Randy Newman to Give Exclusive Interview at ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO

NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- February 20, 2007 -- ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman announced today that Randy Newman will be a special guest at the ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 19. Given the unique nature of conference, which is dedicated to songwriting and composing, Newman will be interviewed by noted author and music journalist Paul Zollo before an audience of music creators.

Randy Newman's extraordinary career as a singer-songwriter, film & musical theatre composer and gifted pianist spans five decades earning him much recognition around the world. His eclectic compositions have been recorded by an exceptionally wide range of artists from Pat Boone to Ray Charles and Peggy Lee to Wilson Pickett. Some of his most memorable songs include "Sail Away," "You Can Leave Your Hat On," "I Love L.A." and "Short People." As a noted film composer, Newman has received 17 Academy Award nominations, and in 2001 he won the Best Song Oscar for "If I Didn't Have You" from "Monsters, Inc." He has also received two Emmy Awards, five Grammy Awards, The Recording Academy's Governors Award and he was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 2002. His most recent accolades include a Grammy Award, an Oscar nomination and a World Soundtrack Award for "Our Town" from Cars. His outstanding film work also includes the scores to "Ragtime, " "The Natural, " "Toy Story, " "A Bug's Life" and "Monsters, Inc." and the original songs "You've Got a Friend in Me" from "Toy Story," "One More Hour" from "Ragtime," "That'll Do" from "Babe: Pig in the City," "When She Loved Me" from "Toy Story 2" and "If I Didn't Have You" from "Monsters, Inc." He continues to perform his songs before live audiences as a touring concert artist.

Marilyn Bergman commented: "Randy is one of our great American storytellers. During his long and distinguished career he has created some of the most colorful and unlikely characters ever created in popular music. His worldwide success as a singer-songwriter, film composer and gifted pianist is proof of his creative genius. His conversation with fellow writers at the ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO will be an inspiration and a highlight of the event."

Newman joins an unprecedented lineup of songwriters, composers and producers who will be participating at the EXPO, including Mitch Allan, Clarence Avant, Glen Ballard, Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Desmond Child, Alf Clausen, Timothy "Attitude" Clayton, Keyshia Cole, John Corigliano, Hal David, Dre & Vidal, Mike Elizondo, Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald, James Newton Howard, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Brett James, Holly Knight, Johnny Mandel, Marcy Marxer & Cathy Fink, MC Lyte, Seth MacFarlane, Rhett Miller, Rick Nowels, John Rich, Stephen Schwartz, Matt Serletic, John Shanks, Jimmy Webb, Paul Williams, Dan Wilson, Bill Withers and Dan Zanes, to name a few.

For a complete and regularly updated list of panelists, please visit: http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/events/expo/panelists.html.

The ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO, which takes place April 19-21, 2007, is the first and only national conference dedicated to songwriting and composing. Building on the extraordinary, sold-out success of the 2006 EXPO, ASCAP will stage an even larger, more comprehensive event for music creators in 2007. The agenda includes panels, workshops, keynotes, master classes, song critiques, product displays, state-of-the-art technology demonstrations, performances, and much more. Adding to the broad range of musical topics already being explored, new panels will cover music for children, comedy, opera & musical theatre and video games, among others. All music creators, producers, publishers and executives -- regardless of their performing rights organization affiliation -- will benefit from this unique creative event, which is designed around personal interaction, education and networking.

Members of the press may apply for media credentials at http://www.ascap.com/press/pressroom/expo/2007/.

About ASCAP

Established in 1914, ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 275,000 composer, lyricist and music publisher members. ASCAP also represents the repertories created by the international affiliates of 70 foreign performing rights organizations. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American Performing Rights Organization owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com.