2024 Workshops to Be Announced

2023 Workshops 

SONGWRITING DYNAMICS: ACCOMPLISHED SONGWRITERS ANSWER THE CRITICAL QUESTIONS
10:00 – 10:50 AM. AUDITORIUM
Arizona Songwriters Association co-founder Jon Iger, producers Les Scott and Jeff Dayton, and accomplished members Randy Brown and Rhonda Hitchcock-Mast will offer a panel discussion on the basics of writing songs and lyrics. They will also share some resources available to help writers further their quest for writing great songs. Bring your questions! 
​A HISTORY OF THE ROCKABILLY & EARLY COUNTRY MUSIC SCENE IN ARIZONA
10:00 – 10:50 AM. LARGE MEETING ROOM
Author and radio celebrity Jim West will discuss the songwriters and performers who made it BIG starting their careers in Arizona. 
FERVOR RECORDS TOP EXECUTIVES Q & A SESSION
11:00 – 11:50 AM. AUDITORIUM
David Hilker and Jeff Freundlich will talk briefly about Fervor Records and licensing music. Then, they will turn the program over to you! Here is your chance to ask music executives your burning questions. 
​BASICS OF RECORDING WITH A DITIGAL AUDIO WORKSTATION
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. LARGE MEETING ROOM
Producer and highly skilled studio engineer John Keenan will discuss getting started with recording using a digital audio workstation (DAW). He will show some of the possibilities of today's best recording tools and share a few advanced tips.
​MUSIC COPYRIGHT 101
12:00 – 12:50 PM. AUDITORIUM
Experts from the U.S. Copyright Office in Washington, D.C., Holland Gormley and John Riley, will be here to explain the difference between copyright and copyright registration, the difference between a sound recording and musical work and the different forms for each (eCO). They will discuss resources available on their website for the music community (Circulars), as well as how to get paid, where to go for royalties, and the importance of laws like the Music Modernization Act.
​WRITING FOR YOURSELF AS A PERFORMING SONGWRITER
12:15 – 1:00 PM. LARGE MEETING ROOM
Performing songwriters are always on the hunt for the perfect gig – where they can play their original songs for an attentive audience. In this workshop, Eric Douglas shares experiences from 25 years of performing in coffeehouses, bars, and music festivals.
​THE ASU SONGWRITING & PRODUCTION PROGRAM – WHAT IT OFFERS
1:00 – 1:50 PM. AUDITORIUM
Erin Barra, Director of Popular Music at Arizona State University, will provide information on the Songwriting and Production Program at ASU, as well as discussing songwriting, prosody and technology. 
​SONG CRITIQUE SESSION
1:15 – 3:00 PM. LARGE MEETING ROOM
Publisher/producer Les Scott and songwriter Randy Brown will offer positive, constructive feedback on your songs. Bring your song, preferably on phone or CD, or perform live. Lyric sheets are mandatory (bring two copies). Songs will be selected at random. 
​MUSIC COPYRIGHT WINS & LOSSES
2:00 – 3:30 PM. AUDITORIUM
Dr. E. Michael Harrington will present his work in recent music copyright infringement lawsuits involving Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Ed Sheeran, and Fifty Cent; the appeals to the Ninth Circuit involving Katy Perry & “Blurred Lines”; and the U.S. Supreme Court case involving Led Zeppelin. He will also discuss his work in preemptive/proactive copyright issues involving music in film, TV, advertising and games, as well as new issues involving co-writing, sampling, interpolation and mashups.
​NSAI – WHAT CAN IT DO FOR YOU?
3:15 – 3:45 PM. LARGE MEETING ROOM
Larry Vail & Dan Gutenkauf will offer information about the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriters trade association, and its benefits.