ASCAP Presents... Heineken Ampt Music Series and Festival.

Entertainment Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2003

         Tour Celebrates The Best In Emerging Music With Panel
          Discussions, Celebrity Interviews and Showcases in
                New York, Atlanta, Detroit, and Chicago

               Kick off event in New York City features
               Celebrity Interview with Gil Scott-Heron
          Two-time MTV VMA Nominee Kenna to headline showcase

Progenitor of rap music Gil Scott-Heron, Grammy winning songwriter/artist/producer Don Was, two-time MTV VMA nominee Kenna, garage-rockers The Detroit Cobras, and Motown artist Donnie are just some of the names who have signed on to this year's ASCAP Presents... Heineken Ampt Music Series and Festival. The festival is designed to bring the best in emerging performers and songwriters to the attention of both the music industry and the public.

ASCAP and Heineken encourage music lovers to come out and celebrate the best in new music and artists as the ASCAP Presents... Heineken Ampt Music Series and Festival kicks off in New York City on October 7th at The Supper Club. The event is free and open to the public. The festivities will begin with an hour-long interview with Gil Scott-Heron conducted by Toure, contributing editor at Rolling Stone, followed by educational panel discussions featuring Carol Watson (Publisher of Vibe Magazine), Jem Aswad (Senior Editor, Time Out New York), Paul Resta (Island/Def Jam - Andrew WK, Saliva, Thrice), Jeff Sledge (Jive Records - *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys), Charles Ferrar (platinum writer/producer - Whitney Houston, Brian McKnight, Boyz II Men), and Vickie Starr (Girlie Action Media & Marketing - Bjork, Belle and Sebastian, Good Charlotte), among others, culminating in an evening showcase with performances by two-time MTV VMA nominee Kenna, Refugee Camp's Carl Restivo, Columbia recording artists Wylde Bunch (Sprite Liquid Mix Tour), Lola (MBK Management), and DJ Walter Jones aka DJ WALT-LIVE.

Atlanta will be the next stop on the Ampt tour (October 11 and 12), with dates to follow in Detroit and Chicago. For more information, go to http://www.ascap.com.

As part of the program, ASCAP's Rhythm & Soul and Pop/Rock Departments will join forces to showcase groundbreaking artists and bands whose music reaches across genres and appeals to hip-hop, rock, funk R&B and pop fans alike. These two powerhouse ASCAP departments have been responsible for showcasing artists prior to their current superstar status including Gordon Chambers, Vivian Green, Ben Harper, India.Arie, Jack Johnson, Alicia Keys, Kings of Leon, Lit, The Mavericks, John Mayer, Nickel Creek, Old 97's, Ozomatli, Pearl Jam, Liz Phair, Damien Rice, Semisonic, The Verve Pipe, and Rufus Wainwright.

Founded in 2000, the ASCAP Presents... Heineken Ampt Music Series & Festival is designed to bring the best in emerging performers and songwriters to the attention of both the music industry and the public. As part of the festivities, Heineken Ampt/ASCAP Recognition Awards will be presented to music industry players in each of the four cities, acknowledging their contributions to local music scenes. Past honorees have ranged from record executives to music magazine publishers, including Sub Pop founder Jonathan Poneman, Jan Ramsey, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of OffBeat Magazine, and Jody Stephens of Ardent Studios, formerly of the legendary Memphis band Big Star.

"Since its inception in 2000, ASCAP and Heineken have laid a solid foundation for the Ampt Music Series by recognizing and spotlighting the best in local emerging talent across the country," says Todd Brabec, ASCAP Executive Vice President Membership Group. "We are delighted to build upon the success of the program by adding educational components to this year's events, providing further support to the development of music creators."

Heineken USA Inc., the nation's largest beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken N.V. (Netherlands), which is the world's second-largest brewer. Brands imported into the U.S. include: Heineken Lager, the world's most international beer brand; Heineken Special Dark; Amstel Light, the largest-selling imported light beer brand, and Buckler non-alcoholic brew.

Established in 1914, ASCAP is the world's largest performing-right organization, with over 160,000 composer, lyricist and music publisher members. ASCAP is committed to protecting the rights of its members by licensing and collecting royalties for the public performance of their copyrighted works, and then distributing these fees to the Society's members based on performances. ASCAP's repertory spans the entire spectrum of music - from pop to symphonic, rock to gospel, Latin to country to jazz, rhythm and blues, theater, film and television music. ASCAP's Board of Directors is made up solely of writers and publishers, elected by the membership.