First-Ever ASCAP Atlanta Membership Meeting to Be Held at Omni Hotel -CNN Center- On April 13.

Business, Music & Entertainment Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 29, 2004

ASCAP:

-- ASCAP President & Chairman Marilyn Bergman Hails Atlanta as

"Fastest-Growing Music City in U.S."

-- ASCAP Member Jermaine Dupri and Leading Members of the Atlanta

Music Community to Participate in Business Success Panel

-- Emerging Atlanta Songwriter David Berkeley to Receive The

ASCAP Foundation Johnny Mercer Award

Marilyn Bergman, President & Chairman of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), announced today that the first-ever ASCAP Membership Meeting in Atlanta will take place on Tuesday, April 13th at the Omni Hotel (CNN Center) starting at 2:00 p.m. ASCAP, which is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its founding, is the only U.S. performing rights organization to hold meetings open to all members.

Commenting on the upcoming meeting, Bergman said, "We're very excited to be hosting this meeting of our Atlanta writers and publishers. Atlanta has become the fastest-growing music center in the U.S., particularly as a hotbed of R&B and hip-hop. The music creators of the state of Georgia have long been a part of the ASCAP story, and we're proud that our membership rolls include such Georgia music greats, past and present, as India.Arie, B-52's, Peabo Bryson, Kandi Burrus, Jermaine Dupri, Fletcher Henderson, Alan Jackson, Earl Klugh, Gladys Knight, Johnny Mercer, OutKast, Kelly Price, Jerry Ragovoy, Kenny Rogers, Billy Joe Royal, Robert Shaw, Keith Sweat, TLC, Usher, Trisha Yearwood, and so many more."

The meeting will include a "Business Success" panel discussion featuring ASCAP member Jermaine Dupri, manager Russell Carter, Hitco Music's Shakir Stewart, and Atlantis Music Conference organizer/partner Mark Willis.

Bergman, a three-time Academy Award-winning lyricist ("The Windmills of Your Mind," "The Way We Were," and the lyric score for Yentl), will commemorate ASCAP's 90th anniversary with a special video screening tracing the birth of ASCAP through to the new millennium. She will also report on the state of the music industry and current legislation impacting music creators.

The meeting will also include reports by ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento and Executive Vice President of Membership Todd Brabec designed to introduce ASCAP, its current status, advantages for members and a review of member accomplishments. ASCAP SVP Enterprises Chris Amenita will demonstrate the revolutionary Mediaguide performance tracking technology.

Another highlight of the meeting will be the presentation of a special award given by The ASCAP Foundation named in honor of Georgia music great Johnny Mercer to up-and-coming Atlanta songwriter/artist David Berkeley. Mercer wrote such standards as "Blues In the Night," "Moon River," and "That Old Black Magic." Mercer also served on the ASCAP Board of Directors and said this about the Society: "I would say that ASCAP is the Magna Carta of the author and composer...the Declaration of Independence of the creative mind...and the social security of the free spirit." Berkeley's recent self-released CD, "After the Wrecking Ships," has met with major critical acclaim in such publications as The New York Times, Rolling Stone and Creative Loafing.

The meeting is open to all ASCAP members at no charge. However, they need to RSVP at 800-746-7977 or at www.ascap.com/rsvp.

A cocktail reception open to all attendees will follow the meeting. During the reception, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with many of ASCAP's member benefits partners who will display their products and services trade-show style. Exhibitors will include Mediaguide, MusicPro Insurance, Nimbit Web Tools, Sibelius, and US Alliance.

Established in 1914, ASCAP is the world's largest performing rights organization, with over 175,000 composer, lyricist and music publisher members. ASCAP's repertory spans the entire spectrum of music, from pop to symphonic, rock to gospel, Latin to country, jazz to rhythm and blues, to film, television and musical theatre. ASCAP is the only performing rights organization, whose Board of Directors is made up solely of writers and publishers, elected by the membership.