ASCAP to Honor Alan & Marilyn Bergman at 23rd Annual Film and Television Music Awards

LOS ANGELES, CA and NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - May 6, 2008) - The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) will honor Alan & Marilyn Bergman with the ASCAP Founders Award during its 23rd Annual Film & Television Music Awards being held this evening at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, CA. The prestigious award is being presented to the Bergmans in recognition of their half-century contribution to the Great American songbook. The composers of the top box office film music and the most performed television music of 2007 will also be honored at the invitation-only, black-tie gala event.

The evening will be highlighted with a tribute to the Bergmans by some of their long-time friends and collaborators, including Siedah Garrett, Lari White and pianist Mike Lang who will perform a selection of Alan and Marilyn's Academy Award-winning songs, and producer Norman Lear, producer/writer Larry Gelbart, director Norman Jewison, and composer/arranger/producer Quincy Jones who are among the special guest presenters.

Confirmed attendees include several veteran composers as well as the best and brightest of a new generation of writers, including Drake Bell from Nickelodeon's "Drake and Josh;" Marco Beltrami; Sean Callery; John Debney; Marc Shaiman; Brian D. Siewert; Scott Wittman and ASCAP Board Members Richard Bellis, Bruce Broughton and Johnny Mandel. Also attending will be legendary songwriter Jerry Leiber as well as ASCAP Board Members Barry Coburn of Ten-Ten Music Group; David Johnson of Warner Music Group; Dean Kay of Lichelle Music Company; and David Renzer of Universal Music Publishing Group; among many others.

Commenting on the award to Alan and Marilyn Bergman, ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento said: "For years, all of us at ASCAP have benefited from the vision and drive that Marilyn has brought to her role as the Society's President and Chairman of the Board. Now, we are especially proud to spotlight the achievements and illuminating songwriting of both Marilyn and Alan as members of ASCAP. During their fifty years together as partners in work and life, the exquisitely-crafted lyrics of Alan and Marilyn Bergman have graced innumerable film, television and stage projects. The Bergmans have reached songwriting's pinnacle and received multiple awards for their peerless body of work. I can think of nobody more deserving of the Founders Award, the highest honor granted by ASCAP."

Alan and Marilyn Bergman are two of the most respected names in the Great American Songbook. Nominated for 16 Academy Awards, they've won three Oscars for Best Songs "The Windmills of Your Mind" and "The Way We Were," and for the score for "Yentl." Their song "Moonlight," performed by Sting in the film "Sabrina," brought nominations for both a Golden Globe and an Oscar. "The Windmills of Your Mind" and "The Way We Were" received Golden Globes and "The Way We Were" earned two Grammys. Their four Emmys are for "Sybil," "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom," "Ordinary Miracles" and "A Ticket to Dream." Principal collaborators include Michel Legrand, Dave Grusin, Cy Coleman, Johnny Mandel, Marvin Hamlisch, Henry Mancini, John Williams, Quincy Jones and James Newton Howard. Among their many honors, Alan and Marilyn were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and subsequently received its Johnny Mercer Award. They also received the National Academy of Songwriters Lifetime Achievement Award. Marilyn is a recipient of the Crystal Award from Women in Film.

In 1994, after serving five terms as the first woman elected to ASCAP's Board of Directors, Marilyn was elected ASCAP's President and Chairman. Continuing her career as a lyricist, she leads the Society with distinction, working tirelessly on behalf of songwriters in strengthening copyright protection.

"Lyrically, Alan Bergman," a CD of Bergman songs sung by Alan Bergman was released on Verve last year to critical acclaim. "Up Close and Musical," a musical theatre collaboration with the late, great composer Cy Coleman and text by Larry Gelbart is being prepared for Broadway.

The ASCAP Founders Award is presented to songwriters who have made pioneering contributions to music by inspiring and influencing their fellow music creators. Each recipient is a musical innovator who possesses a unique style of songwriting genius that will enrich generations to come. Past recipients include Ashford & Simpson, Burt Bacharach & Hal David, Elmer Bernstein, Jackson Browne, Melissa Etheridge, Billy Joel, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, Sir George Martin, Sir Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Stephen Sondheim, Steely Dan, Jule Styne, James Taylor, Tom Waits, Stevie Wonder and Neil Young.

Top Film and Television Music Composers of 2007

ASCAP's John LoFrumento, Todd Brabec, Nancy Knutsen, Sue Devine and Mike Todd will present awards in four categories -- Most Performed Themes, Most Performed Underscore, Top Television Series and Top Box Office Films -- to the composers behind the best and most successful film and television music of 2007. Among the winning composers are David Vanacore for Most Performed Themes, Most Performed Underscore, "Survivor: China" and "Survivor: Fiji;" Sean Callery for Most Performed Themes, "Shark" and "24;" John Adair for "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" and "The Wizards of Waverly Place;" Drake Bell for "Drake and Josh;" Marco Beltrami for "Live Free or Die Hard;" John Debney for "Evan Almighty;" Michael Giacchino for "Ratatouille" and "Lost;" James Newton Howard for "I Am Legend;" Russ Landau for "Survivor: China" and "Survivor: Fiji;" John Powell for "The Bourne Ultimatum;" Stephen Schwartz for "Enchanted;" Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman for "Hairspray;" Brian D. Siewert for Most Performed Underscore; Alan Silvestri for "Beowulf;" Mark Snow for Most Performed Themes and Most Performed Underscore; and Hans Zimmer for "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" and "The Simpsons Movie." The complete list of winners is available at www.ascap.com.

About ASCAP:

Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 320,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has representation arrangements with over 90 similar foreign organizations such that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world. 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 PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com