New York, NY, October 28, 2005: The ASCAP Foundation's 2006 Lester Sill Songwriters Workshop is now accepting submissions. Geared toward advanced songwriters, the workshop will be held at ASCAP's Los Angeles office and, for the first time, will be under the guidance of music publishing veteran and Warner/Chappell Music Senior V.P. Judy Stakee as well as ASCAP executive Brendan Okrent.

"We are thrilled and grateful to have Judy onboard to mentor our next group of songwriters," said Okrent. "Our 2006 participants are in for a very unique experience. Judy is one of the most outstanding and respected professionals in our industry who has been instrumental in the discovery and development of so much great talent throughout her career. In addition to the volumes of knowledge Judy can share with our group, she is also very tuned into the spiritual journey of the songwriting process and is anxious to add that element to our workshop." Stakee's signings at Warner/Chappell alone, where she has been for over 16 years, include Sheryl Crow, John Shanks, Jewel, Michelle Branch, Kellie Coffey and Franne Golde.

Re-named in 1995 to honor ASCAP's late board member and industry pioneer Lester Sill, the workshop will consist of eight sessions to take place over a four-week period in early 2006. The workshop will feature prominent guests from various facets of the music business, including master sessions led by Judy Stakee. The workshop is designed to enrich participants' knowledge of the industry and to help them establish contacts, confidence and possible collaborative partnerships. Past guests have included George Martin, Don Was, Rick Nowels, Glen Ballard, Jackson Browne, T-Bone Burnett, Billy Steinberg, Ben Harper, Jonatha Brooke, Donald Passman, Matthew Wilder, John Rzeznik, Jon Brion, and numerous others.

Writers interested in applying for participation are required to submit a CD containing two original songs along with typed or neatly written lyric sheets. Applicants are also required to include a brief resume or bio in addition to a written explanation as to why they would like to participate in the ASCAP Workshop. The entry deadline is December 16, 2005. CDs will not be returned. Applicants are asked to include an email address and a telephone number. Only a limited number of applicants can be selected as participants.

Materials should be sent to:

The ASCAP Foundation Lester Sill Songwriters Workshop
7920 Sunset Blvd./ 3rd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90046

The Lester Sill Workshop is part of an ongoing series of workshops sponsored by The ASCAP Foundation. Workshops are free of charge and open to everyone, regardless of performing rights organization. Other ASCAP Foundation workshops cover R&B, film & television scoring, jazz, country, gospel, musical theatre and symphony and concert.

Founded in 1975, The ASCAP Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to supporting American music creators and encouraging their development through music education and talent development programs. Included in these are songwriting workshops, grants, scholarships, awards, recognition and community outreach programs, and public service projects for senior composers and lyricists. The ASCAP Foundation is supported by contributions from ASCAP members and from music lovers throughout the United States. Join us as we celebrate our 30th year of serving the music community.

It's been a very good year for Miami's own Pitbull, a Cuban American rapper whose debut album, M.I.A.M.I, spent 27 weeks on Billboard's Top Independent Albums Chart and reached gold status for more than 500,000 copies shipped. The feat gives Pitbull the biggest selling bilingual hip-hop debut since Cypress Hill's 1991 self-titled debut and puts him among a select group of Latino rappers who have gained major success in Anglo radio. Pitbull's album is now making strides outside of the U.S. as well, with its release in the UK, Spain, France, Germany and Australia.

The 24-year-old rapper combines crunk, hip-hop, reggae, reggaeton and dancehall, with English and Spanish lyrics. His rise to fame came, seemingly, out of nowhere when he was featured during an MTV awards show in Miami last year, an attempt by MTV to showcase what Miami had to offer in terms of local talent. Since then, everything snowballed, and the news kept getting better and better for Pitbull. He just completed a highly successful European tour, bringing bilingual hip hop to the other side of the Atlantic for the first time.

As if that were not enough, Pitbull has recently been tapped by hiphop mogul and entrepreneur Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, for a joint venture, the new label Bad Boy Latino, which will have offices in New York and Miami, with a focus on Latin rap, Latin soul and tropical music. Pitbull will sign artists, handle the marketing and help run the label.

by Karl Avanzini

Official Rap Beats

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