ASCAP, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, the only US PRO that operates on a not-for-profit basis, has announced the talent lineup for its 2024 Membership Meeting, scheduled for February 28 in New York City.
Featuring performances, panels and presentations aimed at bringing the ASCAP community together for inspiration, education and a report on ASCAP’s historic 2023 financial results, the day will kick off with a performance from Grammy-nominated progressive jazz duo DOMi & JD BECK. Confirmed to participate in the meeting are Songwriters Hall of Famer and forefather of the Atlanta music scene Jermaine Dupri (who will participate in a keynote conversation), #1 songwriter and producer Sam Hollander (“High Hopes”), pop-punk singer-songwriter Maggie Lindemann, ASCAP President & Chairman Paul Williams, ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews and many more. Full schedule and lineup below.
After the opening DOMi & JD BECK performance, Williams and Matthews will deliver ASCAP’s “state of the union” as the PRO celebrates 110 years of serving music creators. The two will offer an essential recap on ASCAP members’ remarkable 2023, including the organization’s record-breaking financial success. They will discuss what it means to be the only US PRO operating as a not-for-profit, how ASCAP is putting creators first to serve the greater good, and the latest on its advocacy on behalf of creators’ livelihoods in the age of AI. Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Stacey Ryan will perform to close out the session.
More than 30 years after his first smash, producer, entrepreneur and record executive Jermaine Dupri is still crafting incredible songs for R&B stars like Muni Long (“Made for Me”) and Ari Lennox (“Pressure”). In a keynote conversation, Dupri — fresh off his appearance as Usher’s hypeman during the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Performance — will reveal the decisions that have helped get him to where he is today, and what it takes to sustain a productive, inspired and successful career. He’ll also share anecdotes from his decades-long career, including co-writing and co-producing three singles for Usher’s diamond-certified album Confessions; co-writing, co-producing and winning a Grammy for Carey’s “We Belong Together;” releasing two solo albums, and amassing eleven #1 Billboard Hot 100 hits.
The second half of the day will turn to networking and educational sessions. “We Create Music,” a superpanel of ASCAP songwriters and composers at the top of the pop, film music and musical theater spheres, will feature Hollander, his fellow #1 songwriter-producer Gregg Wattenberg (Five for Fighting, OAR), Madison Love (Kings & Queens,” Ava Max; “Turbulence,” P!nk), Oscar-nominated film composer Carter Burwell (Carol, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, The Banshees of Inisherin), and playwright/lyricist and composer Michael R. Jackson (Tony and Pulitzer-winning A Strange Loop). In this discussion moderated by Variety Executive Editor, Music Jem Aswad, the panelists will talk about their approaches to storytelling and offer practical advice for navigating the ups and downs of the industry – from paying dues and setting goals, to overcoming obstacles and the politics of collaboration.
The program will close out with the “Writers Jam,” featuring some of today’s top writers across the genre spectrum performing their biggest hits live and telling the stories behind the songs. Participants include Liana Banks (Bebe Rexha, Saweetie, Queen Naija), Grammy-winning songwriter Claudia Brant (Camila Cabello, Carlos Santana), pop-rock juggernaut Maggie Lindemann (“Pretty Girl,” “hostage”), and Dove Award-winning gospel singer-songwriter and composer Blessing Offor (“Believe,” “Brighter Days”).
Read on for the full lineup and run of show.
ASCAP Membership Meeting Schedule
- 3:00 pm - ASCAP Membership Meeting
- Opening performance from DOMi & JD BECK
- Updates from Paul Williams, Elizabeth Matthews and ASCAP SVP Membership & ASCAP Foundation Executive Director Nicole George-Middleton
- Closing performance from Stacey Ryan
- 4:00 pm – 4:15 pm – Break
- 4:15 pm – 5:00 pm – “We Create Music” featuring Carter Burwell, Sam Hollander, Michael R. Jackson, Madison Love and Gregg Wattenberg
- 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm – KEYNOTE: The Confessions of Jermaine Dupri
- 5:45 pm – Break
- 6:00 pm – Writers Jam with Liana Banks, Claudia Brant, Maggie Lindemann and Blessing Offor
- 7:00 pm– 8:00 pm – Networking reception
The 2024 ASCAP Membership Meeting is currently at capacity. For more information, visit: www.ascap.com/meeting2024.
