Top 10 Reasons ASCAP Members Ruled in 2014

By Erik Philbrook, Editor in Chief, Playback Magazine

From topping an incredible number of Billboard charts to urging Congress to update the music licensing system, from creating songs the world listened to more than ever to celebrating ASCAP’s landmark centennial, ASCAP members ruled in 2014. Because...

1. They dominated Billboard’s Year-End Song Charts

ASCAP songwriters and composers wrote the blockbuster hits that took the #1 spot on 26 of the magazine’s Year-End song charts.
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2. They nabbed the lion’s share of this year’s Grammy noms

Beyoncé earned six noms, and Iggy Azalea, Beck, Drake, Gordon Goodwin, Jay Z, Sia and Usher received four noms a piece. And that’s just for starters...
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3. The critics all agree – ASCAP music was the best-loved in 2014

We already know from the Grammy nominations that the industry fell hard for ASCAP music this year. As the “Best of the Year” lists pour in from music critics, blogs and magazines, it seems the critics feel the same way.
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4. When it comes to music advocacy, they not only talk the talk, they walk the walk…in the halls of Congress

An incredible group of songwriters walked the halls of Congress in May to garner support for the Songwriter Equity Act, including Paul Williams, Randy Newman, Josh Kear, Valerie Simpson, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Jon Batiste, Narada Michael Walden, Barry Eastmond, Sheléa and many others.
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5. ASCAP’s President, songwriter Paul Williams, proves you can never stop growing and creating, winning a Grammy at the age of 73

In January, ASCAP President Paul Williams earned an Album of the Year Grammy for his work on Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories.
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6. A diverse group of songwriters and composers shared what it means to be a music creator and created a powerful short film Why We Create Music to celebrate ASCAP’s 100th

Aloe Blacc, Claudia Brant, Carter Burwell, Amy Grant, Josh Kear, Savan Kotecha, David Lang, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum, Bear McCreary, Ne-Yo, Stargate’s Tor Hermansen & Mikkel Eriksen, Dan Wilson and Bill Withers collaborated on a short film and score and delivered a message that resonated with tens of thousands of people.
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7. A major snowstorm couldn’t stop our members from celebrating on ASCAP’s’s official 100th birthday at Brooklyn Bowl in New York City

With Questlove as DJ, and a special proclamation by NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio marking February 13th, 2014 as “ASCAP Day” in the city adorning the wall, ASCAP songwriters, composers, music publishers and other music industry reps braved a winter storm and came out in full force to celebrate ASCAP’s milestone 100th.
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8. Members Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Garth Brooks, Joan Baez and Stephen Sondheim are legends worthy of their ASCAP Centennial Awards

In November, ASCAP’s once-in-a-lifetime Centennial Awards honored five ASCAP music greats whose collective impact on the world is immeasurable. The star-studded event was a fundraiser for The ASCAP Foundation, whose music education, talent development and humanitarian programs make the world a better place.
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9. Our members’ music is so popular around the world, we transformed the way they are paid and won an award for innovative technology

The success of ASCAP members’ works globally, combined with the growth of digital delivery, is a sea change in music. Fortunately, ASCAP anticipated this and developed a new system that quickly and accurately pays members for their radio and internet performances (expected to top 500 billion performances this year). Our work led to winning an award for the “highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology.”
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10. ASCAP music has driven the music industry for 100 years with heart, soul and creativity

Our timeline spanning 100 years of ASCAP music and history is a powerful reminder of the impact of collective licensing on both the American culture and the economy - a benefit even more important today.
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And one more for good measure!

11. Let’s face it, the sound of the holidays this year (and every year) is the sound of ASCAP music!

This year being ASCAP’s 100th Anniversary, we thought we’d take a look at the top ASCAP holiday songs of all time. Lo and behold! Each song on this list of 30 is a monumental classic written by an ASCAP member. Happy Holidays!

ASCAP Music Expo in Los Angeles - April 30 - May 2, 2015

APR 30 - MAY 2, 2015  LOS ANGELES

THE MUSIC CREATORS' CONFERENCE REGISTER NOW    It's holiday season and we wanted to pass along a holiday gift to you! Enter promo code DECEMBER when registering and you will receive $20.14 off the price at any point during the rest of the month. Also remember that the Deep Discount price ends on January 15th, 2015. Register now and save!     Give the Gift of EXPO... to Yourself or to a Friend   If music is your career, which we're sure it is, then the ASCAP EXPO could be tax deductible* on your 2014 taxes. It's a business expense possibly. Register before the end of the year to take advantage of that potential tax deduction! (*Be sure to consult your tax advisor.)       Read More             EXPO One-on-One Sessions     One-on-One Sessions, which have sold out early each year, provide attendees an opportunity to meet with a songwriter/composer, music publisher, online marketing executive, record company executive, Film/TV music executive, music attorney or ASCAP executive.       Read More             EXPO Feedback Panel Submission     The EXPO Feedback Panels give attendees a unique opportunity to receive honest feedback and advice on their music by successful music creators and industry in front of their peers. These multiple panels across different genres have been a staple at the EXPO each year.       Read More             Enter promo code DECEMBER when registering and you will receive $20.14off the price at any point during the rest of the month.     EXPO iStandard Producer and Rapper Showcase Submissions     The ASCAP EXPO iStandard Producer and Rapper Showcase is for rappers and producers in Hip-Hop, Pop, R&B and Dance. Submissions are open to get in the spotlight in front of a panel of prominent music industry tastemakers.       Read More             About ASCAP EXPO     The ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO puts you face-to-face with some of the world's most successful songwriters, composers, producers and music business leaders, all who willingly share their knowledge and expertise and give you the know-how to take your music to the next level.       Read More           Be a part of the premiere conference for songwriters, composers and publishers. REGISTER NOW   @ascapexpo    /ascapexpo © 2014, 1900 Broadway, New York, NY  10023 Newsletter Preference Center    RSS    Unsubscribe    Terms Of Use

ASCAP Inside Music

DEC 2014

NEWS   ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento to Retire; Transformed ASCAP Into World’s Leading Rights Organization   ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento has announced his decision to retire as of January 1st. He has served the members of ASCAP since 1981, when he first joined as Controller, then served as CFO, COO and EVP, before being named CEO in 1997. As CEO, LoFrumento helped ASCAP develop one of the most sophisticated technology platforms for performance tracking and royalty distributions across all media. At the same time, ASCAP's membership and distributions grew exponentially under LoFrumento's leadership. When he became CEO in 1997, ASCAP had 70,000 members and distributions totaling $417 million. In 2014 ASCAP reached 520,000 members, with distributions expected to exceed $875 million. LoFrumento, Katy Perry and ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams at the 2012 ASCAP Pop Music Awards “I was always a driven, numbers-crunching guy who loved a good challenge," said LoFrumento. "So when I became CEO in 1997, I embraced the goal of transforming ASCAP into a new kind of organization that would be ready to meet the demands of the 21st century, and I am so proud of what we have achieved. I never expected that protecting, supporting and growing the livelihoods of so many great music creators would become my life’s calling. I’m so glad it did. Serving ASCAP’s songwriters, composers and publishers has been a privilege beyond my wildest dreams. I learned early on that before music reaches millions of listeners through radio, TV, the corner bar or a football stadium, and today through billions of streams across the internet, it must be written by passionate, committed and talented people – you. Working for you, sharing the joy of your achievements and fighting alongside you for fair compensation, has been an experience and an honor of a lifetime. One I will never forget. Fortunately, I am able to retire with tremendous confidence in ASCAP’s future, knowing that the Board’s search for a new CEO is well underway.” LoFrumento with Josh Kear, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and ASCAP Board members Dan Foliart and Leeds Levy in DC on “Stand with Songwriters” Advocacy Day this year LoFrumento’s tenure at the helm of ASCAP includes many firsts within the music industry: The creation and growth of MusicPro Insurance, the first and only affordable insurance agency for music professionals The development of the ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO, the first and only national conference with a 100% focus on music creation The first royalty payments for performances of music on the internet The first to call for updates to the PROs' decades-old Consent Decrees with the US Department of Justice, to reflect the way people consume music in the digital age “Under John’s leadership, ASCAP’s innovations and embrace of new technologies have shaped the evolution of performing rights worldwide,” said ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams. “John is an extraordinary advocate for music creators, and his accomplishments and vision will have a lasting impact on the music industry for years to come.” Read LoFrumento's memo to the ASCAP staff here.

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ASCAP Inside Music

DEC 2014

NEWS CBS covers ASCAP's Legacy of Protecting Songwriters     On November 22nd, CBS This Morning turned the spotlight on ASCAP at 100. In the piece, anchor Anthony Mason reports on our recent Centennial Awards, and walks the halls of our New York office, where ASCAP President Paul Williams shows him Harold Arlen's piano - the one he used to write "Over the Rainbow." Watch the full CBS This Morning piece here.       Read More             ASCAP "I CREATE MUSIC" EXPO ASCAP EXPO Deep Discount Pricing Saves You Money     From December 1st through January 15th, ASCAP EXPO Deep Discount pricing offers a low price and access to special opportunities like the One-on-One Sessions. Boost your music career this April in LA!       Read More             ASCAP Unwraps the Top 30 Holiday Songs of the Century   ASCAP is extending its 100th birthday celebration into the holiday season by revealing the top 30 holiday songs of all time - the evergreen hits that have accompanied more family get-togethers and wintertime shopping trips than any others. Topping the list is “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” written by ASCAP members Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie.       Read More             PLAYBACK New ASCAP Members: Maddie & Tae     The Nashville duo made waves this year with their #1 hit, “Girl in a Country Song,” and became the first female duo since 2006 to have a debut single at the top of the charts.       Read More             "WE CREATE MUSIC" BLOG Master Ableton Live with Point Blank Music School     Technology has offered hundreds of new ways for songwriters to get their ideas down and express themselves. With Point Blank Music School, you can learn how to take your creativity to new heights using Ableton Live.       Read More             NEWS ASCAP Members Honored with Grammy Nominations     Nominations for the 57th annual Grammy Awards were announced on December 5th. Song of the Year nominations went to Kevin Kadish and Meghan Trainor ("All About That Bass"), Sia and Jesse Shatkin ("Chandelier") and Max Martin and Shellback ("Shake It Off").       Read More             MEMBER BENEFITS Get a Berklee Online Degree with ASCAP Discount     Berklee Online, the award-winning online school of Berklee College of Music, now offers Bachelor of Professional Studies online degree programs in 5 majors, including Music Production, Music Business, Interdisciplinary Music Studies (Create Your Own Major), and more. ASCAP members are entitled to an exclusive discount on Berklee's online courses and certificate programs. The next term begins January 12th, 2015.       Read More             What You Missed in The Daily Brief Top stories from the ASCAP Daily Brief, our daily music and technology news bulletin, compiled by songwriter and ASCAP Board member Dean Kay. Aimee Mann: Roots of a Songwriter By Scott Timberg -- One of our great singer-songwriters shares the skills she learned from Dylan, the Beatles and Neil Young. Maybe Lars Ulrich Was Right… By Paul Resnikoff -- From an interview with Lars Ulrich on Charlie Rose in 2000, shortly after Metallica initiated legal action against Napster. VIDEO: How The Music Industry Uses Big Data To Create The Next Big Hit PBS News Hour -- Is big data killing good music? As part of a collaboration between The Atlantic and PBS News Hour, Judy Woodruff speaks with Derek Thompson, whose piece in this month’s magazine featured how data collected by Shazam and other music apps is not just predicting the next hit but influencing today’s music as well.       Subscribe