ASCAP Academy Panel

Lawyers, producers and graphic designers gathered in Atlanta for an ASCAP/ Recording Academy panel that discussed alternative ways songwriters can get paid through new forms of technology. Pictured on the panel (l-r) are Java Kitty's Cedric Gore, Executive Director of Georgia Lawyers for the Arts Lisa M. Kincheloe, ASCAP's Ian Burke, JoeStage Productions' Joe Howell, Meta Music Entertainment's Khalfani and 225 Management's Natasha Brison. Also pictured (above right) is Burke with Kris Kross's Chris Kelly at the panel.

Living Video Archive

Lyricist Hy Zaret ("Unchained Melody") was the subject of a recent ASCAP Foundation Living Video Archive interview. The interview, which was made possible by the generosity of the Cain Foundation, took place at the Connecticut home of Mr. Zaret who will turn 96 this year. Pictured following the taping are (l-r) Shirley Zaret, Hy Zaret, ASCAP's Jim Steinblatt and The ASCAP Foundation's Colleen McDonough.

Music Educator's Fame Awards

Pictured at the National Association of Music Educator's Fame awards tribute to Charles Strouse in Washington, DC on March 6th are (l-r) ASCAP's Karen Sherry, Strouse's publisher Helene Blue (Helene Blue Musique Ltd.), Strouse, MENC President Willie Hill and Executive Director of The Elaine Kaufman Cultural Center Lydia Kontos. The Cultural Center was also honored for its contributions to music education in New York City as was ASCAP's JAM Program for its innovative approach to introducing ASCAP benefits to MENC honor students throughout the country.

Photo by Sylvan Johnson

Josh Ritter Presented with The ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Josh Ritter, who hails from Moscow, Idaho and whose debut album, The Golden Age of Radio, has gained him worldwide attention, was presented with The ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles on May 20th. Ritter was an audience favorite at ASCAP’s Sundance Music Café earlier this year (see page 28) and has been touring recently with Joan Baez who has recorded one of Ritter’s songs for her new album.

Sammy Cahn’s widow, Tita Cahn, presented Ritter with the award, which honors the life and work of Sammy Cahn, one of the most prolific and successful lyricists of our time. With the support of Tita Cahn, The ASCAP Foundation inaugurated the award for promising lyricists selected from participants from ASCAP’s songwriter workshops and showcases.

June 13th marks what would have been Cahn’s 90th birthday. Winner of four Academy Awards, President of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a long-time ASCAP Board member, Cahn was one of the most vocal advocates for songwriters. Josh Ritter is pictured accepting The ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award from Tita Cahn. Sammy Cahn is pictured in inset.

ASCAP Welcomes Swedish Invasion Bands

ASCAP hosted 10 of Sweden's hottest new music acts and their affiliates at a special lunch held recently as part of the Swedish Invasion, organized by Export Music Sweden in cooperation with the Consulate General of Sweden in New York, to help promote up and coming bands from Sweden here in the US.

The bands went on to perform in a showcase at the legendary rock club CBGB's in New York City, and then traveled to South by Southwest in Austin, Texas where they took to the stage at Maggie Mae's. From there, the entourage headed to Los Angeles for a two-day visit, ending their mini-tour with performances at the legendary Spaceland and the Troubadour.

The performing bands were Teenage Idols, Lambretta, Prime Sth, The $1000 Playboys, White Seeds, Pineforest Crunch, The Sounds, Marit Bergman, User, and The Mo.