Re-named in 1995 to honor ASCAP’s late Board member and industry pioneer Lester Sill, the workshop will feature prominent guests from various facets of the music business. ASCAP executive Brendan Okrent will oversee the series, which is designed to enrich participants’ knowledge of the industry and to help them establish contacts, confidence and to expand their collaborative partnerships. Past guests have included George Martin, Don Was, Rick Nowels, Glen Ballard, Jackson Browne, Linda Perry, Billy Steinberg, John Shanks, Kara DioGuardi, Ben Harper, Jonatha Brooke, Matthew Wilder, John Rzeznik, Jon Brion and numerous others.

Songwriters interested in applying are required to submit a CD containing two original songs along with typed or neatly written lyric sheets. Cassette tapes will not be accepted. Applicants are also required to include a brief resume or bio in addition to a brief written explanation as to why they would like to participate in the ASCAP Workshop.

Materials should be sent to:
ASCAP Foundation Lester Sill Songwriters Workshop
7920 Sunset Blvd./ 3rd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90046

All entries must be received by Friday, September 12th. Materials will not be returned. All applicants must include an email address and a telephone number. Only a limited number of applicants can be selected as participants.
Get more info here: http://ascap.com/press/2008/0709_lesterSill.aspx

A recipient of the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre Award, the Lehman Engel Musical Workshop consists of approximately 250 composers, lyricists and book writers who are actively writing new works for the musical theatre. The first year class is co-moderated by Workshop Artistic Coordinator Patrick Cook (Captains Courageous, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) and Workshop alumnus Frederick Freyer (Captains Courageous). Alumni include Tony Award winners Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez (Avenue Q), Edward Kleban (A Chorus Line), Maury Yeston (Titanic, Grand Hotel, Nine), Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors) and Michael John LaChiusa (Hello Again, Marie Christine, The Wild Party).
Get more info here: http://bmi.com/news/entry/536919

Top awards were handed out to:
Songwriter of the Year: Timbaland
Publisher of the Year: EMI Music Publishing
Ringtone of the Year: “This is Why I’m Hot”
R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year: “Lost Without U”
Rap Song of the Year: “Make Me Better”
Gospel Song of the Year: “Blessed & Highly Favored”
Get the full story here: http://ascap.com/press/2008/0624_rhythmsoulawards.aspx

Thursday night (June 19), in a posh but understated banquet room at the Marriott Marquis hotel in the heart of Times Square, upwards of a thousand guests—mostly music-biz invitees—gathered to witness the honors. Those being feted came from wildly disparate ends of the musical spectrum, from Broadway to alt-rock, but the little lady who brought the house down was, in the words of Hal David, “the pride of Butcher Holler, Kentucky”—Loretta Lynn.

After the crowd had spent over two hours taking in bravura performances from one musical legend after another, it seemed like nothing could take them by surprise, but they hadn’t yet been introduced to the Coal Miner’s Daughter. Lee Ann Womack started off the segment, stepping onto the stage with her flowing white dress and platinum locks like a honky-tonk angel whose mission of the moment was to spread the gospel according to Loretta. She delivered the message in a note-perfect rendition of Lynn’s 1966 smash, “You Ain’t Woman Enough.” Womack’s voice rang out sweet and clear on the classic tough-gal anthem, but there was no way it could prepare the audience for what was to come.

After her performance, Womack stepped to the dais to deliver an introduction extolling Lynn as a feminist force in country music and an artist who wrote about the realities women faced across the nation in such songs as “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)” and “The Pill.” She went on to underscore Lynn’s continued relevance today, pointing to her successful 2004 collaboration with the White Stripes’ Jack White on the Van Lear Rose album. In case anyone needed further convincing, Womack tallied up the honky-tonk heroine’s string of hit songs and No. 1 singles and albums. At this point, the lady in question appeared on the stage, resplendent in a long, light-blue, spangle-bedecked dress with puffed shoulders, looking like the proverbial cat that ate the canary. She admitted that she’d had her fill of awards shows, but when she heard this one was centered around songwriting, she was eager to attend, observing that the honor meant “more to me than any award I’ve ever gotten for singing.”

An anticipatory roar from the audience filled the room as Lynn headed toward the center-stage microphone. Within a few seconds, the jaws of nearly every member of the seen-it-all crowd plunged downward in joyous disbelief, for the voice that emanated from this 74-year-old country music veteran was virtually indistinguishable from that heard on her epochal ‘60s hits, other than the fact that it was charged at that moment with perhaps even more verve and emotion as she launched into the autobiographical “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” With no prodding from the stage, the audience spontaneously began clapping along, turning the august event into a down-home hoedown as Lynn sang of her modest upbringing and country-girl pride. The enraptured attendees immediately jumped to their feet the instant she finished, their enthusiasm ringing out clearly.

The beaming singer turned to leave, but the crowd, which hadn’t responded so vigorously to anything else during the long evening, proved unstoppable in its effort to return her to the stage. She amiably agreed to an off-the-cuff encore, and it quickly became evident that this happenstance had not been on anyone’s agenda. After a quick consultation with the house band about the proper key, she kicked off “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’” as the musicians nervously looked at each other, frantically trying to pick up the chord changes as they went along. Ultimately, the seasoned pros got just enough of a handle on the tune to offer a sparse, tentative accompaniment, but they might just as easily have been pumping it out at full power as Lynn, undaunted as ever, belted out the tune with the same spirit and vocal agility she’d brought to the previous song. Any dynamic gap between her assertive delivery and the band’s uneasy backup was quickly filled in as the crowd began clapping happily along once again, reluctantly letting Lynn exit the stage after she reached the end of the tune.

She may have run away with the evening, but Lynn wasn’t the only memorable country artist on the bill. Blake Shelton was on hand for a tribute to songwriter Albert Hammond, who is responsible for such songs as “It Never Rains in Southern California” and the Hollies’ “The Air That I Breathe.” The towering Shelton ambled out onto the stage to grace the crowd with his rendition of the Hammond-penned “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before,” a hit for Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias in 1984. Shelton’s performance de-emphasized the pop production aspects of the ubiquitous tune and wound up quite a bit more country-sounding than the original. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Shelton brought his own distinctive twangy croon to bear, imparting the song with genuine emotion.

Speaking of country-pop crossovers, Anne Murray, the original queen of that particular kingdom, was in attendance to receive the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award, an honor named after one of the co-founders of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In introducing the Canadian-born singer, songwriter Randy Goodrum smilingly confessed that his favorite Murray recording was his own “You Needed Me.” He also shared an anecdote about John Lennon telling the singer that her version of the Beatles’ “You Won’t See Me” was his favorite. Unlike Lynn, Murray was unable to totally reproduce the vocal majesty of her glory days, but her performance of Goodrum’s aforementioned composition made up in feeling for anything it lacked in technical perfection.

Country admirers would likely be conversant with the work of an honoree from the pop-rock end of the spectrum, too. John Sebastian, famed for the ‘60s folk-rock gems he crafted with the Lovin’ Spoonful, penned an unintentional country standard with “Nashville Cats,” and his “Darlin’ Companion” was once covered by none other than Johnny Cash and June Carter. A Spoonful classic, “Do You Believe in Magic,” was delivered by adolescent pop sensations the Naked Brothers Band, with Sebastian adding autoharp, before the songwriter was joined by original Spoonful bassist Steve Boone for “Lovin’ You” and “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice.”

During the course of the nearly three-hour-long festivities, a wealth of singers, songwriters and styles were represented onstage. Hit doctor Desmond Child delivered a medley of tunes he has penned for everyone from Ricky Martin to presenter Joan Jett. Paul Anka unabashedly undertook a “duet” with the recorded voice of Frank Sinatra on Anka’s “My Way” (admittedly the night’s nadir). Show tune shaman Alan Menken sat at a piano and picked out his Disney hits from the likes of The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. But for all the diversity on display, it seems unlikely that anyone in attendance could have left the event holding anything closer to their heart than the memory of the irrepressible force of nature that is Loretta Lynn.

Reeve Carney (ASCAP)
Galia Arad (SGA)
Shelly Bhushan (SHOF)
Watt White (BMI)
Linda Kiraly (SESAC)

Where: THE BITTER END
147 Bleecker Street (between Thompson and LaGuardia)
New York City, NY 10012
(212) 673-7030

*** NO ADMISSION CHARGE ***
Two Drink Table Minimum

For more information, please e-mail Peter Bliss or call 212-957-9230. 

Ticket Information:
Tickets for the Songwriters Hall of Fame event begin at $1000 each, and are
available through Buckley Hall Events, (212) 573-6933. Net proceeds
from the event will go towards the Songwriters Hall of Fame programs.

Reeve Carney (ASCAP)
Galia Arad (SGA)
Shelly Bhushan (SHOF)
Watt White (BMI)
Linda Kiraly (SESAC)

Where: THE BITTER END
147 Bleecker Street (between Thompson and LaGuardia)
New York City, NY 10012
(212) 673-7030

*** NO ADMISSION CHARGE ***
Two Drink Table Minimum

For more information, please e-mail Peter Bliss or call 212-957-9230. 

1. Get VIP tickets to meet Tony Bennett after he performs in Atlantic City. 
2. Bid on an opportunity for a personal song appraisal meeting with the legendary Clive Davis as he listens to up to five of your songs. 
3. Get VIP tickets to meet stars including Jordin Sparks, Carrie Underwood or Gavin DeGraw after they perform live. 
4. Bid on a collection of signed rare guitars from SongHall supporters including Sting, Sheryl Crow, Dolly Parton, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Paul McCartney, James Taylor, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Queen. 
5. Bid on a voicemail recording from Isaac Hayes. 
6. Bid on front row seats to see Elton John.

New items and entries from Carole King, Ellen DeGeneres, Neil Diamond, Yoko Ono and many other long time supporters of the SongHall are being added daily to the most important online musical auction of the season.  Visit charitybuzz.com today, before the rest of the world beats you to that special must-have item! 

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED INDUCTEES INCLUDE DESMOND CHILD, ALBERT HAMMOND, LORETTA LYNN, ALAN MENKEN AND JOHN SEBASTIAN

New York, N.Y. – June 4, 2008 – Natasha Bedingfield; Joan Jett; John Legend; Naked Brothers; Tom Paxton; Tim Rice; Irwin Robinson; Rouge: Maria Vidal; Diana Grasselli & Myriam Vaille; Blake Shelton; Yankee sportscaster John Sterling; former Yankee and musician Bernie Williams; Lee Ann Womack, Irving Burgie and Madi Diaz are the first artists to sign on as presenters and/or performers at this year’s 2008 Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) gala on Thursday, June 19 at New York’s Marriott Marquis Hotel. Albert Hammond, a lifelong resident of Gibraltar, will be inducted by the Chief Minister, the Honorable Peter Caruana, QC. The event, once again produced by Phil Ramone, begins with cocktails at 6pm, dinner is at 7pm and the show begins at 8:30pm.

Hal David, Chairman/CEO of SHOF, today announced that Milt Okun will receive the Abe Olman Publisher Award at the 2008 Awards dinner.

Founder of Cherry Lane Music in 1959, Milt Okun’s impressive credits include experience as a musician, teacher, conductor, arranger, producer, publishing executive and author. Well known for his work with legendary artists the Chad Mitchell Trio, Peter, Paul and Mary, John Denver, Plácido Domingo, Harry Belafonte, Starland Vocal Band, Tom Paxton, Laura Nyro and The Brothers Four, Okun started out as a junior high school music teacher in the New York City public schools, eventually becoming one of the most successful record producers in the US, with scores of gold and platinum records to his credit.

Under Okun’s leadership, Cherry Lane has become one of the world’s leading independent music publishers, with a current roster of songwriters and composers including The Black Eyed Peas, Will.I.am, John Legend, Quincy Jones, Wolfmother, Mick Mars, West Indian Girl, Ashford & Simpson, Hans Zimmer, Toby Gad, Meleni Smith, Ralph Macdonald and William Salter ("Just the Two Of Us"), Julie Gold ("From a Distance"), William Eaton ("Calypso Breakdown"), Tom Paxton, Irving Burgie ("Day-O"), Maury Yeston ("Titanic - The Musical"), Leslie Bricusse ("Jekyll & Hyde - The Musical") and the classic catalogues of John Denver and Elvis Presley.

Okun, a strong believer in the power of music in the classroom, has created Music Alive!, a not-for-profit publication using music to inspire a passion for learning among American teenagers.

“Milt Okun has long been immensely respected, not only as a music publishing pioneer, but for his hands-on approach with regard to numerous celebrated songwriters’ careers. In addition, he is well known for his behind-the-scenes generosity in support of music industry charities that are directly impacting future generations,” commented Chairman/CEO Hal David. “His philanthropy extends beyond the industry, and we are pleased to honor him with our prestigious Abe Olman Publisher Award.”

The Abe Olman Publisher Award, named after one of the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s esteemed founders, goes to music publishers who have had a substantial number of songs that have become world-renowned and have furthered the careers and successes of many songwriters.  Recent Abe Olman Publisher Awardees have included Martin Bandier, Les Bider, Nicholas Firth, Ed Murphy, Beebe Bourne and Ralph Peer, among others.

Inductees at this year’s event include Desmond Child, Albert Hammond, Loretta Lynn, Alan Menken and John Sebastian. Paul Anka will receive the Johnny Mercer Award, Anne Murray will receive the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award and John Rzeznik will receive the Hal David Starlight Award. “Take Me Out to The Ball Game” will receive the Towering Song Award.

“Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was submitted to the Office of Copyright one hundred years ago by composer Albert von Tilzer and lyricist Jack Norworth. This musical work, affectionately referred to over the past century as the “other” national anthem, has become the grand slam of all baseball songs. It has been ranked in survey polls as one of the top ten songs of the Twentieth Century and is second only to “Happy Birthday” and “The Star Spangled Banner” as the one of the most easily recognized songs in America. Legend has it that Jack Norworth was inspired to write the lyrics to the song by a sign he saw while riding a subway train that said “Baseball Today –Polo Grounds,” and his words were set to music by Albert Von Tilzer. Interestingly, neither Norworth nor Von Tilzer had ever attended a baseball game before writing the song. “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” was first sung by Norworth’s wife, singer Nora Bayes, and popularized by various vaudeville acts. The simplicity and straightforwardness of the words, shrewdly crafted so as not to name or favor any one team, coupled with Von Tilzer’s waltz-like rhythms and unforgettable melody have ensured the success of this classic song. With the sale of so many records, music sheets and piano rolls, it became one of the most popular hits of 1908. The Haydn Quartet singing group, led by tenor Harry Macdonough, recorded the definitive popular hit rendition for Victor Records. This year, the Songwriters Hall of Fame will recognize the centennial anniversary and the significance of one of the most beloved songs of our time, with an assist from The Baseball Hall of Fame.  This summer, “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” will be further honored with its own first-class U.S. postage stamp.

The Towering Song Award is presented each year to the creators of an individual song that has influenced our culture in a unique way over many years. Previous Towering Songs have included “Unchained Melody,” “When The Saints Go Marching In,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” “What The World Needs Now Is Love” and “Fly Me to the Moon.”

Inductees at this year’s event include Desmond Child, Albert Hammond, Loretta Lynn, Alan Menken and John Sebastian. Paul Anka will receive the Johnny Mercer Award, Anne Murray will receive the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award and John Rzeznik will receive the Hal David Starlight Award.

At this time, when so many forces are seeking to diminish copyright protections and devalue artistic expression, this Bill of Rights for Songwriters and Composers looks to clarify the entitlements that every music creator enjoys.
Get the full story here: http://www.ascap.com/rights/billText.aspx

Now named after one of SHOF’s distinguished founders, this award is specifically tailored for artists or “star makers” in the music industry who have been responsible for a substantial number of hit songs for an extended period of time. Examples of previous Hitmaker Award recipients include Clive Davis, Garth Brooks, Chuck Berry, Whitney Houston, Michael Bolton, Gloria Estefan and Diana Ross.

For over forty years, Anne Murray’s unique voice and heartwarming style have made her a household name. Known as Canada’s “Songbird,” Murray led the way for a generation of Canadian divas, who have also conquered the world; Celine Dion, Shania Twain, k.d. lang, Alanis Morissette and Sarah McLachlan. Over the years, Anne’s recordings have seldom been off the charts. She has sold close to fifty million albums and has won countless awards.

Further proving that Anne’s hits have stood the test of time, she is currently touring in support of her 35th and latest album, Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends, produced by the legendary Phil Ramone.

It all began with “Snowbird,” Murray’s first hit, which went on to become one of North America’s most played songs of 1970, garnering the first American gold record in history to be awarded to a solo Canadian female artist. When John Lennon knocked on her dressing room door at the 1974 Grammy Awards, it was to tell Anne that her hit, “You Won’t See Me”, was his favorite cover version of a Beatles song.

Anne recorded 24 studio albums between 1970 and 1988.  In 1978, she delivered her biggest hit ever, “You Needed Me,” which led to her second Grammy. She is the proud recipient of four Grammys, three American Music Awards, three Country Music Association Awards, three Canadian Country Music Association Awards and twenty-four Juno Awards. Anne has also been honored with the Legacy Award from the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2006), the East Coast Music Association Directors’ Special Achievement Award (2001), induction into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame (2002), induction into the Juno Hall of Fame (1993), and she has her own Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1999, Murray released What A Wonderful World, an inspirational album which went platinum in both Canada and the United States. In 2002, Anne recorded and released her 32nd studio album Country Croonin’, which went platinum in Canada.

Murray founded The Anne Murray Centre in 1989, a non-profit association in her hometown of Springhill that had closed its coal mines and fallen on hard economic times. All revenue generated from its operation is used to provide employment for local people and for ongoing maintenance. It has successfully fostered tourism in the area and has promoted awareness of the music of Nova Scotia and Canada.

“For the first presentation of our newly renamed Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award, we feel that Anne Murray is the perfect choice,” commented Chairman Hal David. “She is one of the best examples of the true marriage of song and singer, and all of us at the Songwriters Hall of Fame look forward to applauding her unique artistry.”

Inductees at this year’s event include Desmond Child, Albert Hammond, Loretta Lynn, Alan Menken and John Sebastian.

Ticket Information:

Tickets for the Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala begin at $1000 each, and are available through Buckley Hall Events, (212) 573-6933. Net proceeds from the event support the Songwriters Hall of Fame programs.