Songwriters - Music Connection

Supervisor Liza Richardson (Hawaii Five-0,
Parenthood, Friday Night Lights).
The attendees range from Music City hit
writers to musical creators from the other
islands––hobbyists and beginners will not be
out of place.
For fans of Hawaiian music, the Saturday
night Pua Hana concert is a singular opportunity
to absorb the breadth of modern island music:
from ukulele sensation Jake Shimabukoro
to HAPA and Charles Michael Brotman. The
preceding night, Friday, Mainland hit writers
and performers share the stage at the Poalima
Concert. (Concert tickets are an additional $25
fee per show or $40 for both concerts.)
In addition to the Festival’s Gold Sponsor
County of Kauai and the Hawaii Tourism
Authority, this confab is generously supported
by BMI, and past participants have included
hit songwriters from that Performing
Right Organization’s ranks including Kris
Kristofferson, Kara DioGuardi (Christina
Aguilera, Carrie Underwood, Cobra Starship),
Bonnie McKee (Katy Perry, Taio Cruz, Leona
Lewis); and Evan Bogart (Beyonce, Jason
Derulo, Jennifer Lopez). Hit songwriter, author
and songwriting sage Jason Blume is also a
regular guest.
Flip-�ops, cut-off shorts and sunscreen––you
won’t feel underdressed on casual Kauii. The
schedule of the event allows for plentiful networking
and sightseeing opportunities on the Garden
Island. Evenings are �lled with well-orchestrated
open mics that �ow deep into the night.
At past events, the Kaui Music Festival
has been opened with a blessing chant from
a Hawaiian holy woman. KMF is paradise for
songwriters and a breathtaking destination of
unparalleled beauty. The event is scheduled
for July 10 -13, 2013. For BMI’s recap of
2011’s festival, see http://bmi.com/events/
entry/556566.
http://kauaimusicfestival.weebly.com
NSAI Tin Pan South/Spring
Training
NSAI’s annual Tin Pan South Songwriters
Festival, taking place in the incomparable song
town that is Nashville, TN, presents the greatest
songwriters in modern music in intimate
performances at a variety of venues. Last year’s
event kicked off with John Oates of Hall &
Oates performing an acoustic version of “She’s
Gone.” The educational element to the week is
the two-day “Spring Training.”
Spring Training has an appealingly casual
vibe: “Lunch with the Pros” features a roster
of Nashville hit makers sans panels or formal
lectures: just folks sitting down and eating
together. ole Music Publishing presented hit
writer Chris Wallin and Marty Dodson in a
session titled “Hitsville” where an attendee left
the session with a single song contract offered
by the company.
Indie artists are a focus of the information,
and Publisher Break-out Sessions afford a oneon-one
meeting with a publisher of choice and
a guaranteed opportunity to play one song with
the possibility of multiples should time afford.
The event is held at the Maxwell Millennium
House hotel, situated on the banks of the
picturesque Cumberland River. It’s a short
drive to Music Row, downtown, and other areas
(including the hipster hotbed of East Nashville,)
so you might need to rent a car, although the
hotel does have a shuttle service.
NSAI is Nashville Songwriters Association
42 November 2012 www.musicconnection.com
International, and its not just for country writers
exclusively, but the nightly shows are primarily
Americana, roots and country of any and all
varieties with artists like Josh Turner, Radney
Foster, Dierks Bentley and Jim Lauderdale
performing with the intimate song circles
featuring luminaries like Greg Barnhill, Jimmy
Webb and Jack Tempchin.
Tin Pan South is scheduled April 2 - 6, 2013,
with Spring Training on April 5 and 6th.
NSAI also presents Song Camp, in
late July, with close to 100 participants
gathering in Nashville for
educational lectures, intense
song critiques and performances.
http://tinpansouth.com
SESAC Bootcamp
At a price point of “Free” for
SESAC affiliates and a mere
$40 for non-affiliates (and this
includes breakfast and lunch!)
the one-day SESAC Bootcamp,
held at the Skirball Cultural
Center in Los Angeles, CA, is
certainly the least expensive of
the conferences. But its value is tremendous. It
happens in the summer, when participants can
enjoy a full day symposium devoted to offering
information on all aspects of the music industry
to artists, songwriters and producers.
Digital guru and music industry tastemaker
Ted Cohen was one of the forward thinking
guests at this past year’s event. Managers,
publicists and indie artists offered insights
on what it takes to build a career in the new
business model, using time-tested strategies
and new technology.
SESAC’s roster of songwriters and artists
includes Mumford & Sons, Bob Dylan and
Neil Diamond. The Society also reps many
of Hollywood’s most eminent composers and
songwriters for �lm and television, so there
is emphasis in this direction plus music for
advertising and games.
With writer-producers like Bryan Michael
Cox (Mariah Carey, Chris Brown, Mary J. Blige)
and Angela Hunte (“Empire State of Mind” by
Jay-Z and Alicia Keyes) on the roster, SESAC
is the organization of choice for eminent R&B
songwriters. The Bootcamp is host to creators
of urban music, so writers and artists working in
hip-hop and R&B will be in excellent company.
The Skirball Cutural Center is a gorgeous
setting, and that free lunch (while tasty) is
also a prime opportunity to connect with other
writers and industry members at this friendly,
low-key event.
http://sesac.com
TAXI Road Rally
A prime bene�t of the independent A&R
organization, TAXI, is free admission for the
member plus a guest to attend the company’s
annual Road Rally in Los Angeles, CA. This
year the Rally will be held Nov. 8 - 11 with
hit songwriter Diane Warren receiving the
TAXI Lifetime Achievement Award with a
corresponding keynote interview.
The Road Rally is immense, and is an event
that requires tactical pre-planning as TAXI takes
over the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel.
Songwriters and music industry professionals of
all stripes throng the ballrooms, classrooms and
exhibition hall for a serious selection of heavy
hitting guests and invaluable music industry
information.
Numerous listening sessions are a key
draw. Last year a group of execs from Disney,
Universal, RCA Records and Sony Music were
on hand for a Listening Panel.
New media, fan management and public
relations for independent artists are key
Road Rally panel and class topics. Be�tting a