ASCAP Expo Final Day

The final day of ASCAP’s 13th annual “I Create Music” EXPO was a fitting culmination to three days of star-studded events and informative discussions on songwriter advocacy. Day Three began with ASCAP’s Annual Membership Meeting and continued with the EXPO’s keynote conversation, between pop icon Meghan Trainor and her chart-topping collaborator J Kash. A wide-ranging group of panels and performances took place in between.

Meghan Trainor’s return to EXPO brought an abundance of star power to the event’s final day. After first attending ASCAP EXPO in 2010 as a 16-year-old unsigned artist, the superstar appeared on stage with her frequent collaborator J Kash – the songwriter behind some of the past year’s biggest hits: Charlie Puth’s “We Don’t Talk Anymore,” Maroon 5’s “Don’t Wanna Know” and Jason Derulo’s “Swalla.”

ASCAP’s Annual Membership Meeting saw Paul Williams and Executive Vice President of Membership John Titta speak upon the organization’s incredible growth this year, the vast majority of which was channeled directly back to ASCAP songwriters. In a year that saw ASCAP members reach new heights with Diamond-selling hits like “Despacito” and a host of Grammy wins, the organization continued their fight on behalf of songwriters, composers and music publishers everywhere. Performances included Dave Bassett (Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” & Elle King’s “Ex’s & Oh’s”) and up-and-coming ASCAP member Sam DeRosa.

Dan Wilson was on hand to perform some of the modern day classics he’s penned from collaborations with Adele, Taylor Swift, the Dixie Chicks and more. The multi-time Grammy winner also shared personal advice to aspiring musicians, tips on navigating the songwriting process and a look into his popular tour and Instagram series “Words & Music.”

A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad and composer/producer Adrian Younge came together to discuss the soundtrack for the Emmy-winning Netflix series Luke Cage. The duo, who previously collaborated as producers on Kendrick Lamar’s Untitled Unmastered, discussed the unique challenges and opportunities that the medium of film/TV scoring presents.

Finally, as is tradition, Day Three wrapped up with the Writers Jam, featuring some of EXPO’s most beloved music creators performing and collaborating in a loose, celebratory environment. #1 country artist Cassadee Pope was joined by Grammy-winning producer Prince Charlez, multi-time chart-topping songwriter Andrea Martin, Ru Pauls Drag Race composer Leland and Kelly Clarkson-collaborator Amy Kuney.