ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams and Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Matthews Introduced Conversations with Grammy-winning Songwriter Chris DeStefano, more

NASHVILLE, Nov. 7, 2023 -- ASCAP, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, held a special Music City AI Symposium on Tuesday, November 7 at the Twelve Thirty Club to explore the topic of AI, what songwriters need to know about AI and how writers can use it to their advantage in the writers’ room. ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams, Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Matthews and Chief Digital and Strategy Officer Nick Lehman kicked off the morning with opening remarks on ASCAP’s dedication to protecting its members rights in the age of AI before the day moved into panel programming. “ASCAP has a long history of not only adapting to technological disruption, but helping our members thrive through it,” said Matthews.

The first panel, “Navigating AI: Evolving Legal and Policy Frameworks,” was moderated by Lehman and featured leading attorneys Kevin Madigan (Copyright Alliance), Emily Chapuis (Deputy General Counsel for the US copyright office), Dan Schnapp (Sheppard Mullin), Anna Gressel (Paul, Weiss), and Warner Music Group Chief Digital Officer Carletta Higginson. The conversation delved into the complex legal implications of AI, protecting creators' rights, and the evolving landscape of copyright policies. They urged a proactive approach to protecting one’s work in the AI age.

“The big question we are looking at is authorship,” said Chapuis. “Does it have to be created by a human author or is it from machines? It needs to be created by a human, not just generated by an AI system. We are looking for enough human input, enough human creation.”

The second session, "Melody, Lyrics & Algorithm: Music Creators in the Age of AI," featured AI-fluent music creators Curtiss King and Anna Vaus, who shared their experiences and insights into using AI as a tool to enhance their creative process. Grammy Award-winning #1 singer/songwriter and ASCAP Nashville member Chris DeStefano moderated the panel, and attendees were left inspired about the creative potential and benefits of AI.

“Creativity is the most important it's ever been,” said King. “Everyone you hear in the AI space is about the power in the prompt. My creativity has been more valuable than ever.” DeStefano elaborated, “It doesn’t replace a voice, it’s a tool. It will never replace your own personal voice.”

Both panels concluded with interactive Q&A sessions, where attendees got to ask ASCAP leaders and the panel speakers alike about their AI expertise. In the ever-evolving world of music, the event was a testament to ASCAP’s — and Music City’s — commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation in the music industry.

About ASCAP

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a membership association of more than 1.1 million songwriters, composers and music publishers, and represents some of the world’s most talented music creators. In 2022, ASCAP reported record-high financial results of $1.522 billion in revenues and $1.388 billion available in royalty distribution monies to its members. Over the last eight years, ASCAP has delivered a 6% compound annual growth rate for total revenues, and a 7% compound annual growth rate for total royalty distributions to members. Founded and governed by songwriters and composers, it is the only performing rights organization in the US that operates on a not-for-profit basis. ASCAP licenses a repertory of over 20 million musical works to hundreds of thousands of businesses that use music, including streaming services, cable television, radio and satellite radio and brick and mortar businesses such as retail stores, hotels, clubs, restaurants and bars. ASCAP collects the licensing fees; identifies, matches and processes trillions of performances every year; and returns nearly 90 cents of every dollar back to its members as royalties. The ASCAP license offers an efficient solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while respecting the right of songwriters and composers to be paid fairly. ASCAP puts music creators first, advocating for their rights and the value of music on Capitol Hill, driving innovation that moves the industry forward, building community and providing the resources and support that creators need to succeed in their careers.  Learn more and stay in touch at www.ascap.com, on Twitter and Instagram @ASCAP and on Facebook.

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CONTACT:

Cathy Nevins, ASCAP

cnevins (at) ascap.com