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for ASCAP)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Singers/songwriters Butch Walker and Dave Pirner perform onstage at the "I Create Music" Center Stage Showcase during the 2017 ASCAP 'I Create Music' EXPO on April 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for ASCAP)
