“Write Your Story…Write Your Truth” was one of the slogans at this year’s “I Create Music” Expo, the annual gathering for songwriters hosted by ASCAP this past weekend in Hollywood. It was indeed a common thread throughout the weekend, from inspirational “you will succeed in your craft” career advice straight from the mouths of esteemed performers, producers and industry executives, to aspiring artists networking and creating music on the spot with newfound collaborators, to music manufacturers offering the tools to make those dreams happen. Though there is an air of “dream big and you’ll make it”- with variations on the “one day I was singing on the street and the next I was working with a major recording artist” storyline- the Expo is in fact a wealth of knowledge across all aspects of the industry for those paying attention and not just dreaming. The annual Hollywood conference has become a ‘clear my schedule’ pilgrimage for many music creators seeking their path and place in today’s music world, and a buzz event for newbies who have heard of its many offerings.
