9:30 AM | CHECK-IN OPENS

10:30 AM | ASCAP MEMBERSHIP MEETING

📍HERSCHER HALL

To kick off the ASCAP Experience, ASCAP’s top executives will provide an essential recap of ASCAP’s remarkable 2025, including our impressive revenues and distributions, and our members’ culture-shaping success. They’ll discuss what it means to be America’s only PRO not owned by private equity, and what we’re doing to preserve our members’ livelihoods in the age of AI. You’ll also be treated to performances from some special musical guests!

SPEAKERS:

• Beth Matthews - ASCAP CEO
• Paul Williams - ASCAP President & Chairman

Plus a special performance by CAUTIOUS CLAY!

The ASCAP Membership Meeting is open to all ASCAP members. Experience ticketholders do not need to RSVP.

11:45 AM | LUNCH BREAK

Stop by our vendor booths in Guerin Pavilion! 

1:00 - 2:30 PM | THE Hitmakers

📍HERSCHER HALL

How do you transition from aspiring music professional to in-demand collaborator? What does it mean to be a career songwriter? Every creator has a different path to success. In our Hitmakers panel, A-list songwriters and composers will recount their most pivotal career moments and how they got to where they are today. Our panelists will inspire you with tales from their personal success stories – and offer practical advice that you can apply to your own journey.

PANELISTS:

• James Fauntleroy - Songwriter/Producer/Artist (Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake)
• Nova Wav - Songwriters/Producers/Artists (Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kehlani)
• Mark Sonnenblick - Songwriter ("Golden" and  “Your Idol” from KPop Demon Hunters)
• Justin Tranter - Songwriter/Producer (Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Chappell Roan)
• MODERATOR: Mauricio Ruiz - Founder and Host of The Manager's Playbook

1:00 - 1:35 pm | These Are a Few of My Favorite Syncs

📍AHMANSON BALLROOM

Getting your music synced in film, TV, video games and commercials can be a lucrative revenue stream. But how does it work? And how do you stand out amongst the thousands of music creators vying for the same sync opportunities? We’ve asked some of the industry’s most experienced music supervisors to dive deep into the wild world of music placements. They’ll demystify the sync process by giving you some case studies from their own careers. Our supes will trace the paths of their personal favorite syncs from the past year – how they found out about the music, what made it perfect for the project, and how they worked with creatives on both sides to seal the deal. You’ll end up with a deeper understanding of how to navigate the journey from pitch to paycheck. 

PANELISTS:

• Raphaella Lima - Director of Global Music Marketing & Music Supervision, Electronic Arts
• Frankie Pine - Music Supervisor, Whirly Girl Music
• MODERATOR: Jeannie Lurie - Songwriter (Hannah Montana, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series)

1:40 - 2:15 PM | Creating a Winning Song Pitch for Film & TV

📍AHMANSON BALLROOM

Successfully pitching your original music for film or TV takes more than songwriting talent. It also involves writing to a “brief:” a short description of what the director or showrunner is looking for, what the song is supposed to sound like, and where it’ll be placed in the production. Your guide to the wide world of song pitching is Jeannie Lurie, a veteran songwriter with hundreds of film/TV credits to her name. Jeannie will explain how to interpret a creative brief, and play examples of songs she’s written to briefs. You’ll hear songs that made the final cut, and some that didn’t – because even a rejected pitch can help you learn how to nail the next one.

PRESENTER:

• Jeannie Lurie - Songwriter (Hannah Montana, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Mira, Royal Detective)

2:45 - 4:00 PM | GET HEARD: LIVE Song feedback

📍HERSCHER HALL

Want to know what the pros listen for when they’re evaluating music, lyrics and production? In this unique, multi-genre feedback session, hit writer/producers Darrell Brown & Theron “Neff-U” Feemster will listen to a limited number of songs, pre-submitted by Experience registrants, in front of a live audience. They’ll provide insights and creative suggestions that can help you tweak your tracks from “pretty good” to "radio ready.” 

Submissions for our Live Song Feedback session are open through January 27. If you're a confirmed Experience registrant we've sent the submission link via email.

PANELISTS:

• Darrell Brown - Songwriter/Producer (Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes, Neil Young, Dolly Parton, Ziggy Marley)
• Theron "Neff-U" Feemster - Producer/Composer/Songwriter/Tech Inventor (Michael Jackson, Dr. Dre, Justin Bieber, Sia)

2:45 - 3:10 PM | How to Make the most of your musical METAdata

📍AHMANSON BALLROOM

When it comes to earning royalties, getting your music out there is just half the battle. You also need to make sure that it’s registered properly, with all the metadata that industry organizations need to identify your music, and who should be paid when it’s played or sold. In this session, you’ll be guided through a practical checklist of key song registration data points designed to strengthen your metadata and maximize your revenue. You’ll also learn about Data Health Check, a useful tool in the ASCAP mobile app that scans your ASCAP catalog and finds missing metadata that can help you get paid.

PRESENTER:

• Ed Razzano - ASCAP SVP, Administration Services / SONGWIZE

3:10 - 3:35 PM | How to Hit All the Right Notes on Social Media

📍AHMANSON BALLROOM

Whether you’re terminally online or prefer the unplugged life, social media is a must if you’re looking to connect with fans and get your music out there. In this helpful how-to, Crowd Surf co-founder Cassie Petrey will break down 2026's biggest social media trends. She’ll offer practical advice on how to improve your social presence, through simple optimizations and larger content creation strategies; you’ll also learn some high impact tips and tricks to free up more time for what we all love: creating music. Want to learn more after the session? Stop by the Crowd Surf table for tailored feedback on your own social media channels. 

PRESENTER: 

• Cassie Petrey – Co-founder, Crowd Surf

3:35 - 4:00 PM | How to Build Your Music Network 

📍AHMANSON BALLROOM

It’s often said that making it in the music industry is all about who you know. But where can you find new collaborators and clients? How do you earn the trust of someone you just met? And how do you leverage your network to identify new opportunities for your music? Our speaker Amanda Jones is both an Emmy-winning composer and a top-tier community builder. She’ll lay out strategies for connecting with music people and maintaining relationships. Whether you’re looking for a creative partnership or a job, you’ll leave this session loaded with new ideas for expanding your circle. 

PRESENTER:

• Amanda Jones - Composer (Home, Moving On, Murderbot)

4:15 - 5:00 PM | Still In Control: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis in Conversation

📍HERSCHER HALL

There’s no hyperbole in calling Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis one of the most successful writer-producer teams in modern music history. They’ve notched 16 Hot 100 chart-toppers for superstars like Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, George Michael & Usher. They’ve earned 11 GRAMMY nominations for Producer of the Year, and won nine ASCAP Songwriter of the Year awards. Over their incredible career, Jam and Lewis have revolutionized the sound of urban and pop radio, bringing together world-class musicianship with cutting-edge technology for hits as stylish as their signature sharp suits and fedoras. The same week that their iconic Control album with Janet Jackson turns 40, these two masters come together to tell the stories behind some of the many jewels in their glittering discography. They’ll unpack what it takes to maintain a lasting creative partnership, how they work together with artists to create musical moments that stand the test of time, and how they are giving back to help others succeed.

PANELISTS:

• Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis – Songwriters/Producers (Janet Jackson – “When I Think of You," “Miss You Much;” The Human League – “Human;” Boyz II Men – “On Bended Knee;” Mariah Carey – “Thank God I Found You;” Usher – “U Remind Me”)
• MODERATOR: Adam Blackstone – Producer/Composer/Music Director

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM | The Writers jam

📍HERSCHER HALL

The beloved songs that soundtrack our lives all begin as a songwriter’s bright idea. In this intimate, writers-round-style session, you’ll hear your favorite tracks performed live in a totally new context: straight from the songwriters who came up with them. Our diverse lineup of hitmakers will also share the stories of how they brought their songs to life – from the brainstorm to the studio to the top of the charts. You’ve never heard your fave song like this before. 

PERFORMERS: 

• Annika Bennett - Singer, Songwriter & Producer (Chappell Roan, Lauv, Le Sserafim & j-hope)
• Camper - Songwriter/Producer/Rapper (Ne-Yo, Coco Jones, H.E.R.)
• Andreas Carlsson - Songwriter/Entrepreneur (NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Katy Perry, Carrie Underwood)
• Steph Jones - Songwriter (Sabrina Carpenter, Kelsea Ballerini, BLACKPINK)

6:30 PM | That's all folks! See you next year!