ASCAP has added a new wave of panelists focused on mentorship to its 2019 "I Create Music" EXPO, including Wyclef Jean, Troye Sivan collaborator Lelandand veteran songwriter Desmond Child.
While Jean will be on hand to perform and share his experiences as a member of groundbreaking hip-hop trio Fugees, singer and songwriter Leland, who has also worked with the likes of Selena Gomez and Daya, will lead a cross-genre roundtable on songwriting. Child, the Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee behind hits like Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" and Aerosmith's "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)," will host an intimate master class with a hand-picked group of aspiring songwriters.
Also on the songwriting front, fellow Songwriters Hall of Fame member Jack Tempchin will perform major co-writes like The Eagles’ “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and “Already Gone” at the EXPO “Center Stage” Showcase.
Composers Joel Beckerman (behind the Super Bowl and CBS This Morning theme songs) and David Vanacore (Survivor, Big Brother) will share knowledge and advice on landing film and TV music deals. And at this year's EXPO, taking place May 2 through 4 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, music creators are invited to receive feedback on their original music from mentors like Norwegian singer-ongwriter Sondre Lerche.
The newly-added speakers join an impressive roster, which includes already-announced panelists Lee Ann Womack and Oscar-winning “Shallow” co-writer Anthony Rossomando at the annual “We Create Music” panel, and an “Ariana Grande's Songwriting Dream Team” panel featuring collaborators Victoria Monét, Tommy Brown and Charles "Scootie" Anderson and moderated by video director Hannah Lux Davis (“7 rings,” “thank u, next”).
