The 11th Annual ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO is perhaps the music industry's best showing of how artistry and effort pays off, and many of the biggest names in music will be featured at the upcoming event. Last week, ASCAP announced that multi-platinum super-producer Timbaland will be a featured speaker at this year's event, which is scheduled to take place April 28-30 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles. Previously announced keynote speakers include Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley, songwriter OMI ("Cheerleader"), Grammy-winning songwriter Dan Wilson (Dixie Chicks, "Not Ready to Make Nice"), Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas, fun.'s Nate Ruess, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Greg Kurstin (songwriter-producer behind Adele's "Hello" and Sia's "Chandelier"), and many more.
ASCAP's "I Create Music" EXPO is the one of the largest conferences for songwriters, composers, artists and producers in all music genres. With the biggest artists in the world represented each year at the conference and various panels, workshops, and master classes offered, the EXPO provides the most obvious example of how success is bred in the music industry.
This year, the representation of Adele at the EXPO is arguably the largest example of hard work paying off, as Greg Kurstin (songwriter-producer for "Hello") and Ariel Rechtshaid (producer for Adele's "When We Were Young") will both be featured at the event. Since she released her album 25 last November, Adele has gone on to have one of the biggest years in music, possibly of all time. 25 was the top-selling album of 2015, and has sold more than 8.3 million copies in the United States since its release, smashing countless records along the way.
The addition of Timbaland to the EXPO adds an additional layer of music industry success. Timbaland has produced material for the biggest artists in the world, including Beyoncé ("Drunk in Love"). Justin Timberlake ("Pusher Love Girl"), as well as other artists like Drake, Usher, Jay Z, Nas, Eminem, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Nelly Furtado and Kanye West. Like Adele, Beyonce will spend her summer on the road supporting her Formation World Tour, which is also posting massive resale ticket demand on the secondary market.
Participants can register for the conference directly through the ASCAP site. Until March 31, ASCAP member pricing is $375, Partner Member pricing is $400, and Non-Member pricing is $425. Previous keynote speakers include Justin Timberlake, Tom Petty, John Mayer, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Carly Simon, Sara Bareilles, and more.